Afternoon everyone

Well where to start i have a problem with one of my springers.. She insists on jumping up at the car when i get home....  we live on farmland so when i get home from work they are invariably running around and it is habit that they all(4) coming running up the driveway behind my car. and one keeps jumping up at the window.. i have tried leaving the window open and telling her down etc and then praising when i get out and they are sitting, but it does not seem to be sinking in.. this pup is also teriible for jumping up at the back of you as you are walking anywhere..... Actually she jumps up all of the time!!!!!  This is becoming a real problem for several reasons 1/ I am now 7 months pregnant and cant try and catch the muddy paws before i get filthy, and they invariably land on bump. and 2/ my other half is a car dealer and shiny cars do not sell well with muddy paw prints all down the freshly washed doors, and many customers who come to view do not appreciate the attention they get from the dogs( especially if it is wet and they are wearing white)

Any ideas on how to curb this behaviour... i have not had this problem before
Thankyou
Briony

If there's no one there when you drive up the driveway to help with the dog, the thing I'd probably do (which is "negative") is have a squirt bottle with water and get her when she puts her feet up on your car. When she gets down, praise. I wouldn't think there would be time to waste waiting until she gets off on her own in order to only praise because meanwhile your car is getting scratched. I wouldn't go for that.

I bet someone will have a better way so that you don't have to be squirting your dog if you think that's too mean.

That system worked on my persistant Doberman when he was younger and very rambunctiuos with my Chihuahuas. He could have injured seriously or killed them if I didn't curb that rough stuff fast. I tried using a more positive approach, waiting for him to get down and clicking and treating or even pulling him off and then clicking and treating, but it just wasn't happening fast enough. He had to know it had to stop now!

Then I would closely supervise and teach him what I meant by "gennnntle" so even now if he starts to get carried away, I just say "gentle" or "no bite" and he settles down. He just gets so full of it at times and he could hurt them by accident. Yelling and hollering just ends up going in one ear and out the other and making them dull or habituated to your voice. That squirt bottle got his attention and he knew I meant it. And all without being angry or harsh. Then the minute he settleddown, he got a super syrupy voice saying "good gentle." He's quite fine with them now. 

Good luck. Some dogs can be super rambunctious can't they.

Carrie

Im afraid I would insist the dogs are not running around a driveway at all, as it sounds really dangerous to me, or allowed near cars your OH is going to sell to save the nerves! If you come home at a regular time he could have them in the garden/conservatory anywhere they cant get out into the drive. They could still see you.  I dont allow our dog to accompany me to the door at all as its not his job to allow people in, its mine. When he was younger we used a lead to help him sit when visitors arrived and got them to ignore him until he did then praise and rewards. We found if he forgot himself as pups do, it was best to hold our hand out, palm to him at arms length so he couldnt see the target and say sit firmly then as before. Now we dont have a fleet of springers all getting excited at once, so see if it makes sense for you.

Thanks for the messages....

Lorlei... it is hard to explain our property but the "driveway" runs straight through the 5 acres so is impossible to fence off...  the dogs virtually live outside and have free rein of the whole of the land 9is is not used as a farm) And they are outside all day regardless of who is in so it is not always possible to get them locked away when i get home, also as it is not just me they do it to and people are coming and going all day this is not feasible either.. ( sorry no offence to your advice just not practical for me personally).. I will try the palm down method but it is just really hard as i am always in the car all that you can really do is shout down out of the window!  that is why i am so stuuck for ideas...

I am going to try carries suggestion of a water pistol but typical is the one who loves watyer most drinks from hosepipe etc so i think she will prob just think it is fun!!!

But i will try anything

Thankyou again
Briony

LOL, yes that could be your luck that the dog thinks it's just fine. It can happen, but often they don't like a strong mist all over their face. It sounds mean, but I don't know.......it works for some stuff. And at least it's better than scratching your car. I'm still wondering if someone else has a purely positive way to do it, if that's what you're into...like shaping behavior/clicker training etc... to prevent another nail gouge down your car door.