Jumping and leash training

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#1
We've had Sadie since middle of June, she's now 5 1/2 months. Lab/border collie mix. She knows "sit" and "come" (although, if there's someone new around she won't listen to you). She also knows fetch and will bring it back to you. We've now been really working on her jumping on people when they come over and leash training.

Jumping: when someone comes over she jumps up and puts her paws on them and licks their hands or arms. I have been making her get down (by removing her paws from them and holding her down by her collar, because she sure won't stay down on her own). Once the person sits, I let her go and she runs to them and is fine. I mean she may still lick their hands, but she's not trying to climb all over them. How can I get her to stop the initial jumping? She just gets so excited that I can't teach her anything. It's like her mind is in jump mode and she's not hearing anything I'm saying.

Leash training: I will be honest, I haven't worked with her on the leash like I should. Her head is very narrow and she pulls her collar right off. If I tighten the collar a notch, it's too tight. I bought a harness that goes around her neck and behind her front legs and we've worked with it on her a couple of times. The problem is, my backyard is fenced and very hilly, not a good place to practice with a leash. When I take her out front, there are a gajillion kids playing in the street and lots of dogs on leashes and just running loose. She gets so excited when she sees the kids and dogs that I can't practice walking her. If we were in a totally quite place I think I could get her leash trained very quickly, because she really is quite smart. My sister lives on a farm, and I'm thinking of taking her out there to practice with her maybe on the weekends. However, my sister has 3 dogs, 10 cows, 5 cats, which will also be distracting to her.

Hear that loud noise??? That's the sound of me banging my head against the wall. :lol-sign:
 
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#2
OMG I know exactly how you feel when it comes to leash training. I'm leash training Bear and I don't have any place without distractions to start off. Plus my daughter is 3 so no matter where I am she is and that's the biggest distraction. I started in the back yard since that's the most boring place I can use. Even with my daughter out there playing with her toys he's doing well.

Things will get better just stick with it. Try not to give yourself a headache. ;)
 

moxiegrl

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Im also interested in any suggestions on the jumping thing...If Katie does NOT know you, its not a problem, but when someone she knows comes over she's so happy to see them she jumps up. Ive been putting her on a leash before they come in the house, telling her down and praising and giving her treats when all 4 legs are on the floor.

I tell her to sit but that only lasts a couple seconds..shes just so excited!
 

sourjayne

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The books all say to have your friends help you train your pup. Let them know ahead of time that if she jumps up, they are to turn their back to her and ignore her until she sits. Then they can greet her and pet her, but if she jumps up again, they turn their back again. You can get a couple friends to work with you, just have them repeat the act of ringing the doorbell and coming in or whatever it is that leads up to this, then they go back out and come back in, over and over until she is starting to sit for attention rather than jump for attention. (the books make everything sound a lot easier than it is in real life) :)

Leash training: Do you have a long hallway or large room in your house you can walk up and down?
 
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#5
Well, last evening I decided to walk Sadie down the street. She was bucking like crazy at first, but finally settled down. She licked a couple of neighbor kids and licked a neighbor dog, all in all she did very well.

Then my mom and her friend came over. I don't know if it was because she was tired from walking, but Sadie didn't jump on them one time. I was so proud :D But I watched her constantly and when she was preparing to jump I would say "No Jump" and she would look at me and sit back down.

I'm just going to start walking her every night and I know that eventually she'll get used to the leash and figure out that by trying to pull my arm out of the socket is not going to get her any further. ;)
 

otch1

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#8
Hello! A walk once a day will help with her need to exercise and "use her brain" while doing so . Very different from being let loose in the backyard. Reccommend you get a martingale type collar from your local petstore to keep her from slipping her collar in public. Don't leave it on her in the house unless training. You do need to leave her leash attached when company comes and practice "off". "Off" is a different command than "down'. A down meaning she needs to lay all the way down on ground, 'off" simply meaning paws stay on the ground. Start practicing both commands and make sure she knows the difference, especially if you've been using "down" with no leash , no training collar, and with no success. Time to make things more formal for her and let her know you're very serious about this. I don't reccommend you let everyone enter the room, sit, then release her collar and let her rush to them... even if she's not jumping them. She needs to sharpen her manners and understand that not everyone wants to greet her and she needs to wait to be acknowledged. Put her in a down-stay next to you and make her wait until you decide to release her. This will sharpen her manners and make her more managable in public as well. Start with a one minute sit, then a one minute down and by the end of the weekend you should be able to double the time frame she holds positions. Remember to release her with "o.k.'... or whatever command you choose. She's not to move until released and when she breaks position, just keep placing her back in orignal spot, quietly and calmly. There are no "corrections" until she really knows commands. No distance between you and dog, stay close. Build length of time she successfully holds commands before adding distance so this is a positive experience for you both. (The further you are from dog, the slower you are to correct/reposition.) By the Monday, she should be a pro at this! Have a great weekend.
 

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