Jumping Up on Visitors

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

How do we get our Doodle to stop jumping up on family and friends when they come in the house?

[LucyR]

Most direct way is to instruct the people who are coming into your house to turn their backs when doodle starts to jump, fold their arms over their chests, and "stand like a tree" until jumping stops.  This is for everyone, kids especially.  Have a treat handy and when jumping stops, reward with a "Good No Jump" response. Not before!   Some train their dogs to stay when the doorbell rings, but that doesn't always solve the jumping problem when they are released. 

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Thank you so much, we will definitely try this method.  We are just exhausted from trying to keep her off of people.

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

First off - the dog is jumping because there is a pay off. The pay off can be touching the dog, his being petted when he stands up on you, if you're waving your arms around going get down, get down (see it from the dog's perspective....this would look like play to your dog and your dog doesn't speak English), even looking directly at the dog. Turning or lifting your knee is most likely not going to stop the dog from jumping. Dogs will jump on your back if it looks like a play movement to them. With family members, I agree with the "be a tree" that Lucy refers to. When your dog gets down...and he will if you don't look at or talk to or touch your dog. WAIT AT LEAST 10 seconds BEFORE TREATING YOUR DOG. Each time you are "being a tree" and the dog gets down, add time to the wait before you treat your dog. You need to get up to at least  30 seconds. If you immediately treat your dog, you will be reinforcing the jumping behavior- the dog thinks...Jump up, sit down = get a treat. You need to help your dog understand he's being treated for the sit, not the jump. While you're working on the behavior modification, when you're expecting guests, put a leash on your dog. Tell your guests to ignore your dog. When they come in, step on the leash just enough so your dog can't jump up. Have the dog sit, then he can be petted. If he pops up again, the petting stops. Treat and praise for staying seated. Remember, you need to positively reinforce what you want the dog to do, and ignore what you don't want.If you want to give the dog a vocal command AFTER he understands what you want him to do, use the word OFF, not down. Down is for lie down. Sure hope this helps. This is not at all harsh, no loud voice, no yelling...I've done this exercise with every client I have with jumping dogs and it works. :-)

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

It does not sound harsh at all.  It seems to be very workable and we will try both plans with our dog.  She seems to be the worse when family comes in because they all want her to react to them and be happy.  I will lay some new "laws" down until we get this jumping stopped.  Thank you!  I really like the leash idea.

[Lynette Main]

We are also working on this.I have three doodles aged three. They all want to race to the door to greet people. Two are going to obedience classes. I think with proper training this action will be better. Hope so. Its tough when there are multiple dogs,and everyone loves them and starts talking to them. They get really excited.

[Sharon Banks]

We taught jake to park it which means go to your bed he does it and stays there until he is calm and quiet.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Oh, I only wish for calm and quiet when someone comes in.  Libby is a little better when strangers come in, but if our grown up kids and grandchildren come in, it ALL OVER!  She goes crazy!  We are working on it, s l o w l y . . . 

[Tobi Greene]

It's been a long time I see from when this was posted, but I am in the exact same situation here with my doodle, Emma.  The family loves her because she is so darn cute and lovable, but the family comes, Emma is all over them.  I've been reading some of the solutions from some of the other members and have tried them all.  I am guessing that consistency is the operative word here.  Each time they come over, I must make sure we all turn our backs and I must have Emma leashed so that she cannot get to them until she is calmer.  If you have solved this problem with any other techniques, please let me know.  Thanks

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Hi Tobi!   Libby still jumps with family because they encourage it, but much better than when she was young.  We did the "turn your back" with family and it does work for Libby.  Now, when family comes in if I say to her "off" she will, BUT my daughters, sons and granddaughters say "oh Mom, Mum (thats what my granddaughters call me) don't be so cruel".  Oh my!!!!  They all just love her so much, but "hello" we want her to stay off!   We have mastered it when stangers come in, she just does not jump on them or pester them any more!  I did not like to ask strangers to turn their backs, so we put her on a short leash and kept her close to us and used the "off" command.  It took ahwile, but it worked.   

[Tobi Greene]

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Lonnie.  It's funny...I just noticed you call your doodle Libby Lu because we call Emma, Emma Lou sometimes.  We also started putting Emma on the sort leash and it does work.  I just have to be consistent,, consistent, consistent.  Also, I signed up for another training class.  Maybe if Emma gets out more with other dogs and I work on my commands more, we will see a better behaved Emma.  My adult children will turn their backs to Emma, but the grandkids not so much.  I'll just have to leash Emma till she's past the over excited stage of each of their visits.  Lots to be learned here and I"m grateful for even the past posts because so many of the issues I have with my pooch seem to be covered in those postings.  Thanks again for answering.

[Christy & Libby]

I don't know. I find that having guests turn their back only encourages my doodle to try harder by jumping higher. LOL! Anybody use some other tricks?

[Rose Mullally]

I have been looking everywhere for help with jumping. I tried the knee it does not work, I tried turning around & he jumps on the back, I stepped on the leash & he lunged and jumped knocking me down & I now have a broken wrist, in a cast for 6 wks. & can't walk him at all since it is my right dominant hand. He is 14 months, about 70 lbs, and still gets so excited with visitors, dogs, squirrels, strangers passing, you name it. He is wonderful at home 1 on 1, but I would like to take him out aNd about with me. Any suggestions? He also gets very mouthy/nippy when he is excited.