Advice needed - jumping up

[Flynny]

Hi

I'd really appreciate some advice regarding trying to break Flynn's jumping up habit. He's 21 months old now, and ever since he's been let off lead his biggest problem has been jumping all over unsuspecting people (often wearing white trousers!). He's a super super sociable dog (at obedience classes the trainer said he was a 10/10 on the scale of sociability) and very friendly.

Some examples:

If we're on a walk, and he sees another dog or a person, he will start creeping towards them getting faster and faster. His recall is 95% there. He is whistle trained and will sit and come back to a whistle at some distance and wait for us to come to him before moving, however if another dog/person is nearby this isn't 100% reliable. Once he is close he charges towards the dog, has a quick sniff, then moves to the owner and jumps all over them. Quite rightly, a lot of people get rather annoyed at this. I do a lot of apologising. Once I call him away he comes immediately. If I can pop him on his lead before he gets too close I will, then people think I have an aggressive dog and avoid us!

I have tried to address this at home. For instance, when my husband or I come home he gets no attention/ fuss until all 4 paws are firmly planted on the ground, and now he never jumps up at us when we come home. However, if a stranger rings the door bell, or my in-laws (who he loves) come to visit he jumps up and is generally super excited to see them. I have told them not to fuss him until he has 4 paws on the ground but they both seem to ignore this which doesn't help matters. I have started to put him behind the baby gate so he can't get to the door now and jump up, but what else should I do - I just let him out once he's stopped barking but don't know what else to do.

It's really ruining my enjoyment of walking him. He's such an amazing dog in every other way - any suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks!

[Caramomo]

This is something which you need the help of friends he doesn't know very well. Perhaps someone from the training classes. Get them to meet you on a specified walking route and to do what you do, all four paws before any fuss but turning and ignoring him when his paws come up (Perhaps folding arms as well to really get the message across). Repeat this several times throughout the walk and try and see if they will help over several walks. In the meantime whenever you see someone on a walk you need to prevent the jumping up. If the only way to do this is by putting him on a lead then I'm afraid thats what you will have to do. When you see walkers out and about ask them to help you train him by offering a treat and fuss only if he has paws on the ground. If you clicker train then he gets a click when the paws are on the ground for the greeting.

You are also going to have to be a bit blunt with your in-laws I'm afraid. It's your dog and I'm fairly sure that, like most people, they wouldn't appreciate muddy paws on pale trousers so they do need to help you with this.

[Snazy]

Have a read through the socialising v neutralising thread.

You need to make yourself much more exciting - what do you do when you do get him to recall from the stranger? Do you make a big fuss of him and lots of top rewards or are you to busy appologising to reward him?

With the inlaws, I'd put him on a lead and if they go up to him tomake a fuss, you can just put him behind you and repeat that they wait for him to be calm first and then they can say hello. This way, as soon as he is calm you can release him (say 'OK') and then he can say hello in as excited a manner as both sides are happy with.

It's all about teaching impulse control.

[Flynny]

Thank you both - will try these techniques out on next walk - we know a lot of the other regulars so I'm sure they'll be willing to assist.

re the in-laws, i will need to be more blunt with them - they always say 'oh we don't mind' - but that's not the point really is it - I mind!!!

Will also take a look at that thread.

At obedience classes we used to say to the trainer that we're just not exciting enough for him. She was brilliant at getting his attention, but if we tried the same techniques he was a bit like 'whatever mum/dad, this stranger is FAR more exciting than boring old you'

We reward with lots of praise and his favourite dried liver or chicken (try and mix it up a bit).

[purplemini]

Claude is *exactly* the same in terms of greeting people at the house. We don't get many visitors but when we do, he goes crazy - barking and jumping up.

If we restrain him/keep him behind a gate he barks incessantly...

I think it is a case of consistency and getting other people to do the same as we do, but like you say, training other people is much harder than training a dog!

[tombaker]

Have you thought about keeping a pot of treats by the door for when you have visitors? Ask them to get flyn into a sit then get them to give him a treat. If he's anything like Obi the prospect of a treat guarantees a schnauzer bum on the floor (laughing)

The other option is to teach a stay either in his bed or I know a few people like to use a matt. Basic principle is that there's a knock at the door and you send your dog to bed until you get the people in. My only problem with this is that most dogs still jump up once the visitors are in and settled.

[daisys_mummy]

Urgh my mother is just the same, and the annoying thing is, she knows not to enchourage her!