Urgent help needed....

[Rayna 3]

I'm having a real problem with one of my dogs jumping on people. He's leaving scratches, bruises and even bloody places. He's not selective who he jumps on - what if he were to jump on a child?! This hasn't happened yet, but I'm worried.

I've tried everything but spanking him. Everything I've read says not strike the dog, but what else is left? --

1) I've tried physically taking hold of him when he does this and making him sit until calmed down. After about 5 minutes he's at it again.....

2) I've rewarded him when he sits while people are around -- again only about 5 minutes of this before he's at it again...

3) I've confined him to his leash. If there is any slack at all in the leash, he'll jump as much as it will allow. If I shorten the length of the leash any further then I might as well confine him to his crate right?

He's just over 5 months old, weighs 25 pounds, and is a black lab/jack russell mix. Is there nothing else I can do? I love this dog and I don't want to give him up.......

Thanks for any help.

 

[Dizzy]

Is it as you meet people in the street?

As you see someone approaching, if your dog begins to show signs of excitement - spin round and walk in the OPPOSITE direction. Just keep walking. Once they have passed, carry on. You must REPEAT this process EVERY time someone approaches.

If it is in the house..

I would keep him in his leash. Walk into the room. If he makes ANY move to jump, about turn, and walk OUT of the room to somewhere quiet. Wait till he is CALM, and re-enter the room. Keep REPEATING this process. He will learn - jump = removal. Praise LOTS when he is CALM, but if he begins to get excited again - repeat.

 

[Tami'n'Charly]

I've got a jumper too. At puppy kindergarten class last week (Charly is 4 months old), our instructor told us that everytime she jumps, to turn away & ignore her (arms pulled in close to the body). When she then has "four on the floor" then you reward her.

Dogs jump becuase they want attention- if you don't provide that attention when they are jumping-- they *should* learn. Best of luck, it's not an easy thing to beat.

 

[Rayna 3]

Thanks Dizzy -- I'll give anthing a try!!

To answer your question: He jumps no matter where we are, but it's particularly bad in the house. I don't really understand why he does this. I've never encouraged this behavior. He's a really great dog otherwise.

Thanks again..

 

[Rayna 3]

I just saw your reply Tami -- thanks as well. I've tried that and he will literally jump all over your backside. This sounds funny, but he really causes some pain. My husband has some pretty nasty scratches to prove it. Not to mention the ones on me....

Thanks anyway

 

[aelizilly]

Usually obedience training helps to address issues like this one. Have you thought about enrolling into a puppy kindergarten class.

I remember back when Bailey was horrible at jumping up on people when they'd come into my house, especially my 3 year old niece, and I had to teach her not to run from him or antagonize him any. (but how much can you really expect a 3 year old to follow this.) What I can say is it does get better with attention and as they get older. At 7 months now, Bailey is much better about not jumping up on people.

 

[Doberluv]

Jumping up is a greeting ritual for a dog. We shake hands. Dogs get all excited, lick, jump and sniff. It starts out with wolf pups in the wild...they will jump up and lick the corners of the adults' mouths to cause them to regurgitate for them. They continue this behavior into adult hood. It becomes a greeting ritual. Dogs still jump up, although the regurgitating has faded out a lot with domestic dogs. We are vertical, they have to jump up high to reach our face. That's where they need to reach to perform this greeting ritual.

Dogs also jump up because no one has taught them otherwise. Punishment; kneeing in the chest, stepping on their toes, shouting angrily at them is abusive. Imagine you greeting someone with a friendly smile and an outstretched hand to be friendly, to shake hands and they knee in you in stomach. People just don't realize what punishment can do to a dog. It is not the fault of the dog that his greeting behavior or any of his behaviors are not the same as humans.

The way to train a dog not to jump up is to train an alternative behavior that cannot be done if jumping up. The dog cannot jump and sit at the same time. He cannot beg at the table if he's lying on a rug in a down/stay. He can't chase a kid on a bike if he's sitting and giving you his attention. (watch me command) The only way to make a behavior strong and reliable is to provide a strong supply of reinforcement.

Teach the dog to sit/stay in no distractions, then mild distractions. Work up. Use a leash when someone comes to your house. That is an incredibly high distraction. Don't be angry with your dog because that arouses him more. Be calm. Put him in a sit/stay and reward. Before he breaks it, at the first muscle twitch, calmly lure him back into the sit. Reward. You can do this at some distance from the person coming to your house while someone else answers the door. When the dog is sitting calmly, have the visitor come over an pat the dog and give a treat. If the dog begins to get up, visitor walks away, not speaking or paying any attention. Try again. Ask a friend to help you teach this sitting nicely for greetings. The dog has to learn OUR way of greeting. He has to learn that if he sits still calmly, he'll get to greet AND get a treat. LOL. If he does not sit quietly, no greeting, no pat, no attention, no nothin'.

Dogs have to guess at what behavior to perform. They don't know what our language is or what we mean. They guess one thing, then another. Until they have a strong history of reinforcements for a behavior, they're going to keep guessing and being confused. You have to let them know that this is what will get them the good stuff and you have to have many repititions.

 

[Rayna 3]

Thanks Doberluv -- I understand. I'll just try harder with him. And don't worry - I've never shouted or been rough with him (other than pushing his rear down).

I really hope with just more attention and reinforcement this will do it - my husband has about had it with him.

He really is a great dog though. I know it's not his fault or purposeful that he hurts when he jumps. Anyway, wish me luck.

Also, to address aelizilly -- thanks for the info as well. I'll definitely look into a class for him and it's good to know that this will get better with age.

Thanks again

 

[Doberluv]

Oh Rayna, don't take my post wrong. I wasn't meaning that I thought you used a lot of punishment or any, for that matter. It was more a general rambling....a lot of people don't understand dogs and get angry with them for things that are normal to them. And they haven't learned our ways yet. So hang in there. Puppies are like that. It takes time, patience and good sense training. Good luck.

 

[sheltie1forme]

I keep my shelties nails real short and filed...

Hey Doberluv great advice!...Kalena

 

[Sheka]

to people that knee their dogs in the tummy or hit them, i have one word for you: Karma.

 

[Rayna 3]

Doberluv -- no worries I understand exactly.

Also, I really worked with him over the weekend and can already tell a difference. You guys have really been helpful -- thanks!

I really thought filing his nails was a good idea and I will start that as well. Thanks again