How to train dog not to jump up....

[soakingfromtheschoolrun]

hi all :)
I have just recently rehomed a lab/staffy cross, Infact two weeks on monday :D
He's a great dog, they think around a year old, but not too sure as he was a stray. Great temperment, was rehomed before I got him, but brought back as 'he was too big for the house!'
Anyways, we have signed up and are on the waiting list for training classes, but on the meantime could do with some help....

He loves his walks, and needs them as overweight! But if anyone approaches him he jumps up. (I have him sitting down when dogs/people pass, but some still insist in coming close, although I always warn!) He is a strong dog, and means no harm but could easily knock a younger person over. I just cant seem to find away to stop him, and on the last walk a boy of around 8 came to pat him, I told him he will jump, best not to, but he came anyways and Toby jumped, didnt knock him over and the boy didnt mind, but I'd rather he didnt.

I should add I have a 5 and a 2 year old, and he doesn't jump on them.

Thanks!

you could try asking people to turn away from him and ignore him until he sits nicely then they can stroke him.

However this is not always very easy when you are out walking as the dog may be ahead of you and you feel a bit of a numpty asking everyone you see. You can practise when people visit or call at the door. If you do this all the time at home he should get better out and about too.

I can sympathise as my first dog loved people and I never really cured him, he only stopped when he was too old to physically jump anywhere!

Ohh jeez so possibly another 8 years then lol!

He is on a lead when we are anywhere with people around, and on a non pull harness. he has no manner on lead as never really walked before.

It's just a bit hard with children as they dont really understand.

On the last walk he met a dog off its lead, they were playing and jumping etc and toby was doing a bit of croch sniffing, the dog cocked his leg and pee'd on his face lol

I think I'd probably tell him sit and ask people to only pet him whilst he's sitting. If he breaks the sit they must stop. It can be tricky - people don't always listen! Have you got some friends and family that can come over to help?

Have you tried a halti lead.........some people are against them but it could crack the habit?

Also you could put your foot on the lead so that it is very short so he can't jump up BUT keep hold of the other end

I've taught our dog UP and DOWN... so he does get an outlet for jumping up when we come back from going away for 30 seconds to have a pee (which is such a tearful reunion for woofbags), and we let him jump up TO the command... followed by down when we've had enough - means he doesn't do it to complete randoms walking down the street. Depends if you're comfortable taking that approach or not - we do quite like our tornado of tail wag in the right situations.

He's another that was picked up as a stray and is currently lying on the rug, legs in the air out for the count! The one thing we did have as an issue was that he did the model dog routine for about a month and then when he got his paws under the table we had a spot of rebellion for a couple of weeks testing what he could get away with - but he's fabbo really!

Some random staffie at the park (lovely dog but poor thing was stuck in about half a tonne of leather and studs and looked like it had escaped from a bondage shop) came to see us the other day, jumped up at dog, then jumped up at hubby and scored a direct hit to the nadgers - owww!