Any advice on training my gorgeous but crazy flat coat retriever?

[LittlePebble]

I have a wonderful, crazy, hairy, licky flat coat retriever bitch who is 18 months old. She's far too clever and lots of fun, but she's big and bouncy and a bit of a klutz.
She's great at home with me and DS (5months) but as soon as anyone comes over or we go to someone's house she gets ridiculous! She is so excited to see people she stands on their feet, tries to jump up or chew their wrists (never does this with DP or I) and generally behaves like a hooligan.
We've told everyone to turn away if she jumps up, have asked people to knock and wait before coming in so I can get her to sit, but as soon as she sees someone she ignores treats as she's just so excited.
Any suggestions on what to do next would be great.

Does she like to play tuggy toys? My pup was very much like this. Every time anyone came over I brought out the very special dead squirrel thingy that he loves and we had a play with that. It's been a slow and ongoing progress but he is starting to get that if someone comes in he can run straight to me for a game. except FIL who winds him up till he's mental flying round the room and then buggers off home

Thanks inthepotty she loves a pheasant toy or a ball but it doesn't seem to distract her in the initial stage of someone arriving.

Can you borrow a friend to help you train her to get used to people arriving? Have her sit or go to her bed or whatever you want her to do when people come to the door, and then ask the friend to go away whenever she gets too excited. Then try again. It might take ten goes before she can sit still while the person comes in, but she'll get there in the end.

I would keep her on a lead at first and just ask everyone to completely ignore her. They mustn't talk to her, touch her or look at her. As she has a lead on you can prevent her from approaching them. Then once she has calmed down you can reward her with treats if you like. She will soon learn that everyone else is boring, but sticking with you is more fun and she'll get treats. When she can be calm on the lead you can let her off once people are in/she is settled and eventually work up to not needing the lead at all.

Thanks redwing and midori I haven't tried the lead. We tried DP arriving but as he's not so exciting maybe a friend would be a good idea.... Will have a go with both.