How can I keep my dog from jumping on visitors when they ring the doorbell and come in for a visit?

Question

She is a lovely nice dog, but is very big (40kg), black and frightens make people when they come by and ring the bell. I really think that many friends (especially with little kids ... we have to little ones too) don't visit because of this. Today she jumped on my pregnant neighbour (to say hello!) and well this has got to stop!

Answer 1

take your dog to a training class. but first put a leash on teh dog if you can't control her at the door. the training class will show you how to teach her to sit and stay. she is not to be acknowledged by the guest until she is calm and comfortable with them. keep ahold of the leash and if she gets up make her sit back down and say SIT in a frim but not angry or loud voice. keep repeating this until she relaxes and can be decent about greeting people. and once she's doing well in training you can ditch the leash and use voice only. but be consistant. don't do this just for the people it bothers, do it for everyone that comes into your house. find a friend that is not scared of your dog and have them ring the bell and help you practice. it's going to take time since she's older and has gotten away with this for awhile, but consistancy is the key.



while treats may work to get the initial response, you could encounter this behavior when you are out or don't have any treats. treat training is a great way to get the desired action at first, if your dog is treat motivated. but slowly take away the treats. don't give her one every third time, then every 5th and so on until she does it because you have taught her to respect you.

Answer 2

You need to practice some common obedience with her first. Teach her to "Sit" and "Stay" and work on the command "Down" whenever she starts jumping on people (even in play, never let a dog jump on people), then work up to de-programming her current reaction to visitors at the door. She will need to "Sit" before you open the door and "Stay" where she is sitting as your guests come in. At that point she can say hello, but will not be allowed to jump. If she does, say "Down" and extend your hand out flat over her (not in a striking pose, just in a talk to the hand posture) or clap in the air just above her as you say "Down". After awhile, she will begin to understand the etiquette required when people arrive. Right now, she just doesn't understand what you want from her. Consistency and training should help with that. Good luck!

Answer 3

Ah, the eternal question. Unfortunately, although you perceive this as "saying hello" it is actually an act of aggression and dominance. The typical attempt to fix this take persistence and planning. Have people come to the door when you expect them and discipline her with a firm "NO" BEFORE she jumps on the person. Timing is key. You can use a noise maker if she startles and your NO is ineffective.

If this is ineffective for you, the next stop is to "knee your dog over" when she jumps. This also takes timing. You don't want to hurt your dog, you want to throw her off balance so she falls over when she jumps up. This also takes consistency and some dogs may "get it" with you but continue with strangers.

If you get to this point, shock collars are effective. Don't try to hurt your dog with the collar. That isn't the point. Most dogs will respond to the tingle. Some breeds, Alsatians are one, will need a stronger "shock", but work up to it slowly. You want the least strong shock that is effective. Don't be cruel.

Good luck.

Answer 4

It's important that ANYONE who walks through the door (including you and the family) completely ignore her by not even looking, speaking or touching her. The only response should be to look away and gently brush her off from you.
When dogs are small they learn to jump up cos they look cute and we encourage it, but it's a bad habit to learn. If she starts to learn that jumping up now results in absolutely no feedback, she will stop wanting to do it. Good luck, Josie.

Answer 5

I promptly get scared because of the fact i think of somebody would attempt to break or injury me. So I do bounce as much as the ceiling as quickly as I hear the doorbell ring. i surely get scared while somebody knocks on the door. I suddenly think of OMG who's THAT! RUN!. i do no longer open the door till somebody else does it.

Answer 6

Hi
Ask visiters to ignore your jumping dog and turn their backs on her.
Ask her (dog) to sit and reward for sitting and staying while your visiters enter. Store some treats near the door so that only u can reach them.
Ask visiters to ignore dog until it has settled and then she can only get attention from them when she is seated.

Answer 7

My dog does the same thing,so I just lock him in a room or take him outside when somebody comes over and my dog weights about the same at 80lbs

Answer 8

the standard method is bend a leg at the knee lifting your foot off the floor and tell him/her down. be consistent with words used in training don't ever scold the dog after calling it to come to you go to it and scold reward when they listen to you. good luck

Answer 9

You need to keep the dog on a leash or in another room. It is hat simple.

Answer 10

Teach her to sit when people arrive. She lacks training.