Jumping Needs To Stop

[vnv]

My dog (staffy cross) jumps on people.

I have tried totally ignoring her when she jumps and praising her when all four paws are on the ground (the praising only seemed to get her more excited and she would jump as soon as I praised). I tried this for several months but it seemed to make it worse. I also tried turning around and facing the door (the jumping mostly happens as soon as I walk in the front door) and she would just jump onto my back for ages then when I turned around she keeps jumping.

I have tried physically blocking her from jumping by taking a step towards her or away from her, or putting my knee up.

I've tried pushing her down saing "NO" loudly and angrily.

She jumps on guests, the other day my sister came over wearing shorts and a t-shirt and left with big red scratch marks all down her legs and arms.

She learns obedience really fast but whenever I get home after being out or whenever guests come over she just gets so overexcited and won't do listen. She just jumps and jumps.

I've tried crating her when guests come over and only letting her out when she appears to have calmed down, then as soon as I let her out she goes mental again.

Any other ideas I can try?

[Cosmolo]

Put her on lead so you can control what the dog is doing. Do you normally give a lead correction for any other undesireable behaviour?

[persephone]

My suggestion as well-

NO meet&greet unless she is on lead, and can be helped to keep 4 feet on the ground!

Also- NO immediate meet& Greet when either you get home ,or visitors arrive.Leave her outside for a few minutes, THEN ,without speaking/patting, put her on leash, get her to sit, and say 'hello, good girl' whatever

[dee lee]

My staffy x does it too , with lots of training she is getting better though.

When we have guests we leave her outside for about 30 minutes, so that she realises the visitors arent there for her, then when she comes in she is allowed to come and sit for a pat. Then must go onto her bed. We do a lot of "on your bed/stay" from then on. Each time is better than the last and Im pretty sure she will get the hang of it soon. At any rate she is a lot calmer than she was.

Another tip from our trainer we got was to not allow your dog to greet you as you arrive home. Initially ignore(no eyecontact) and first greet any other household members and wait til the dog has settled down and THEN call it over for a pat. Its all about making the dog realise it is NOT the centre of attention.

Just wanted to add, if you put your dog on lead for the meet and greet , get your dog to sit and put your foot on the slack of the leash so if your dog tries to jump it cant. I find that its easier to control the dog than holding the leash tight in your hand.

Edited October 12, 2008 by ✽deelee

[BrunoBella]

Another suggestion, with all the exercises you need to repeat them again and again and again.

I had problems with my dogs jumping on me when I walked outside. I would turn around and go back inside.

Five minutes later I would go outside, dog jumped, I turn around and go back inside. Some days it took me thirty minutes to get out the door without being jumped on but now I never get jumped on.

[Jigsaw]

I agree put her on leash and ask her to sit, if she learns that she will get a pat/treat/praise when she sits quietly she will more likely start to initiate the behaviour herself. But you must be consistent. You can also control how close you are to your visitor when she's on leash so she can't physically reach them to jump on them too.

[Got Spots]

Leads and feathers - I feel your pain.

I have a 12 mo female b/w whippet who can jump and scratch you on your face when let out of pen. I don't go to the pen straight away when home, don't look at them, don't speak to them. Just let them out. The little one 5mo whippet just runs around excitedly but the older one jumps crazily. Up to my face. I just usually turn around, don't speak, and walk off, for all my hard effort I get covered in scratches.

I have tried having a lead on her and making her sit, but as soon as she is released she does it again. Little toad.

She has now started doing it to complete strangers on the beach who are no where near us. Usually grab her collar while passing people, but not always able to catch her quick enough

ARRRGGGGHHH

Plus she tries to kill her sister 5mo, grr forever fighting and chasing her and grabbing her neck, no matter how many corrections we give her

[SkySoaringMagpie]

Another suggestion, with all the exercises you need to repeat them again and again and again.

This has been our experience too. Lots of taking forever to get in the door because you keep having to shut the bloody thing again!! Eventually if you outstubborn the dog, you get compliance. Each time you let them get away with it, the job of overcoming it becomes that much longer more difficult.

L&F, instead of praise when she has four on the floor have you tried slow firm stroking pats without saying anything? Contact that slows her down if that makes sense. If you're strong enough, you can also make sure you have a hand over their withers which prevents them jumping as well.

Another thing which may or may not work is to put it on a cue. Depends on your personal preferences but it can be good to control something that is so reinforcing to them so that you can use it as a reward and let them have access to it legitimately (ie, politely, under your control and as a reward for good behaviour).

I have jumping up on a cue because I like it if it's the right time and place plus I'm not particularly delicate and my dogs don't top 25 kilos. If you don't want jumping up at all you could teach him a touch game instead or use frisbee games as a reward.