Overly enthusiastic doodles

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Okay I give a lot of advice and now I am looking for some. My, just turned one, medium ALD "Roo" is a sweetheart. He heels, sits, stays, downs, and down stays. He does not bark overly much anymore thanks to a good trainer and an e-collar. However, He STILL jumps up on everyone who comes in the door except me. Even my husband. He really tries to stay on all fours, but his enthusiasm overcomes him 9 out of 10 times. My trainer has suggested a leash bolted to the floor/wall by his bed or at the far end of the front hall. For various reasons, this is just not happening. He is getting better outside of the house when he greets people and I know EVENTUALLY he will get the message in the house also. I have tried going outside with him on a leash and meeting people on more neutral territory. Does not really change anything. My next option is to just put him in the laundry room (his "Crate") when people arrive and wait for him to settle. Ideas?

[Adina P]

Did he KICK Marley or was a it just a swift raise of the knee? We've always used the kneeing maneuver and it is quite effective, but if friends feel uncomfortable doing it they will get jumped on.

Also if anyone decides to raise his/her knee so the dog hits the knee...be sure you do it non-chalantly so it's not 'personal' but just a 'law of nature' type of correction. No "bad dog" or yelling or stare down. Simply lift your knee FAST in an upward motion...the dog will hit your knee and decide it is more pleasant to keep four feet on the floor. But you have to be consistent and NOT give attention for other jumping behavior.

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

We us the knee with Cealeach, at home, and it works very well! However, our problem is, though she tries so hard to BE A GOOD GIRL, she just can;'t sit without sproinging straight up in the air and giving a kiss on the lips to the nearest person, when we are out and about. We take her and our Mastiff to the flea market and walking about town, every week. Cealeach is good and will sit and let people pet her...then she will unexpectedly jump straight up and slobber in someone's mouth. It does not make for happy visitors. Though most people laugh and say it is OK because they have a dog (usually a Lab) that does the same thing. It wouldn't even be so bad if she just licked them, but she has to do this strange thing where she sucks your lips and gets dog spit in your mouth! LOL

We explain that Cealeach is only 10 months old and is not quite consistent with her manners yet.

[Adina P]

LOL--behavior wise...spitting image of my THULE! She does the SAME thing...air kisses of surprise!

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

Off the record, I think it is funny, but it is not a good thing for Cealeach to do...plus she may hurt someone jumping up in their faces.

We hope that she will outgrow this behavior and that Bella (Mastiff) will rub off on her just a little (super laid back dog).

One can only hope! LOL

[Adina P]

Thule is 3 and has not outgrown it. I also only think it's funny "off the record." It is not safe and she jumped up and bonked me hard on the cheek once while I reached down to pick up a ball. It really spooked me...her head is HARD! But there is no way Thule will ever be like I imagine your Mastiff is. So my guess is Cealeach won't naturally be that way either...hopeless bouncy doodles!

[Sandy]

I love that book! I read it a couple of years ago. You couldn't help but love that dog - AND be glad it wasn't your dog. :)

Toby is jumping up horribly. At me, at the counter, at us on the couch.....I never wear nice clothes anymore! If there is any suggestion other than kneeing (he's only 14 1/2 weeks - probably too young to knee), I'll take them. I do block him with my knee, but I certainly can't put any weight behind it yet.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

An update from Roo and Tigger, whose mom originated this discussion. We have not given up!! We have trained mom to bring the treat jar to the door and shake it and give us treats when we sit between jumps. She is difficult to train as we have been unable to train her yet to also kiss and bump and hold on the clothes of the person visiting us, so they cannot leave. We are patient with her though and jump on her and then the nice visitor, so we are sure she will eventually get it. She needs to give kisses and treats to the visitor without making him sit on the floor. That is why we keep jumping up. We have noticed that humans always greet each other on two feet and never sit on the floor in the hall. Sometimes they sit on the floor in the playroom, but usually they sit on the furniture. This, of course means that we need to get in their laps, or least the front half of us. Mom never does this either. Boy is she a slow learner, or what? (Note from mom - thanks for all the tips, and it really really is good to know I am not alone.)

[323jfej66hz9c]

Gee, sounds like Casey, the North American Bouncing Doodle! She is 18 months old and jumps and bounces like a nut case no matter who comes in ...she just loves people and can't contain herself! I try and get her leashed up so I can control her, but I am not always ready all the time with 3 grown kids who pop in and out. Enthusiastic pups are an on going challenge. He will as you say EVENTUALLY get the message.

[Sessa]

I don't think this was put forth yet as a training option...if it was, I apologize in advance for being repetitive.

For working with visitors and door bell ringing, I use the command "go to your spot."

This encourages the dog to find their bed or location where they are comfortable, and go into a down/stay....in part, it works as a distraction from the initial excitement and gives them a ROUTINE to follow EVERYTIME a visitor pops in or the front door bell chimes.
The door is not opened until they do so--yes, your guests can wait. ;)
It helps to have a second person to make sure that the dog actually STAYS in their spot....if and when they do "find their spot", treat or praise profusely.
They are to stay in their spot until the guests have come in and moved into the home.
Continue to praise for a "good stay" as the guests enter.
Upon good behavior and staying in their spot calmly, we release with the command, "okay, go say hello."...which signals it is okay to get up and greet your visitors in a calm and polite manner...anything OTHER than calm and polite greetings, which means FOUR ON THE FLOOR, promptly gets met with a "uh-uh, go find your spot" and we repeat the process again.
Ideally, the moments of down/stay while a visitor enters the home (or even moves about your home), keeps your dog's enthusiasm under check and keeps their attention on YOU for the release...when ready, they are given the signal to greet by YOU--as opposed to them rushing the visitors on their own terms.

HOPE THIS HELPS, GOOD LUCK TO ALL!