We have worked really hard to stop Sparky jumping up on people when they come to the house, but we don't have visitors very often so it is still all really exciting for him. It is getting better though. We always ignore him when we first come into a room, and wait until he is sitting before fussing him. I tell visitors to do the same.

On walks I have become more confident asking dog-loving strangers not to treat him if he jumps - make him sit for a treat etc. He is on a long line for a while whenever his training slips, and I try to be as interesting as I can(!) when we're out together.

The problem starts when I let him go and play with another dog. He gets so excited with it all (despite the fact he sees and plays with lots of dogs daily, and always has done), that in the middle of playing, he has started running at the owner of whichever dog he is with, pouncing on them once, then running off again. Most dog owners are fine about it, but it's still a bit embarrassing. Telling him to "leave" doesn't work, because he does it so quickly, and out of nowhere. He walks sensibly past people on walks when on lead, and usually when offlead, and sits and waits while joggers run past. He has also started to sit and wait when I meet neighbours in the street for a natter. He "leaves" other things like bikes etc., but I am at a loss as to how to stop this one other than stop him playing. Do you think he will just grow out of it? He's 10 months now.

Thanks
Tracy

Hes still a baby and just gets carried away when playing. Maybe your fellow owners could distract him by chucking a ball when hes in mid flight? You two do so well with training, you have to allow a little slip now and then. If you watch him with the other dogs carefully you will see signs he is getting overexcited and can get in there quick if his recall is good, call him to his ball or something extra nice then let him go play again , or my favourite trick is to watch the line of flight then whizz something past his nose at an angle to whatever hes after to interrupt the chase long enough for me to get between him and the object of his affections to restore order. After his horrible tummy trouble its good to hear hes as redhot as ever. :)

Hi there Tracy,
Not sure if it will help in your case, but with Buster (exuberant Stafford!!), I told everyone who he came into contact with to fold their arms and turn away.  It took a while but did work!!
Hope it works for you.

Sarah.

Hi Tracy

Could you have a word with the other dog owners and ask them to firmly say "sit" (and you as well) as he approaches and then you give him a treat.

You will probably find that most dog owners won't have the correct timing for this but at least it will involve them in trying to sort your problem out - also if you can find a dog friendly jogger you could practice this with.

It would also be an ideal situation for teaching a fast, distant Down!

Hello,

I too am looking for tips to stop my 9 month old staffie, Tumble, from jumping up on anyone and everyone when she first meets them (especially difficult around children).

I have scoured for ideas and tried them all over the months for weeks at a time and they seem to encourage her to jump more! It's like she is saying "Oh I get it, this is a game to see if I can get your attention".

Tumble has been to training classes as a puppy and this taught that you reward the good things and ignore the bad things. Now in the main this has been great. I have myself a wonderful, characterful little dog who is too clever for her own good. I always prided myself on training my siblings dogs so easily to when I finally got my own I chose a breed who, as one Staffie owner said, "Are easy to train, but not so easy to get to obey!" I suspect that varies from dog to dog.

Anyway, getting back to the point, I have 2 problems with Tumble:

1) jumping up
2) recall (when outside)

With the jumping up I have tried (as taught in obedience classes) telling the dog to sit, then rewarding her when she does - this works only when she is calm. When she is excited she is shifting around trying to sit and then boing, boing, boing!

I have tried folding my arms and asking everyone else to do it, but she just jumps higher and higher and harder and harder. Then I tried just completely ignoring her, as though she wasn't in the room - same result. I've tried another one where you grab their front paws as they jump on you and stretch them (being careful not to overstretch) then to dog will try and nibble your hands because they find it uncomfortable. when this happens you release the dog and when all 4 paws touch the ground, you praise them. This works really well for some dogs apparently (you might want to try it Tracy), but not for Tumble.

I have often wondered in investing on one of those remote collars which spray citrus - does anyone know if they are any good?

OK, with the recall I have trouble in that Tumble really loves playing off the lead. She gets so excited will run towards me when I call her, only to shimmy at the last second. Great game for her, not for me. In the house she is fine, not brilliant, but OK - particularly when treats are involved. Out of the house she will generally do as she is told, but has the uncanny knack of knowing when I'm about to put the lead on her. i try doing this at different times in the walk, but she seems to know every time and will not come. The big problem I have is that when she is outside, she is not interested in treats - I have tried them all.

We have a great time together, but I'd really like to get over these 2 problems (although she's in season at the moment so training isn't so easy!) Sorry for talking about 2 problems in one post, I just started rambling on.

thanks

Hi bluegnu, i know where you are coming from - no advice for you unfortunately but my staffy sounds the same.  I posted a similar question on here a few months ago and the advice that worked best for me (except for during those tigger moments) is to make her sit for everything so it becomes habit - i.e. food, cuddles, getting lead on to go out for a walk etc.  to an extent this works but it only takes one person to encourage her to jump up when she is off the lead and she seems to go back to square one again. Best of luck

If your dog will sit for you for a treat then you could try this.  Teach it first with volunteers.  When you approach someone ask dog to sit and you pass a treat to the person to give to your dog if he remains sat.  That way he looks to you first and doesn't mug people for food.

That's a good idea, Sally - I think our problem stems from the amount of fuss he got on the park when he was younger - well meaning people treating him and fussing him when he jumped up at them.

Hi Blugnu, I had to chuckle reading your post as it was soo familiar :) Tumble is a teenage Staffy who will push the limits and dare your authority, find everything in the world more interesting than boring Mum, and generally drive you mad for a while. The good news is they grow out of it and if you went to classes and had the basics sorted when she was little, with patience and firmness she'll come out the other side fine. My dog is 18 months and coming out of it. I have wept, laughed and been in despair at times with him but it is getting better. Heres some things that helped me

1) Recall - use a long line if in any doubt about recall and reward with something very smelly/tasty when you get a quick response. Only call her ONCE and if you open your arms out wide like the Angel of the North she has something to aim for. Get between her and direction of bolt if you think shell shimmy- dogs always look in that direction first. If walking off lead you have to be alert for things she might run to and use a distraction like a toy to focus her on you until you can approach under control - I take Morses collar and we go together to see people

2) Jumping up - ignoring behaviour always leads to an extinction burst where it gets worse just before it stops. Use any tactic thats kind and works. I used to hold a hand out at his eyelevel, palm down and this stopped him seeing where to  jump long enough to get in a sit.

3) Varying your voice so delight and disgust are plain. Dont shout, the quieter I sound the better my dog behaves, but if he has a wobble the force in the voice stops him, then I sound as though I won the Lotto. Youve got 2 seconds to reward a dog so he connects behaviour and reward, so get in fast.

4) NEVER doubt that you can train your dog, if I can, you can! :D Keep at it.

My GWP Ned was really hard work jumping up at people I was getting at my wits end with it and a friend who is a trainer came down one day and this is what we did.She asked me for an empty plastic  fizzy drink bottle then it was filled part way with stones/gravel she went away from ned and banged the bottle against her thigh making a loud rapping sound to test it was noisy enough,next I had him on the lead and everytime he jumped up without him being able to see the bottle therefore not knowing what made the awful noise at the moment he jumped up she said very loudly OFF!! at the same time banging the bottle making the noise Ned hated it he barked but after three attempts at jumping up he didnt do it again,after that I only now use the command OFF! and he doesnt jump up it works as well as he used to jump up at the windows etc...

try it all it costs is a plastic bottle and some stones off your driveway

.....and a possible frightened dog forever :(

No not at all Ned is a big Bold dog with a great personality just doesnt knock everyone off their feet now which is great :) and we all live happily ever after

I'm afraid your way is not "politically correct" these days Mattie!  We're supposed to consider the dog's feelings first, not the humans that he may do damage to by knocking them over!! :(

Frightened dogs can do a lot more damage to people than just knocking them over!!

Hi Val I admit to being slightly worried when she was filling the bottle thought OMG she is going to hit him with it felt a right pratt after when I told her embarrassed, it did the trick the poor cat rescue man had brought some rescue cats to live here some weeks before and Ned had him over as he is only a small man he frightened him so I felt grateful that the rattle bottle worked.

Didn't mean Ned. ;)

ok :)

Obviously you need to know your dog. A rattle tin, training disks type of aid is not suitable for every dog and could frighten a timid dog but can be a great aid with those who are both bold and of a high drive nature.

As a little story, very many years ago, when taking a class I would occasionally give someone a rolled up newspaper to tap their leg with at such times as when they had completely lost their dog's attention. The idea was that the sharp noise would break into the dog's thoughts. A person brought a dog in who was so fixated on the other dogs that I decided to show the owner what I wanted. I took the dog, started heeling with it. As the dog lunged I tapped my leg with the paper and the dog grabbed my leg! I was so surprised (I was young and foolish in those days) that I tapped it again and the dog answered me by biting my other leg!! I got the feeling that the owner was in the habit of smacking the dog with a rolled up paper!  I don't use that technique these days! 

Best wishes, John

:) :) @ John hows your leg now

Some days it feels even older that me Mattie! But at times like that I find a good malt makes a great anaesthetic ;)

4) NEVER doubt that you can train your dog, if I can, you can!  Keep at it

Thanks Lorelei - I do often wonder if he will ever listen but you have given me just the encouragement I needed to hear after this morning when my dog decided it would be much more fun to go and bounce all over the other dogs rather than do what he was asked. :)