On Friday I took my lab for a lovely walk in the park.  There was nobody around and she was very responsive off the lead to training.  On the way back she met a friend of hers a King Charles and I was chatting to the owner whilst they played together.
Suddenly I heard somebody shouting at me to "call my dog" I looked over and saw a lady who I have seen many times before walking her Cairn Terrier.  She is a strange lady and usually just stares at people and doesn't move on or she comes to talk and doesn't go away in fact a bit of a fruit cake and I usually try to avoid her.  One time I saw her and I grabbed my lab and she shouted over at me "why are you holding your dog let her free" to which I replied "I am holding her to stop her running over to you"
Anyway this time I called my dog away from her and she came but then when I went to put her on the lead she ran away from me, I tried to distract her over again with a toy but it didn't work and she ran back to the lady and jumped up at her knocking her backwards and onto the grass.
I ran over and the lady was ok but she was very very rude and told me that "I should not have a big dog if I can't control it" and that "At no time did I try to put the dog on the lead when she asked"  Then she stood there and did not walk away just staring and staring!
As you can imagine I was very upset about the whole incident and made sure she was ok but my dog is actually very well behaved, she is responsive to commands but she got exited cause she is still only a puppy and wants to play.  Whenever I see kids, elderly people, anybody in the park I put her on the lead before she can jump at them but this time I didn't get to her in time.
My question is this:  We have tried everything to stop her jumping but nothing is working.  If somebody comes to pet her she jumps, if somebody comes to the door she jumps but my worry is when she is off the lead she will run past some people but jump at others particularly if they make eye contact with her.  How can we stop this I am truly getting desparate.  We have tried shaking something loud to distract her, turning away, putting our knees up, spraying water, holding the lead close, getting her to sit.  Is there anything else we can do???????????????????? Do those sprays on the collar work that you can press remotely?
Has anybody else had this problem and what did you do????

You must choose one method and stick with it.  Changing methods half way through doesn't give her the chance to learn that her behaviour must change to get the result she wants.  Choose one method and stick with it, she may get a little worse in her desire to use what has always worked before to get the results she wants, but if you use a non confrontational method, like only fussing her when she sits and ignoring her when she doesn't, she'll soon learn if you are consistent - and this means EVERYONE who has dealings with her must do the same........  In the mean time, it probably wouldn't do her any harm to learn that she can't demand ANYTHING and a little 'Nothing in life is free' (or NILF) training will help her to listen to you.

you know it is really annoying because when I ask people not to touch my dog until she is sitting they then pet her and then she jumps up or alternatively she jumps and I ask them not to touch her till she sits and they say "oh I don't mind I like dogs she's just being friendly" time after time I find myself saying to people "no it isn't ok she is not allowed to jump" and they just don't understand.  It drives me crazy.

Have been to any training clubs with your dog at all ? If you haven't it might be worth you having a look at one or some, depending on how many there are near you, without your dog so you can look at the training & satisfy yourself that no harsh methods are used(one near\me uses a riding crop to punish the dogs :O

Then have a chat about your problem & they should be able to offer to help you

It is easy to say be consistant over the internet(one of my sayings)but it is very important be just that.

If you cannot find a dog club they try to enlist the help of doggy owning friends  & without their dogs & in a safe place with no other dogs people around(tennis court type places are good). Get your friends to be there first & to stand apart from each other. You take your dog in & let him off lead. If he approaches any of them they should fold their arms & look upwards & totally ignore him, call him to you once if he responds they make him sit put on lead & treat(you can call him in a silly voice & silly talk to get his attention)If he doesn't respond knee down & pretend to look at somethimg on the ground( I used to pretend to have something in my hands with the very first dog belonging to someone else I trained & talked to it in yet another silly voice)This should get his attention & when he does come to you clip on lead & treat

Basically this idea is to make other people boring & you of mega interest & of course treat provider. I would not at this moment let him loose were there are other people & a long line or flexi lead(much as I dislike them)should be used so he cannot disobey you & you not to be in a position to prevent or correct him

He just needs to learn some manners to be honest & fortunately from what you write he has a nice temperament & just needs to learn how to greet people & how to come to you when you recall him

I would as a totally separate exercise teach him what I call a happy recall on hiis own away from other dogs & people(can be done in your garden. Go back to basics & on lead put him into a sit stand in front of him & call him to you whilst you take a couple of steps backwards & when you call him make a very big gesture with your armas out from you body & then in front of you, dont say stay to him whilst you do this. Very gradully start standing in front of him, keeping the lead loose & saying sit sit sit back away taking a step at first then call him,  then two steps etc.But only one step one day & if he gets it right finish training & then play,the next day two steps again if he gets it right finish & then play, etc it is important that he wants to some to you because it is nice & rewarding for him to do so

He sounds like a very friendly dog in need of some basic training

Edited to add ooops I called her a he sorry !

HI Moonmaiden
Thank you so much for your help with the jumping issue. 
She has been to training classes, beginners and intermediate and I really have no complaints at all with her behaviour other than the jumping issue.  At the classes they suggested throwing down a biscuit tin so that it makes a loud clanging sound to distract her from jumping.  I tried this and it didn't work.  At the moment we are using the turning away method which is a little better.  I am also now trying to get her to sit when she is greeted.  I like your methods and will try them.  I have done the pretending to look at things on the ground one which actually works well and today my husband and I went out and bought a long lead for the park.  I feel optimistic that things will turn out ok and she will stop jumping though.  I met a lady today who said that often it is the age and when they are older the stop jumping.  Still I feel like I would like to instill the No Jumping issue now rather than let it fester.
Thanks again for your advice I will keep you posted.
Van

You are welcome I had the same problem with one of my GSDs only he was a bit bigger(32 inches +) when he was a puppy & i was helped by the Working trials club I went to by the other handlers doing the ignore bit, it your dog likes treats it helps !

I had this problem with my boistrous 7 month old lab, she seemed to go for older people like ten pin bowling.!!!!!!  She seemed to know they were alot weaker and I was not having this.   I bought the Maters Plus spray collar and it knocked it on the head straight away. No more juming up.!!
  There will be differing opinions on these but you must try everything.  After all they are just being friendly like Labs always are but they must know how friendly they can be!!
Good luck.

bella thanks i am going to do a search on the spray collar right now.  You know she also seems to go for older people, the lady she knocked over was elderly.

Surely this is a control and recall problem not a jumping up one.

If your dog is under control and has a good recall how can it get to someone and jump up at them?

Perhaps if you put more effort into training your dog you would not have to invest in a "quick fix" like a spray collar.

What happens if the reservoir runs out or you lose the collar?

The problem will remain.............

The lady in question was not as rude as your dog which is obviously NOT very well behaved or responsive to commands as otherwise how could she have knocked the woman over?

Work on your recall and obedience so that you CAN put your lead on the dog and she does NOT run away.

Tohme
I always appreciate your emails and can tell the you are well informed, you have always been helpful to me in answering my posts very wisely, however I must say that I find the tone of your email this time to be a little volatile!!!!
Our dog has been to both beginners and intermediate dog training and passed with flying colours.  Her training is very good she is obedient and responsive to all basic commands and to recall,  however when she sees people she does get distracted lets not forget that she is still a puppy and still has a long way to go.  She has a long lead that she is allowed on in the park but I do not want a dog that I can never let off the lead, she needs to be able to sniff and play etc.  The problem really is that it isn't everyone she will jump at just certain people for some reason set her off going over to them, often it is if somebody stops and makes eye contact with her.  The problem is the best way to deal with it.
I can certainly say hand on my heart that the lady in question was rude in fact she was extremely rude.  I have met her in the park several times before and I reminded her of this.  The first time I met her I made sure I was holding my dog and she said "why are you holding the dog let her go" to which I responded "I am holding her so she does not jump at you" she seemed to have forgotten about that time.
She knocked the woman over this time because quite frankly she should have walked away and not stood there staring and staring she was encouraging it in my opinion.
I am grateful for advice to stop the jumping but please don't judge my dog's obedience as you have not met us and not seen how well she behaves all the rest of the time.
Incidentally I have just looked at the spray collars on the internet and they are way too expensive.
Best wishes

Our dog has been to both beginners and intermediate dog training and passed with flying colours.  Her training is very good she is obedient and responsive to all basic commands and to recall,  however when she sees people she does get distracted....

Exactly, it matters not what she does in class but what she does in real life.

Dogs can pass the Gold KC Good Citizens Test and have no recall where it matters, where there ARE distractions.

I am not "judging you" you are demonstrating by your post your lack of control over your dog and the consequences of this lack of control.

The best way do deal with your problem is by training a recall which obviously she is not as responsive to as she should be, otherwise you would not find yourself in this predicament or having to post.

If your dog sends people flying then you need more control, not only for other people's benefit but for your own and your dog's welfare as otherwise you risk your dog being put under the DDA................

"Exactly, it matters not what she does in class but what she does in real life".

1. Yes I agree with you totally here but I am not talking about in class she finished classes a while ago I am talking about her obedience out of class

I am not "judging you" you are demonstrating by your post your lack of control over your dog and the consequences of this lack of control.

2. You are right there I did not grab her in time when she came back to me to put the lead on so off she went.

The best way do deal with your problem is by training a recall which obviously she is not as responsive to as she should be, otherwise you would not find yourself in this predicament or having to post.

3. She is responsive when nobody is around so I need to work on this when there are distractions which I am aware of. :-)

If your dog sends people flying then you need more control, not only for other people's benefit but for your own and your dog's welfare as otherwise you risk your dog being put under the DDA................

4. She does not send "people flying" she jumped up and knocked once person (singular) to the ground.

Forgive me goat but I had to smile. Our Labs have both been through this phase and one would actually deliberately take my feet from under me as a teenager. However with consistent and patient training and a certain amount of avoiding certain situations we got through it.

Unfortunately the worst injury I have herd of happend to my Brother in Law, he was walking his collie, talking to the owner of a black lab, Obviousely he wasnt paying enough attention as the Lab came hurtling down the hill not looking where he was going, straight in to my BIL. Ripped all of the ligaments in his knee and he will be in plaster for 8 to 12 weeks :(

Just remember you have to have a sense of humour - the Labs do!

Hi Bluebell
You are soooooooooooo right.  Thank the Lord I have a sense of humour.  Although I take dog training and obedience very seriously sometimes you have to laugh :-) :-)
Labs are funny and right now mine is funny in that cute puppy way which I can't see her ever growing out of.  However, I do not laugh at the jumping as it is very distressing to me.  She just thinks everybody loves and it makes it worse when people try to encourage her. 
I am so sorry about your brother in law, I can truly imagine how that must have felt and if it happened recently I wish him a speedy recovery. 
I know that she (my dog) will learn but I also now know that I can't expect miracles.  I am happy with her training in every other way and I know she will learn to stop jumping.  What does worry me is that if you avoid situations eg if I avoid off lead walking with her in the park how will this make any difference.  Yes I can restrain her and stop her when she is on the lead but she acts differently off the lead anyway.  Surely she needs to know that jumping is unacceptable off the lead as well as on. :-)

Thanks Goat, my brother in law is seriously hoping for a fast recovery as he is due out of plaster on the 21st and is going away on holiday on the 25th!

I tend to allow my labs free run BUT only in places where I know the people and can spot the ones likley to get jumped at a long way off. At that point I do a recall with loads of praise and eiter walk in another direction or put them on the lead until we are well past. It isnt fool proof but does reduce the number of accidents.

Lets fact it at the end of the day Labs just love people and it is still not beyond my 9 year old to get over excited  and put his paws on someones sholders, infact there are certain people that I can guarantee it with, cos they love having their faces licked! 

Keep working at it and suddenly one day it will dawn on you that it has been a while since the last 'incident'. Meanwhile keep a note of all the funny incidents for a book ;) 

gosh i wish him better I hope he gets to go on his holiday.
thanks for the post, the book is a great idea, I think it would be a long one full of funny incidents probably as long as the guiness book of records.
best wishes

Goat, the best thing you can do is to work constantly on obedience as you are in the park - for example, do you train her every day in the park, or just walk her in the park?
If you train her every day in the park, you will have ups and downs, as we all do with training, BUT over time, your dog will learn to obey instantly in that particular environment, whatever else is happening.

It will take time, as you've said :) and until then, don't give any opportunity to practise the jumping up at people. So, manage until he is trained, if you like! ;)

If you are really into training, you may be able to teach an alternative behaviour, such as an immediate Sit at a distance - again, this is worked up slowly over a period of months to get a reliable Sit which will occur whatever else is happening. Maybe invest in a one to one with a reward based trainer who can help you with the Recall or some alternative behaviour (or both).

Lindsay
X

I'm a bit late to edit; just to clarify, i don't mean do obedience training all the time in the park - just do "some".

I do training on and off all through the walk...
An example would be: Sit - lead off. Wait, Release. OR, loose lead walk, Release. "By me" for 1 minute, then run for toy. OR, "by me", Release, Sit at a distance, Release, catch toy and play tuggie or chase, and so on. I'm not saying do what i do exactly, you could do more recalls and then release, etc :)

Lindsay
X

Hi Goat
Don't despair - I had your problem and it does take a while for things to turn around.  However, as my dog has got older/received more training, he has slowly lost interest in other people.  BUT, you can never legislate for what other people will do to thwart all your training efforts, so, here is an amusing tale for your book....... :-)

The other week I was out walking along a muddy single track and spotted a couple coming towards me.  I whistled Gunner back and went to put him on his lead.  The bloke shouts out 'Oh, he's fine.  Let him loose.'  I take hand off dog's collar.  Bloke then goes down on his haunches (god knows why as even though dog is only 16 months old, he is 27 inches tall and about 35kilos!);  bloke then opens arms wide (my visual cue for 'get your butt here now') and shouts 'Come on handsome!!'  Needless to say 'handsome' hit warp factor ten in nanoseconds;  used bloke's shoulders as a braking block for his front paws as he hit him at c20mph; bloke went A over T and dog proceeded to give him a very thorough face wash as he lay there in the mud in his cream chinos!  As I piled up I was just in time to hear bloke muttering 'bloody dog', to which fortunately (before I could open my mouth) the wife turned around and said 'you asked for that!' 

gunner that is such a funny story, that guy must have been crazy to kneel down like that and encourage your dog like that and especially in cream chinos lol :-)
thanks for that it is good to know that mine isn't the only one.

Lindsay like you I also do training on and off all through the walk...we practice walking to heel off the lead and on, fetch, and distance sit, downs, stays and catch.  She is getting good at all of these what I have done now is purchased a long line which I am using in the park to practice 100% recall hopefully in time this will work also :-)