Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

6 month old lab started jumping up at people again

3 replies

YeahBut · 18/01/2011 13:45

We did the turn our back and ignore routine when she first arrived and she doesn't jump up at us, the DC or anyone she sees regularly. However, recently she's started jumping up (in massively over enthusiastic excitement) at strangers we meet walking and visitors to the house.

She's 20 kilos now and could easily knock someone over, plus it's extremely intimidating for children and adults that are a bit nervous around dogs. They're not to know that she's a great big sook and I don't want her to frighten anyone.
I'd like to nip it in the bud and would appreciate any suggestions.

OP posts:
CalamityKate · 18/01/2011 14:32

She has worked out that jumping at people she knows doesn't work, but that jumping at people she doesn't, does. Dogs don't generalise very well.

For the jumping at strangers, you need to a) Prevent her practising the behaviour (put her onlead or distract her with a toy or something when you approach a stranger - in time, the appearance of a stranger will become a cue to have a game with you and she won't even give them a second thought) b) Work on recall (see "Prevent her from practising the behaviour) and c) Set up some situations where you can meet a "Stranger" (maybe rope someone your dog hasn't met before and tell them the drill - the more the better) so that she learns that the "four on the floor" rule applies to EVERYONE. A training class could help enormously.

Same with people coming to the house - prep them before they come in, if they're willing to co-operate. If they're not (The gas man might not have time to spend 2 minutes turning his back on your dog lol) then put her onlead so that she can practise meeting people calmly, without jumping up.

YeahBut · 19/01/2011 01:06

Well, when we're out she is on a gentle leader (at the recommendation of the puppy management trainer and the vet) because she pulls so hard on the lead she is in danger of collapsing her trachea. I correct her as soon as she tries to jump, but then she goes into this kind of frenzy.

OP posts:
YourKiddingMe · 19/01/2011 03:47

In the house it is best to bypass the exciting phase "people entering" by placing her behind a baby gate, or in the kitchen, ask your guests to be seated and give it 5 minutes before you alow her to enter, she will immediately make a bee line for the guests, ask them to ignore her, if after a few minutes she is still attention seeking, take her by the collar and place her back out for 5 minutes.
Repeat this until she realises she only remains in the room when she is calm, if she gets no reaction, she will no doubt go from person to person to get the reaction/attention she so seeks and if everyone ignores her, she will become bored, and by ignore I mean no talking, arm movement (even to push her away) and no speak.
Give her a few minutes beofore you remove her and again, no talk from you, just guide her out by her collar.
When she does become bored and settles, throw her a treat, still no talk or touch, you will only insight her to get up.

Introduce a bed to the main room and practice giving her commands to go "in your bed" and again treat her, you can then impliment the command when guests are in the house and she will then have somewhere to go when told instead of always placing her out, eventually give her a quick stroke then go back to being calm and ignore, so she remains calm.
Offer up plenty of exercise to calm her energy levels when training with her.

When passing the street, I would choose a "treat" she would not usually get, small pieces of cheese/chicken, and get her focus with them by holding it in the palm of your hand whilst the person is approaching and let her sniff, thus keeping her attention on you, let her take the treat from your hand exactly as you pass, this way she know to focus on you, and has a positive associator, add a "watch" as an extra command so you can use it and she knows wha is about to come a lovely "tasty treat" but encourage people not to encourage her to become excited.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread