jumping

[Yana and River]

My sixteen week old bundle of energy puppy has started jumping on everyone he meets.  My trainer has said to bring my knee into his chest and lightly push him away and turn. And follow with a command to sit and praise.

If anyone else had a better suggestion I would love to hear it . River is doing better, but we still need to work on him greeting new people.   Thanks

[Rose Mullally]

I, too, have this problem w/my 5 mo old. Was told to step into the jump- it doesn't work. Was told to stand on his leash but once he has jumped it's hard to do that and he is not always on leash. Was told to turn away from him but hen he jumps on the back and since he is not yet neutered...well, you know what that leads to and then it's really hard to get him off and calm. He also doesn't know how to play, he gets Soo excited and that turns into a wild running, jumping, growling and nipping fiasco. I would love to play frisbee or ball with him but it a horrible experience. Any advice? Oh, and while he can walk nicely on a leash there are times when out of nowhere he turns into "devil dog" he bucks and jumps like a horse, tries to bite, growls and is very difficult to control. He is 40 lbs. so it is a concern for me.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This seems to be an issue with lots of Doodle puppies.  Five months is when I usually think the pup is ready to begin some serious training.  Although focus can be a bit of an issue at this age I do think it's important to start working at establishing a few "rules".  I'm not a big fan of "kneeing" them...I don't think it works in the long run and it's difficult to execute.  With puppies at this stage, excitement is your enemy.  I would try to avoid getting them into an excited state....that seems to bring out all the bad behaviors.  As soon as the jumping or nipping starts I would crate them or have them lie down and stay quiet until they're calm.  And it's key that YOU stay calm.  One strategy that has worked well for some is to tether the puppy to you....this way you can correct before the behavior escalates.  When he meets new people it will help if you get ahead of the jumping by placing him in a sit as the person approaches...he does not get to meet them unless he is sitting.  Meeting the person is in itself the reward.....and keep the greetings as low key as possible.  My Doodles are still never allowed to meet anyone unless they're sitting calmly.  This means having them on leash and heeling up to the person...if they start to jump you'll need to turn around and try again.  There were plenty of times when after three or four tries I decided they were just too excited for the greeting and just didn't allow it.  I'm glad to see that you have a trainer and are starting obedience work....that's so important at this age.  Keeping them from "practicing" these behaviors is key along with giving them an alternative behavior (sitting), praising when them get it right, and correcting when they make a mistake, and most importantly doing this consistently.  Good luck.

[Yana and River]

Thanks, keeping him calm is key. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

In addition to Jane's excellent advice, it's really important to be sure that the puppy is never rewarded for jumping up. That means that nobody ever holds a treat or a toy above them or out of their reach and encourages them to jump for it or grab it, when playing or any other time. Lots of people do this, especially kids. (Do not teach "sit up pretty" tricks, either) The dog has to learn from day one that nothing good ever happens unless all four feet are on the ground. Everybody in the family and all visitors have to be on board with this. If the dog jumps on a guest and that person laughs, smiles, pets the dog, or gives any kind of positive attention or affection, the dog has just been rewarded for jumping on someone. As Jane said, you just simply don't allow them to meet or greet anyone unless they are in your control. 

One thing that works for me when someone else's dog jumps up on me is to take hold of their front paws and pretend to "dance" with them, or at least keep them upright in that position. It's amazing how fast they want to put those paws back on the ground. They may like jumping up on you, but they hate having the control taken away from them. 

[Yana and River]

Thats a great suggestion.  Thanks

[Breanna]

I've seen suggestions that you shouldn't pet or talk to the dog until he or she is calm. This means when you first get home or for somebody comes over. My puppy stays on all fours when I get home so I haven't really had to implement that. When she does jump I put my hand out toward her chest like a stop sign and say "off." She's learned the command and it works for us.

[Adina P]

Lifting a knee in a works for my husband.  It has yet to work for me.  The most it does is just 'block' the jump, which is useful but doesn't teach much.  I have been doing the dancing thing with Boca I just can't catch her fast enough every time.   She doesn't jump and bang on me with her paws as much as jump an inch away (which is still unsettling)....  It has taught her that if I raise my arms high and wave them around she sits instead of jumps.  But when it stems from HER own excitement, it has yet to prevent the jumping.  This is my toughest issue.  Getting strict with obedience helps a lot, though. I just haven't had time to keep up her training with two small kids.  However, if you can get serious about her obedience than you can put her into 'sit stays' anytime she's tempted to jump.

[BG and Gavin]

A big "no" to kneeing from me.  I would feel terrible if I injured my dog as the chest and ribs are one of the more vulnerable spots on dog.  As was touched on before always come and go without any fanfare.  When Gavin was a pup I would actively ignore him when I came in, putting down my purse, putting the groceries away etc. before even acknowledging him.  By this time he was settled.  Stopping others from making a fuss is the trick.  Especially children.  I used to tell them to "make like a tree and look for rain."  Once you start obedience, you can give him a competing response.  For example command him to sit or better yet lie down.  It will take time and work, but eventually he will get good at it.  I think it is maybe Jane that has trained her dogs to go lie on their beds when they hear the doorbell.  That is the ultimate in a competing response.

[Yana and River]

The trainer never suggested using such force to hurt the dog in any way. Our challenge is with meeting new people and small children when we are out and about.  Holding River back a little and putting him in "sit stay" seems to work the best for us.  It just amazes  me how quickly River learns. 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Riley is the most excitable enthusiastic greeter on the planet but he does respond to 'go to your crate' and that is where he is sent and it is there that he calms down (though you can hear his tail thumping big time in the crate) lol. This is the hardest issue IMO as often people will say they don't mind and they start flapping their hands around encouraging him. Boris, on the other hand quietly waits in the wings until Riley is sent to bed and then he is over for a cuddle!.  I am sorry but I don't have the best behaved dogs on the planet but like children I always like the slightly naughtier ones rather than the goodie two shoes LOL!  This is an important issue though as the thoughts of him knocking someone down are serious so I do empathize.