Help... puppy gets jumpy/overly excited when meeting others..

[Kim, Abby & Beckett]

Hello all. I am hoping you can provide some advice and training tips for my puppy and I. My little girl is very obedient, for the most part. I rarely have issues with her and can walk with her without a leash. She completed both the AKC Star Puppy and the AKC Good Canine Citizen courses. She took the puppy test and passed, but I haven't had the nerve to take her to get tested for Good Canine Citizen. 

Here's why: Abby is a people person. In training classes she has cared more about the handlers than the other dogs. I guess that is the golden retriever in her. This, however, is the problem. I can get her to sit next to me while someone walks up to say hello, but as soon as they get close she goes nuts. She either wants to jump or spin around. She is just so darn excited to say hello and shower someone with puppy kisses. How do I correct this behavior? Thankfully she really isn't jumping on me or people she knows. She has learned that sitting gets you more attention than jumping up and acting like a fool. However, she doesn't equate that behavior out in public with new people. And trying to get her attention and manage/correct the behavior is a struggle. Of course, once I bear hug/hold her and the person pets her, she calms down and is fine. But that takes a while and isn't always easy. I am sure a lot of this is because of her age. She is only 7 months old. But I would like to nip it in the bud early so it doesn't get out of control and she knocks someone down when she gets bigger.

I understand socialization is a huge part of this. Getting her out in public and meeting people. I haven't been able to do that in a while because she was spayed and has stitches. But another issue that comes with taking her out for real world practice is other people. When they ask to pet her, I say ok, but let me get her to sit and calm before you approach. Of course when they approach, Abby will jump a bit. I say no and ask her to sit and try to correct the behavior, but the other person will say I don't mind or it's ok and cue her to jump up on them. At that point, I politely try to say I am trainer her not to do that, it is not ok and I usually get Abby to walk away. I know it is rude, but instead of helping and teaching her. I feel like they are making it worse.

Please.. if you have any helpful tips or suggestions, share. I look forward to hearing and trying them. 

[Midge and Gracie]

My Gracie is a mini and she gets overly excited and pees!  We have trained her to respond to "off" however people want to great her in such an enthusiastic manner that it causes a laugh.  I warn everyone to be calm and talk in a sotto voce so as not to encourage her.  We love her and know this could be worse.  My trainer calls it submissive peeing and that she is scared but doesn't show it.  Hopefully we will grow out of it.

[Kim, Abby & Beckett]

Thankfully I haven't had to deal with the peeing problem, although I have know a few dogs that have had that issue. I am really hoping Abby will grow out of this and learn that she is going to receive attention for just sitting there and being adorable. No need for the raucous behavior. 

[Leslie & Axl Sacks]

Hi.  Is Abby on a leash when she acts like this?  We had some issues with Axl getting all excited & jumpy when he was younger, what puppy doesn't? We put on his leash in the house when we knew people were coming to the door  & just gave him a tiny tug each time he started to go in for the jump.  Of course people who love dogs don't usually care if they jump, which didn't help. As he got a little bigger we started gently kneeing him in the chest as he started to jump.  We also find that turnning around with your back to him helps.  It seems a bit rude but it really works when my parents come over.  He loses interest in about 10 seconds and then just walks over to them , sits down & says hi.  All of these techniques were suggested by our trainer who also tells us that when he's in his electric fence collar and gets jumpy, we can just beep him (not buzz) him and he gets the picture. Good luck!

[Kim, Abby & Beckett]

Yes, Abby is on the leash when it is happening. She doesn't jump up much off leash in the house. She knows that she will get more attention sitting inside than she would jumping up. So that training has work. However, outside on the leash is a completely different story. I am looking for advice more when she is on the leash walking around the neighborhood or elsewhere. For example, she adores my neighbor. But when we are walking and I have her sit, she does and as soon as the neighbor gets close and leans in to pet her, Abby goes nuts (in a happy, good, I love you kind of way). I am just looking to break that behavior. It is the only task in the Good Canine Citizen test she can't complete. Have a stranger walk up, say hello and pet your dog without the dog jumping or getting out of control. Funny enough, the part of the test where another dog owner and dog walks up to you while you're walking your dog, stops, shakes hands with you and walks away, Abby nails every time. It is her excitement for direct attention that is her downfall. 

[Jennifer]

If she's already on the leash, can you step on it so she doesn't have the opportunity to jump?

For example, could you practice having people come up and greet her while you have your foot on the leash not giving her enough slack to jump up... then gradually start giving her a little more slack in the leash to see how she does?

[Kim, Abby & Beckett]

I will give it a shot.. although, it doesn't really matter when she gets overly excited, she will do a jump spin combo that is insane. She is cute and adorable and people give her a pass. I just feel like a bad mommy, which is sad because she is so good with commands. For example, when we walk and come to a spot where we need to cross the road. I say stop, she does, sit, she does and she waits until I say ok to move forward. So she is selective on her obedience, I guess.