Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know I posted just a few days ago and you guys where very helpful so...

We had a few visitors (11 people total) over the other day and our dog did much better or perhaps the way we handled him was better, I'm not sure.

After the initial excitment is over we can let him walk around freely (with leash attached) and he wont jump untill... someone gets loud, excited, calls the dogs name, or pets the dog. So I tell visitors to ignore the dog (even when he isn't jumping so as not to start him jumping) . Is this a good idea? Will it help or hinder his training? He should learn not to jump even when someone is petting him or when company gets loud? Right?

It seems like sence we have started training him on the leash he even pays more attention to commands like sit, stay, and down. This is a good thing.

My dog has SOOOO much engery (like many others I am sure) and while walking him once a day does help it isnt enough. I'm pretty sure the vet recommended walking him like 3 or 4 times a day (not going to be happening any time soon). So I was wondering is there any type of activity that is extra good for releasing some of his energy? Any types of toys? Perhaps some sort of excersize type training that works well?

I cant think of anything else at the moment. (I am sure I will after I press 'post')

And again thanks in advanced!

>>I know I posted just a few days ago and you guys where very helpful so...
>>
>>We had a few visitors (11 people total) over the other day and our dog did much better or perhaps the way we handled him was better, I'm not sure.
>>
>>After the initial excitment is over we can let him walk around freely (with leash attached) and he wont jump untill... someone gets loud, excited, calls the dogs name, or pets the dog. So I tell visitors to ignore the dog (even when he isn't jumping so as not to start him jumping) . Is this a good idea? Will it help or hinder his training? He should learn not to jump even when someone is petting him or when company gets loud? Right?
>>
>>It seems like sence we have started training him on the leash he even pays more attention to commands like sit, stay, and down. This is a good thing.
>>
>>My dog has SOOOO much engery (like many others I am sure) and while walking him once a day does help it isnt enough. I'm pretty sure the vet recommended walking him like 3 or 4 times a day (not going to be happening any time soon). So I was wondering is there any type of activity that is extra good for releasing some of his energy? Any types of toys? Perhaps some sort of excersize type training that works well?
>>
>>I cant think of anything else at the moment. (I am sure I will after I press 'post')
>>
>>And again thanks in advanced!
>>
>>
>>
>>>>>>>>>>

Check the articles on Exercising a dog when you have physical limitations, Retrieving in Play, Toys as Tools for Dogs, and Stay Training at the link below my signature for more ideas on activities. No, one walk a day is not enough.

The dog needs to get rewarded with attention when he stops jumping. Help him stay down by holding the leash while he gets petted so that he can succeed. If the only attention he gets--even though it's negative attention--is from jumping, he will jump. You must make sure the good behavior is rewarded, or the good behavior will stop.
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

-- Ok, I guess my question wasnt clear. I had to re-write it three times for different reasons , and in an attempt to shorten I guess left out the important stuff.

Let me try to say this again. If we have company should we try and avoid the stimulus that causes jumping behavior? Or do we try to expose him to the stimulus and make him sit stay?

So I think what I am trying to say is should we be trying to avoid the jumping behavior or trying to replace the jumping behavior with something more suitable? I guess this question sounds simple, but in practice its not so clear.

For instance; Company comes over and the dog is told to sit/stay and is kept on the leash and near me. I pet him, and praise him for the sit/stay. However the company is not praising him because their praise will cause him to jump.

So what I should be doing is letting the company greet praise him for sitting? The problem is when they do that, with the leash attached and held down, he tends to squirm and thrash about.

I think I am having trouble holding him down in comfortable sitting (or standing for that matter) position while still not allowing him to jump. When I hold the leash in a manner that wont allow him to jump it also causes him to not be able to sit/stand enough to greet and sniff the people. Do you know what I mean? Is there a technique in doing this?

Thanks

>>Let me try to say this again. If we have company should we try and avoid the stimulus that causes jumping behavior? Or do we try to expose him to the stimulus and make him sit stay?
>>
-You should work at the level your dog can succeed at. For now, keeping stimulus low and rewarding for keeping 4 paws on the ground when you make eye contact is all you want to do. Gradually, you will want to work up to greater stimulus like petting, noise, etc.

>>So I think what I am trying to say is should we be trying to avoid the jumping behavior or trying to replace the jumping behavior with something more suitable? I guess this question sounds simple, but in practice its not so clear.
>>
-As I said above, your dog is already prone to jumping so it needs to be rewarded EVERY time you are near it and his feet are on the floor. You know the triggers that provoke jumping up at this point so do your best to not do those until your dog is 100% successful with the easier stuff. Use the leash as a reminder in instances where "life happens" and mistakes are made.

>>For instance; Company comes over and the dog is told to sit/stay and is kept on the leash and near me. I pet him, and praise him for the sit/stay. However the company is not praising him because their praise will cause him to jump.

-Correct, your dog can only succeed at this point with you doing the rewarding. You can make it even more clear to your dog that his jumping actions actually get the opposite result by having your company turn their back and walk away from him when he jumps up.

>>
>>So what I should be doing is letting the company greet praise him for sitting? The problem is when they do that, with the leash attached and held down, he tends to squirm and thrash about.
>>
-He's just not solid enough with his stay command yet for that. It will come with time.

>>I think I am having trouble holding him down in comfortable sitting (or standing for that matter) position while still not allowing him to jump. When I hold the leash in a manner that wont allow him to jump it also causes him to not be able to sit/stand enough to greet and sniff the people. Do you know what I mean? Is there a technique in doing this?
>>
-It's not easy and you will figure out what works for you and your dog with practice.

Good luck! you are well on your way to a very well mannered pooch. Just keep up the work and practice in low stimulus enviornments on the basics. It will get better with more successes.
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PHReign

>>-- Ok, I guess my question wasnt clear. I had to re-write it three times for different reasons , and in an attempt to shorten I guess left out the important stuff.
>>
>>Let me try to say this again. If we have company should we try and avoid the stimulus that causes jumping behavior? Or do we try to expose him to the stimulus and make him sit stay?
>>
>>So I think what I am trying to say is should we be trying to avoid the jumping behavior or trying to replace the jumping behavior with something more suitable? I guess this question sounds simple, but in practice its not so clear.
>>
>>For instance; Company comes over and the dog is told to sit/stay and is kept on the leash and near me. I pet him, and praise him for the sit/stay. However the company is not praising him because their praise will cause him to jump.
>>
>>So what I should be doing is letting the company greet praise him for sitting? The problem is when they do that, with the leash attached and held down, he tends to squirm and thrash about.
>>
>>I think I am having trouble holding him down in comfortable sitting (or standing for that matter) position while still not allowing him to jump. When I hold the leash in a manner that wont allow him to jump it also causes him to not be able to sit/stand enough to greet and sniff the people. Do you know what I mean? Is there a technique in doing this?
>>
>>Thanks

>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

The goal is for him to learn, eventually without the leash, to keep his four feet on the ground while being petted. If you feel he's overwhelmed at this point by guests leaning over and petting him, then they could perhaps walk by him, maybe next they can stand by him, maybe next just touch him briefly on the head with one hand, etc.

He doesn't need to be sniffing people. That is considered rude by many, and is not a goal of the greeting.

Replacing wild behavior with another behavior is fine. Some people do well having the dog hold onto a toy. Sit for petting is a very good substitute behavior. Petting should never come with the dog on hind legs.

Training class is a good place to work on this, or have a friend come by on prior arrangement so that you can be ready to train. Anytime you are NOT going to work with the dog, don't bring the dog to the door. Not until the behavior is a habit and the dog will just naturally not jump up. One major step in working on that is for the leash to be slack, not tight or taut.

This takes time, for training, experience, and the dog to mature a bit. You have to really be consistent in not letting the bad habit be practiced and in rewarding the good habit.
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47