Jumping on People

[Tanya]

So I know the basics on training a dog not to jump on people. However, where I have trouble is linking that training (which generally involves the dog being on leash/only access when they are calm) when Pen has a playdate.

Some of her favorite people are friends with whom I set up playdates for the dogs. Pen is "ok" with people she doesn't know well (easier to manage the jumping as well). However, when she likes you, it gets a bit crazy and that generally takes places in a play date setting.

I don't like a dog dragging a leash during a playdate. It could lead to injury/getting tangled (especially as they tend to do more physical play). Is that really teh only way?

I can't hold off on all playdates until we get the jumping curbed because we'd never get back to playdates and I am working on her socialisation with dogs (in controlled settings thus the playdate).

Ideas?

It's gotten pretty bad. and while not directly linked to jumping on people she took out a friend the other day and I was (and am still) devastated. She was playing chase with her dog friend (she was in the lead) and running full tilt and for some reason went right into my friend and took her right down (not jumping on her just running right into her legs). Part accident but also - she does tend to not go around very well on the best of days. My stomach still drops when I think of it. How did I get to this point of having such an uncontrolled dog!

[michael m]

2 things,

1. The dog running into the person during play is very common. The front dog often is looking back at the playing dog in the chase position and they run into people. This is not a Jumping up issue it is a playing dog not paying attention during the excitement of play.

2. Regarding the actual jumping up issue. It appears that you already practiced the standing on a leash when someone approaches so that the dog can not jump up. They are instantly corrected and you still give the Off/Stay Down command to re-inforce.

That said, since it appears you have people/friends that can assist you- try the following without the leash, since that seems to be what you are seeking:

Have the friend approach walking directly in but not talking to you or the dog. When the dog jumps up, they should completely ignore the dog and Stand straight up, looking upwards to make sure that there is no eye contact or attention that the dog is receiving. The instant that the dog stops jumping and her 4 feet and/or butt is on the ground, they then praise the dog and pet her and thus reward her. The dog will soon learn that the only way to get attention is to sit or stand quietly. Again, the reward of attention must be as soon as the proper behavior is displayed, butt or feet on the ground, so that the dog understands what she is being rewarded for doing.
If the dog jumps up while receiving the attention, the person must again immediately stand straight up and ignore the dog until feet/butt are on the ground and the jumping has stopped. Once the dog is down, reward with attention again. Continue this process with many people, over and over again.

Good luck and make sure that you never allow anyone to pet or talk to the dog while the dog is jumping up on them. This only works if everyone interacting with the dog follows the same rules. Your dog wants attention and will soon learn that the only way to get it is by staying calm and under control.

[Annette47]

That’s a tough one, because the dog will be very overstimulated in those situations and thus not likely to listen. Will the people (other dog owners) be willing to help out? Because if the are the “oh, it’s ok, I don’t mind type” that will make it that much harder. Does she already know “off” and just forgets to do it or has she not learned the concept yet? If it’s the latter, then she needs to learn the concept of staying off people outside of such an exciting situation first, before you can work on it.

If it’s that she knows it and just is ignoring it, my first (and at this point only) thought is you need an attention getter of some sort. Maybe have the person (better if they do it, but I guess you could to) have a spray bottle of water, when she is coming at them to jump off, remind her “off” and if she starts to leave the ground anyway, give her a spritz in the face followed by an “OFF”? Depends on the dog whether they mind getting sprayed, but it is harmless yet gets their attention.

[Labradorks]

The running into someone thing, well, it happens. I don't think there is much you can do about that but manage it, as in warn people that when the dog gets going, they should watch out. I've been taken out before by a charging Lab (not my own) that took out my ACL and learned my lesson. I sit, stand by a tree so I can duck behind it, keep my knees bent, etc. Linus took my mom out a few weeks ago on a narrow trail as Sam was chasing him. Luckily she just crumpled to the ground on some soft ferns and old pine needles. The dogs came over and licked her face and we laughed so hard we were crying. But, it could have gone differently!

If a dog is jumping and can't get ahold of itself, I believe the dog is over threshold. Sometimes the leash holding or kneeing or yelling just makes it worse. The dog doesn't want to be like that, they just go a bit bonkers. I still like this instructional post on Hyper Greeters and have seen it work first hand on a dog within minutes on a golden that could not be let loose in the agility ring with people outside of it as he would spring over the gates onto audience members. The woman tried all aversive techniques which cause the dog to get frantic and become worse over time. The bad news is that it's not a quick fix and you need people who can follow instructions.

[shellbell]

Even with acres and acres on our country property, I still have to dodge out of the way of Tux when he is full on running...he always wants to run straight towards me for some reason. If other people are around I just tell them "don't lock your knees", lol.

[Tanya]

thanks guys. I think I won't be lax on this anymore even with friends. It's just been very hard to work on when there are dogs playing loose as she'll be playing then go in for a visit. She'll start off nice but can be on her back for belly rubs and them POP UP really fast and bonk you on the nose I think it's lots of general lack of self control for Penny when she's exited, and hard to work on because she is only like that in those contexts.

I need to set up actual times to work with my friends where that's our main goal (training her to not jump on them) and play is secondary/only if things go well.

THANK GOODNESS she is good with my nice and nephew. she goes down to her back and will not jump on them. phew. She rarely does it on strangers. It's really friends, people she knows.

[Snowshoe]

I've put the method I was taught on the board before. It is rough. It worked. I can yell FEET at a distance and he will not jump on someone. If you want me to post it again let me know.

Running into people, all bets are off. Heck, I had to leap for my life this morning when Oban went crazy, wild all by himself running through a big mud puddle.

[Tanya]

Thanks guys It's frustrating as it's also such an "easy" thing to train i feel like an idiot for not betting a better handle on it!
I'll search for the details of your method Snowshoe - I remember bits of it.

I have one friend that won't do any aversives (even a knee) so that one may be tougher but I can set something up with her to at least try to address the direct issue of pen jumping ON HER. the one that got bowled over is very positive primarily but will use a knee to deflect (not to hurt, just sorta protect themselves and make the jumping pointless). I have other friends who are trainers and they all need to put extra effort for Miss Penny :P

I joke that penny is a violent lover. she loves people so much she just goes all out :P And you have to be SUPER careful when you praise her for a sit or down as that will excite her and she'll pop up to your face for kisses :P

Without other dogs around it's easier. My dad has to do a bit of a reminder when he arrives for a visit but she doesn't jump on him much at all after that (again just no reward/ignore, reward good behaviour). But I think the lack of another dog keeps her in a zone she can more easily comply to and he started this pretty much right away. She ignores my mom (my mom doesn't like dogs so there is never any attention - though she will kick a ball for penny sometimes).

[Jimbo B]

I've put the method I was taught on the board before. It is rough. It worked. I can yell FEET at a distance and he will not jump on someone. If you want me to post it again let me know.

Running into people, all bets are off. Heck, I had to leap for my life this morning when Oban went crazy, wild all by himself running through a big mud puddle.

Please post this again.. I am very interested in this
Moses came a long way.. I am very proud of him.
This is by far the worse and most dangerous bad habit left .. I need to get under control (jumping on others)
He is good at the dog park
But if I am talking to someone or someone comes over..he wants to jump
I tried a lot of things
Please post again

[Snowshoe]

Snowshoe's Album: How to Thwart Jumping on People