Jumping Doing My Head In!

[prada]

I have an 8 month old Border Collie. he is a lovely well behaved dog in every other way but for the constant and I mean constant jumping. I have tried everything i can think of and everything recommended on this board but nothing seems to be working, One thing i have not tried is the water squirter. Anyone think this may have some effect? Ignoring and disciplining have not worked so far, i have tried every tone of voice under the sun. He has now started jumping during walk times, which is really embarssing at traffic lights and even worse after he has had a swim. i end up looking like a muddy swamp creature. He has also started to chuck in some nipping while he is at it. he love to try and grab sleves and hoods. My husband is continuously bent over in pain as my lovely puppy has great aim and at full speed jumps at his groin area. Funny the first few times but I would like kids soon and i need him fertile....lol. As I said lovely puppy in every other way. i just don't know what else to try.

[wagsalot]

Riley my Kelpie X used to do the jumping thing when he was younger when we were out on walks.

He'd always seems to do it when we were about to cross a road - I think it was just due to excitement.

What I did was when he jumped I took a step backwards. If he jumped up again, Id take another step backwards and so on.

In the end he worked out that by jumping it was taking alot longer to get across the road, and that by sitting we got to cross the road a whole lot faster.

I also made sure I was always calm (so I didnt excite him more) and I never gave up. We never crossed a road until he sat nicely and then he got praise and a treat.

Now Riley's 6 and he tries to sit before we even get to the kurb

Not sure if this is the same case with your pup, but Im sure some other people will come along with good advice.

Edited April 20, 2007 by wagsalot

[espinay2]

The important thing, no matter what method you use, is to be PERSISTENT and CONSISITENT.

Also be aware that the jumping will likely get worse before it gets better. This is referred to 'scientifically' as an 'extinction burst' but basically means the dog will try harder to make what worked before, work again. Many people give up at ths point thinking it is not working. My advice you you is DONT give up at this point because it is a good sign it IS working!

Pick one method and stick to it. Do it EVERY time (don't decide you cant be bothered and he can do it just this once and make sure EVERYONE does the same thing) as that will also make the habit twice as hard to get rid of, and DONT GIVE UP when things start to get tough.

Good luck!

Edited April 21, 2007 by espinay2

[dandydog]

I think like most people I had the same problem in my Lab's first year, he would jump up at everything, he even knocked over an 80 yr old lady who'd just had a shoulder operation at our dog park, fortunately she was very forgiving having had a dog of her own and said she had to expect anything at an off-leash dog park - that was the final straw, I happened to see an

American Dog Behaviourist on the TV showing how to stop dogs jumping up the one in question was a great dane, and he said no matter what happens totally ignore them, because even a negative response is a response and this is what they are looking for, I grant you its hard when you're out walking to ignore their jumping up I think he said you have to make the lead really short and tight when walking to not give them any chance to jump, maybe you could do some training at home, I just looked to the sky or turned completely away and ignored my Lab and within a week it had totally stopped, Labs are smart cookies, people couldn't believe it but it was a response from me he was looking for and when none was forthcoming he changed tack, now he brings me a shoe when I come home, oh well we can't have everything I know you've tried the ignoring bit but keep doing it and keep him on a tight lead when you walk him for a while and I'm sure it will work eventually and all you frustrated jumping Lab owners ignore ignore ignore the dog and I can assure you it will stop. Good Luck to you and your pooch

[PAX]

Dogs only do what works so you need to look at whats in it for the dog. What does the dog get out of jumping? When you work that out you will be able to remove the part that is rewarding to the dog and change the habit.