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The doghouse

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Original poster

dogs jumping up at guests

28 replies

AlphaSchmalpha · 07/11/2010 17:52

I've posted the gist of this in WWYD, but thought it would be a good idea to ask dog owners about this situation - any views gratefully received, thank you!

If you had a friend (ie me) who came to your house for a weekend visit with her ds (3.5) and your two big dogs jumped up at both the friend and her ds, wouldn't leave the ds alone (licking his feet and sniffing at his face) and were obviously frightening him, what would you do?

Would you mind if the friend asked nicely if next time they visited if the dogs could be kept completely apart from her ds? Or would you be hurt / offended / think that the friend could damn well stay elsewhere?

(friend does not have dcs btw but adores ds and he loves seeing her)

OP posts:

DooinMeCleanin · 07/11/2010 18:01

Well I don't let me dog do that. It's not very polite is it? My dog is trained in manners (ish)

However if you requested that I kept my well mannered away from you, then I'd suggest that could stay elsewhere if you were not happy.

My house. My rules. If you do not like my dogs, don't come round (coz they probably don't like you either )

Not sure what you should do about your friend. I'd be mortified if my dogs behaved like that.

Original poster

AlphaSchmalpha · 07/11/2010 18:02

that's the problem then Dooin - if the dogs were better behaved, there wouldn't be a problem, I love a well behaved dog! but if I say anything I am basically saying her dogs are not well trained?

OP posts:

DooinMeCleanin · 07/11/2010 18:06

Maybe you could request that they are put in crates/another room until everyone is in and settled.

It's normally the excitement of new people suddenly arriving and all the meeting and greeting that over excites dogs.

If I have a lot of people coming around at once, my older dog is crated until every one is in. He tends to stay a lot calmer this way. The little puppy we have had since she was very young, so she has been well socialised at the school agtes and is used to seeing lots of people at once, so she doesn't bother much anway.

Rebeccash · 07/11/2010 18:09

My (big) dog wouldn't do this and they should be trained not to (unless she only recently got them/they are pups) so I would have to say something but in a diplomatic way.

minimu1 · 07/11/2010 18:15

I wouldn't mind you asking but would really hope that I had noticed that my quests were uncomfortable and being hassled by my dogs.

The fact that your friend doesn't realise your discomfort is a bit worrying. Some people can get a bit weird if you ask them to put their dogs away as they treat their dogs like DC's. However I would that would not stop me asking!

ditavonteesed · 07/11/2010 18:25

to those of you with advice, how do you go about training this out of dog? my dog does this and my mum and best mate who are the most regular visitors ignore her until she stops and then give her fuss, I try to keep her out of the way of other guests when they arrive or distract her with some training.
She also jumps up at random people so ends up being suck on the lead more than I would like, problem is other dog owners tend to fuss her or even give her treats which just reinforces it.

DooinMeCleanin · 07/11/2010 18:29

Minimu will have a better answer, but what I did with Devil Dog was find guests who like dogs and are not scared of bouncy dogs.

I invited them around (armed with treats) and instructed them not to pay any attention to him at all until all four paws were on the groud. Then they could give him the treat and attention.

He soon learnt that quickest way to get what he wanted was to stay calm. He now only goes nuts when my Dad comes round, as he has always ignored my instructions to ignore the dog

Original poster

AlphaSchmalpha · 07/11/2010 18:45

thanks all for the thoughts.

minimu, I think that she is just so crazy about the dogs that she doesn't realise that anyone else might find them less than charming all the time. she does tell them to go away or get down, but they are soon back and hassling poor ds. he literally leaps up to me, and then is practically climbing onto my shoulders to stay out of reach. I also dislike a big dog jumping up at me, their paws are up on my shoulders when they do so and it is very intimidating even though they are gentle and good natured animals.

OP posts:

kid · 07/11/2010 21:11

My puppy isn't is being trained not to jump up at people, but its a long slow process at the moment.

If you were visiting me, I would remove the dog from the room if he was bothering your DS. But, I would invite him back in to continue with the training, I'd never ignore him being naughty without correcting his behaviour.

If you suggested that my dog be kept away from your DS, I would be offended, it wouldn't matter how nicely it was said. My house is also my dogs house, the thought of him being banished to another room would not happen (he is my puppy/baby!)

If you said something along the lines of 'I don't think we'll be able to stay because of DS gets really scared of the dog jumping up'
I'd far more likely suggest that I kept the dog in a different room then you would get the result you wanted

midori1999 · 08/11/2010 10:21

My dogs are very well trained and very well behaved. However, house guests aren't always and sometimes, if the guests behave really badly, my dogs do get very, very tempted to jump up.

I think you should discuss with your friend, but find a solution and I don't think that is to shut the dogs away. If you don't react to the dogs' unwanted attention (and I do appreciate it is hard to get a child not to react) then they will soon get very bored and realise you will not lavish attention on them (any kind of arm waving, pushing off, saying 'no!', screeching or screaming/crying is seen as attention by dogs).

You could ask her maybe to keep them on their leads and keep them focused on her with treats until they calm down. If she even keeps lots of treats on her and asks the dogs to lay down next to her when you're there, periodically giving them treats, they will soon realise the correct plave to be when visitors come.

It is partly about the dogs when they behave like this, but it's mainly about the humans.

Madsometimes · 08/11/2010 13:34

My dog does jump up at people, and I am trying to train him not to, but it is a slow process.

I know that my dog has a problem with jumping, and I am mortified if he jumps at little children. Therefore I always lock him in the kitchen when young visitors come. He is so sociable, and loves people, but I do appreciate that not everyone loves him. No-one would need to ask me to put my dog in another room, I would have done it anyway!

Praline · 08/11/2010 13:36

I would say perhaps you should not come again.

Alouiseg · 08/11/2010 13:38

My dog is a jumper, he's just completely over excited every time the door goes.

I don't want to ignore him when I walk through the door. By the same token id like him not to jump at at people. Dilemma.

Original poster

AlphaSchmalpha · 08/11/2010 15:45

thanks again for all thoughts. kid, your way of putting it is a good one I think. praline not visiting is not an option, I'm not going to stop being friends with her, just want to find a way of sorting this out without hurting her feelings.

I had read about ignoring dogs completely when they jump up but my friend tells them "no" or "get down" or whatever, so I guess she is giving them attention. I think it would be impossible to get a 3 yr old not to react though.

dogs are 3 yo btw, not puppies.

OP posts:

FlameGrilledMama · 08/11/2010 22:09

My 1 yo labrador does this and it is mortifying. I have tried everything but the problem I have is my nan (who hates dogs) walks straight in my house and then screams when he runs at her therefore reinforcing behaviour. I keep him behind a gate for young or nervous visitors op.

Does anyone know of granny classes I can send her to?

Slubberdegullion · 09/11/2010 11:40

Alpha, I would start with explaining that your ds was frightened the last time you visited by the dogs jumping up, if your friend doesn't get the hint and offer to separate/control them they you could ask if she would mind if she put them in another room. I have several friends who are not dog keen and it is only polite to keep the dog either completely separated or under extremely close supervision when they come round.

I can't bear being jumped up at by other dogs so it was one of the first things I trained my pup out of. There is one dog who we occasionally meet on dog walks and I always grimace slightly inside as I know I'll be leaving the encounter with muddy paw prints all over my trousers and coat. The owner gives me this apologetic look and I'm muttering inside just train your dog NOT to do it fgs.

Slubberdegullion · 09/11/2010 11:51

Alpha I have trained my dds to 'be a tree' when my pup is behaving like a soviet missile (and when she used to jump up). Arms folded, and look away from the dog, stock still. We turned it into a game initially with me calling out 'be a tree' at random times even if they were nowhere near the dog.

Works very well with the dc and the dog.

Scruffyhound · 09/11/2010 12:08

Well if they are big dogs they should not be allowed to jump up your children incase they knock them over. I have had a doberman/rotty cross and a lurcher. I split with my husband and he kept the doberman/rotty. I kept the Lurcher shes a beaut! The doberman always jumped up visitors and was a pain we used a few tricks. One was keep her on a training lead when people came to the house she was allowed to greet them but no jumping up if she did this is was a tug and a "Bah" this noise is supposed to copy another dog who is annoyed and is supposed to stop them. this method did work for a while the other was keep her out of the way until people are in the house then let her in after 5 mins of people being there. We never allowed kids around as she was too full on not nasty just crazy! My lurcher is a fab dog she does not jump up she is very lady like and is a complete joy she has surgery today to remove a wart on her leg and head I miss her

Alouiseg · 09/11/2010 13:03

I can see how a dog can be trained to do something but "not" to do something is proving slightly more problematical. Or am I just being dense?

Slubberdegullion · 09/11/2010 13:11

yes, good point. Train your dog to do something instead of jumping up. I trained my dog to sit and wait on the doormat when the doorbell goes. If her bottom isn't on the floor then the door isn't opened. Likewise she has to sit when we meet people. If she does what I ask she sometimes gets a food treat as well as being allowed to say hello to the person.

GrimmaTheNome · 09/11/2010 13:11

Alouseg:
My dog gets excited when people come in - doesn't jump up (and even if he did would not be very far up ) but barky and rushes around. I can get him to be quiet but no-one else can. So I've put a spray bottle of water by the front door (labelled 'Anti Bark Spray') which DH or DD and her friends can use or more often simply wave in his direction. He's starting to get the message.

Slubberdegullion · 09/11/2010 13:13

the clicker is the king here I have to say. Makes it really easy for the dog to 'get it'.

Slubberdegullion · 09/11/2010 13:15

imo 'In your bed' command is also really useful if you have guests coming in who aren't overly keen on visitors.

Slubberdegullion · 09/11/2010 13:16

keen on dogs I mean

duh

Jajas · 09/11/2010 13:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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