Question for all the wise folk in this section

[daydreamnation]

So our lovely dog is a year now. She is a jack russell/chihuaha cross and I was just wondering if we sound as though we're doing things 'right'
She's our first dog, so total novices and I have 2 older dcs.
Her day briefly, she sleeps in her crate until 2ish and then whimpers until let out to sleep at the end of my bed. She stays there until dp gets up and he walks her off lead in our local park. She had 2 days where is alone for a few hours but never messes or chews anything, she uses our old cat flap to get into the garden which is totally enclosed so safe.
When we do leave her, whether it's for 10 minutes or a couple of hours she goes totally bonkers when we return, running up and down, jumping up at us etc she also jumps up at any guests, which because she's so small doesn't really seem a problem but now I'm wondering if she's poorly trained?
We haven't really done any training as such, as she is generally such a well behaved easy going little soul. People often remark that she behaves more like a cat and she is very friendly, affectionate and wonderful with my dcs (I'm not naive about this though!)
So, does it sound like we're doing ok? Or have we totally overlooked something?! I just didn't expect having a dog to be so easy and have watched friends tear their hair out struggling with their dogs

[Hakluyt]

She sounds quite like ours- who's 5. She's calm most of the time, but goes compltely ballistic when we come home.And she's very cat like too.....

I think, though that it's essential for a dog to come at once if called, to sit and stay and to walk nicely on a lead. Can she do those things? If not maybe you could work on them?

[daydreamnation]

She can for dp as he takes her for her big walks alone or he's with us if we all go out as a family. She doesn't for the rest of us but because I spend most of my time with her in the house I suppose I've overlooked it. Our relationship is based on her following me from room to room, waiting for an opportunity to sit on my lap! The dcs walk her often but always on a long lead, at home she likes to sit next to them (or on them!) while they play, do homework etc
She does respond well to me, for example, she will follow commands like 'into bed' which we ask her to do when we're eating to avoid the begging!
Is she too old to take for training?

[MitchellMummy]

She sounds lovely. I would try to stop her jumping up at people (may get upset at muddy paws on best trousers). Definitely not too late to take her to training - you'd prob both enjoy it.

[daydreamnation]

Do I ask at the vets about this? Maybe the dcs and I could go.
She is so lovely, I fear I maybe at fault, I'm fairly laid back as a parent (in a loving not neglectful way!) and I think I've 'raised' the dog in the same way, she's seriously laid back

[TheHappinessTrap]

Ours are similar but maybe more on the placid side. They do get really excited when we come home and the young one might jump up a bit but, and it feels a little mean, when she does I put my hands away (fold my arms or something) and turn away from her. This stops her jumping up and I return to cuddling her back. In my house we look forward to the dog welcome as much as the dogs look forward to greeting us so they usually get a great hello back for their efforts! When company arrive at the door one of usually navigates the greeting to keep the one that's more likely to jump from jumping.

That being said I have been caught off guard. Returning home with a bunch of crap in my hands and the dogs out in the garden with OH... in the mud and rain. Jumpy dog comes in, sees me, gets excited. I was facing the counter putting down the crap and she planted two muddy paws on my butt. I was wearing pale jeans, this got a lot of laughs.

[TheoriginalLEM]

Op can you possibly take my two jrts and give them back when you have worked your magic? She sounds just lovely.

Ibe question? why does she sleep in her crate until2 then you let her in bed? why not just have her in bed from the start so you don't have to get up in the middle of the night

[Hakluyt]

We love the greetings too-and she always counts and makes sure we're all there. It's sad since dd went to university- she always has a quick check behind us because she knows she's one human short!

[daydreamnation]

I guess the muddy paws/best trousers scenario is what I was thinking of! Trouble is, all our regular guests are massively amused by her ridiculously enthusiastic greeting and almost encourage the jumping up!

She sleeps in her crate because when dp and I go up to bed, she follows us up and goes straight in there, she then sits there waiting for the door to be shut and then snuggles down

[pigsDOfly]

She sounds brilliant.

My lovely dog is also my first, she 4yo now and is just a complete pleasure.

Do go to training with her; it's as much for training the owner as the dog. I found it enormously helpful as I too was a complete novice.

Try to find a training school through recommendation rather than sticking a pin in a name in the Yellow Pages. Also you want a trainer who teaches with positive reinforcement based on a reward system.

1 year is still a very young dog. It's never too late to start training as you never really stop. You can have a lot of fun, it can also be very frustrating at times, but it will help you create a stronger bond with her as she learns to respond to your instructions.

I always get a little lift when I call my dog and she rushes back to me and plonks her bum on the ground with a 'look how clever I am, where's my treat' expression on her face.

[LokiBuddyBoo1]

I too have a chihuahua cross Jrt and he is calm and laid back but he too also goes nuts and jumps up when I return home if I've left him for 10 minutes or an hour or so its the same level of excitement. I think it's a breed characteristic as I know two others that are exactly the same.
He's been to puppy training classes beginner and advanced but he still does this when I come home I figure it's just because he missed me.
When home he's calm and follows me from room to room and likes nothing more than sleeping on lieing across my shoulder while I watch TV.

[daydreamnation]

That sounds just like our pooch! She calms down after a few minutes and then is a totally different dog. Today was a perfect example of how she is, leave her for a few hours while we go shopping = 2 minutes of comedy dancing, charging up and down, leaping across furniture etc when we return.Leave her for 20 seconds while putting something in the bin = pretty much the same reaction
They do seem to be a sweet breed though and I'm blown away by exactly how much I love her!!!