Jumping- at my wit's end...?

Question

I have a 70 lb mutt who is EXTRA freindly. When we come into the house she jumps and will almost knock you over in attempt to lick your face. This is especially bad when we have visitors. When we sit on the couch, she climbs and stomps on you. She is a pretty big girl, and having her climb on you like a goat can hurt. We have tried gently pushing her away, crate training, squirt bottles, rocks in a little plastic bottle, clickers... you name it. Other than this licking business, she is perfectly trained. I realize this is probably a dominance issue, but I need some help on how to correct it. I am not a big fan of choke collars and electric collars, but I am 6 months pregnant and this really needs to stop. Help us PLEASE!

Oops- forgot to add, she is almost 3 years old.

Answer 1

You can stop that in just one day, and it doesn't matter how old she is (unless she's really old and arthritic, in which case she wouldn't be jumping up anyway.)

You'll need to enlist the help of a few friends, however...especially since you might not be able to do this yourself at your stage of pregnancy. Make SURE everyone understands that they have to do this EXACTLY the same way EVERY time.

When she jumps up on you, do not look at her, do not say anything to her (do NOT say "no!"), do not stop talking to anyone else if you're in the middle of a sentence, do not acknowledge her presence in any way. It's important that this be a totally impersonal correction. Just keep doing whatever you were doing, but at the same time, bring your knee up sharply/firmly into her chest, with enough force to knock her over backwards. That's not to hurt her (you won't be able to)....it's simply to knock her off balance so that she stumbles significantly (actually falling over is even better.) If you don't accomplish that, it won't work. If she jumps up again, do it again. (It rarely takes more than once or twice per person.) Then, when she walks up beside you (WAIT until she does), reach down and pet her head, give her a quick ear-rub, and tell her 'good girl,' but don't make a big production of it.

The idea is to get it into her head that this is just a natural thing that happens whenever you jump up. Use several (5-6 should be enough) different people. That way, she associates the jumping up with a specific consequence (falling over), not a specific person. Done properly, she'll think it's nothing more than a regular reflex of all human beings...rather than a consiously-administered 'punishment.' She'll now have a choice to make....jump up and get knocked over backwards, or walk up so her head and ears can be rubbed. Unless she's just brain-dead (or an Irish Setter, lol---Irish Setter owners know what I mean), she won't keep doing it.

The best analogy I can make is telling a child over and over again not to touch the stove, because it's hot. Mom can yell, Dad can spank, Aunt Mary can give a timeout....but the quickest and surest way for the message to get through is when the child touches it when no one's around to yell at her, and feels the burn herself. She'll *instinctively* pull her hand away, and likely won't ever touch a stove again, even if it's off. That's what you're trying to accomplish here. You're just setting up something similar that you can control. That's the essence of all dog training.


P.S. Now is also the time to start sprinkling baby powder around her bed, playing tapes of crying babies while you're loving on her, and yes....even 'borrowing' some dirty diapers from friends or neighbors, so that she can get accustomed to all the 'new baby' sounds and smells that are going to be part of her life soon. Because if you start now, and associate them with things she enjoys (spending time with her, etc.), she won't be as likely to feel resentful or left out when the baby comes.

Answer 2

maximum of your complications will be fastened once he's fastened. clip his claws and get the sticky pads for furnishings to give up him from clawing. get a scratching submit. get a squirt bottle w/ water and spray him even as he jumps up on stuff yet do not enable him see you do it. the sticky mats will artwork extremely nicely for tables and counters. my wager w/ the rest room is that is his and he doesn't favor someone in there. 2 of my cats hate plastic bags. the plunger and broom sorry yet thats humorous and opportunities are severe you received't replace them. each and every cat has fears! the toys, get the very small mice a cat fav! also attempt a small bathtub of catnip, rub the toys in it and mud it off. like childrens some toys do purely not interest them. you should care quite for this cat or you've were given rid of him before. if he nonetheless drives you nuts after being fastened, make confident you enable the recent vendors recognize. if not he may finally end up in a house w/ someone that would want to't manage it. then he will both be abused or kicked outdoors.

Answer 3

We had a similar issue with a Chessie-Lab mix who was over 80 lbs of big brown fuzz. He also would get really pissy when we told him to get down off the couch (lip curling, a little snarl and snap)...

So I got him a short lead/leash (only about 2 feet long) that he then wore around the house. I'd tuck it up and under his collar so it wouldnt drag, but when people came over, it was a handy loop to hang on to to guide him around. (*note - NEVER EVER leave it on them when you aren't at home! They could choke.)

When people come over, grab her lead and make her sit before you open the door. When you do, keep her in a sit with the lead and make her stay there while the other people come in, greet her directly (even just a friendly hello) and then keep her close to you with the lead (this way she'll remain "four on the floor") until everyone gets settled. If you are, for example, sitting in the living room and chatting, make her do a "down, stay" while you visit. At that point, you can put your foot on the lead as she's laying down and keep her pinned a little for the first few times. If she attempts to get up on the couch, jerk the lead quickly and tell her no. Put her back in the down position, and repeat. You may have to enlist the help of family and friends to come over to practice with her, too.

After a while, she'll get the picture that she needs to keep all "four on the floor" and she'll quit acting up. Part of the plan is that when you keep her on a short lead, you a) have greater control over her movements (esp. since you are pregnant you dont want to lay hands on her and get physical to get her to sit) and b) it's a much gentler approach than hollering and kneeing her when she jumps up. If she does jump up, all that's required is a sharp, short, downward tug towards the floor with that lead, with a firm "NO." Follow it up with "Sit. Four on the floor." And when she complies, praise her and tell her what a good girl!

You are correct that it is a dominance issue. But it's not hers. It's yours! You be the boss, and assert YOUR dominance over her. Firmly, directly, but kindly.

After a while, you shouldn't even have to use it much, as she learns the appropriate behavior. Hope that this helps - her behavior is annoying now, but with a newborn baby in your arms, it could be dangerous!

Answer 4

I truly understand your need. I have a one and a half year old golden same problem. I was instructed to gently step on her back feet when she is jumping. I can't tell you if it works, because that is difficult to accomplish when you are trying to protect yourself. In the past I have used bringing up one leg and they bump into your knee, but in your condition I think that would be a little difficult. I also am working on trying to soothe her with voice tone while showing her affection. There is always asking your vet for idea's also. Good luck Toni

Answer 5

It is a dominance issue. You are going to have to bite the bullet and get firm with the dog. I do not recommend negative re-enforcement as a regular means of punishment, but I recommend it as means to distract them from thier stubornnes to learn.

Next time she jumps on you shove her off hard, and say "NO!" firmly (dont worry she's a dog she can stand some roughhousing). You must do this everytime she does it. Make sure to do this for at least 1-3 weeks consistantly. If she is still doing this after an acceptable amount of time then you must get physical with her. As I said before SHOVE her off of you, and say "NO", then slap her on the *** (open-handed) hard. (NO and Bad Dog are interchangeable depending on how your dog is trained) This will surely get through to her that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable.

Also praise is needed for when she is understanding what you want. Say you walk in the door and she comes running. If she tries to jump on you and you yell "NO", "Bad Dog" whatever and she stops then praise her.

Answer 6

dont ask me how, but i SWEAR this works. works on big dogs, little dogs, excited dogs, mean dogs... jumpers, lickers, biters, etc. when she does the unwanted action, immediately say no and look up, straight up, and fold your arms across your chest. after a few seconds, you can talk to someone while continuing to ignore the dog. this works better if youre standing, but also works while sitting, all visitors should do the same, ignore the dog til she returns to good behavior then praise her.

Answer 7

i know how you feel. i have a 75 lb boxer dog, and he is CRAZY! if ur dog is still young like mine(1 yr. old), she'll get out of that stage. and u mite wana put her in training.and maybe buy a baby-gate or 2 to keep her in a separate room when visitors come over.

Answer 8

try locking her up with a baby gate in a room secluded from others- we have a german sheperd who is HUGE and jumps up on company, and in the hallway, we have a baby gate- he is locked in the kitchen-he can see us, hear us, and talk to us, but he cant jump. that or i would put her in a bedroom without contact as a punishment, until she stops jumping, every time she starts. good luck!

Answer 9

When she goes to jump on you gently put your knee up so she gets your knee instead of you or either step lightly on her back foot when she jumps up it has worked with our 3 and they are 90-100lbs.

Answer 10

Why don't you try NILF (nothing in Life is free)

And Leadership!

you can google both of these and get some answers good luck