My girl is 14 months old and still jumping up at people. She literally jumps like a kangaroo repeatedly with an open mouth. Teeth touching peoples faces and she also nips at their clothes. Ive always done training classes with her and I just don't know how to stop her doing it. I cannot take her off the lead on walks because she is so unpredictable. She's good at home and with the children. I think she has a lot of pent up energy. She did have a playdate today with a compatable dog in the garden so they could play safely. She loves all dogs and people. She goes crazy for people we know when walking. She was spayed two months ago. I don't know whether I should get a muzzle for her so I can walk off lead? All I want to do is go for a relaxing walk!
I would say two things which may sound mutually exclusive, I know. But, if she never gets to run off lead, then it's not surprising she's a ball of energy that needs to get it out somehow. So, I'd say she needs to stretch her legs, feel the wind in her hair and run! The second thing is, she shouldn't be allowed to practice this behaviour. It's self-rewarding and so, the more she does it, the more she will continue to do it. So, I'd say, find somewhere to take her where you'll be away from other people, so she gets to stretch her legs. Play games with her to make yourself more exciting, and do lots of training throughout the walk to tire out her brain as well as her body. Then, when you're in places where there are people, I'd suggest having a long enough lead that you can stand on it when you met someone. You don't want it pulling at her neck, but not enough slack that she can jump up. This way, she won't be able to practice the jumping up. It worked with my two and they very quickly learned that there was no point in jumping up, as it just didn't work. It would also be a really good idea to work on her not running up to other people and dogs and just being calm around them. This is easiest to do if you have friends you can use as stooges to set up scenarios, but is also possible without this if that's not something you can arrange. I don't think a muzzle is going to help, as it won't stop the actual issue, which is her arousal. It certainly won't stop her jumping, and a muzzle punch with a muzzle on is just as inappropriate as without!
Thanks so much for replying. It feel like it's a vicious circle. I know she needs to run and I do take her off lead in quiet areas. But if someone pops up she will bolt over to them and jump up. She is constantly looking for other dogs and wants to play with every one. It's very strange but she won't play with any of her toys on a walk and won't chase a ball. All she wants to do is wrestle with other dogs. She totally ignores me on walks. I do have a 10 metre lead so she has some freedom. If she sees someone she knows she goes crazy. If anyone tries to stroke her she mouths their hands. She has bounced up to a few people with an open mouth and tries to bite their face. I know she is not vicious but just so excited. I don't have anyone takers for acting as stooges. I keep doing longer and longer walks and I'm exhausted! I'm beginning to think she really is part kangaroo, part vampire bat!
Can you find training classes locally? Lots of trainers have adolescent classes which are really useful for helping dogs learn impulse control. The reason she is ignoring toys on a walks is simply because her environment is just too arousing. so classes would be really helpful in helping to develop more acceptable behaviours. Another thing you can do is make sure when you bump into someone you know, make sure they ignore your dog, even turn away. Call ahead to strangers and ask them not to pet your dog because you are in training. You can even pop a sleeve on your lead that says "in training". It is also important when she does look at you. or moves towards you as apposed to the other person reward with a treat and praise.
Hi @vicvegas , I can sympathise with your problems as my black lab, Cassie who is 12months is still very over enthusiastic when greeting people, wanting to jump up and grab sleeves etc so I too dread the thought of her running up to people uninvited. I would echo the advise given by snowbunny and beanwood. I too think that she needs somewhere to run free though, if you can find a suitable place. And I took Cassie to older puppy classes at 6.5 months which really helped, and when I started using the harness that I bought there she stopped grabbing the lead and my arms etc. I didn't think I wanted a harness but I found it really good in high excitement places. I've taught her to sit when we approach people on the lead whether she knows them or not and she does this now without being asked and waits quietly while I chat or whatever, and is starting to turn towards me more since I've started to teach hand touch. So, with consistency these things really work The minute though that people want to touch, which they so irritatingly do, she tries it on. And I agree with Steffis, she looks enchanting in her hat.
It's OK if you don't have any stooges - neither do I. Instead, consider each person you meet on your walks a training opportunity. This may mean that you have to appear rude on occasion, turning and walking in the opposite direction when you see them, to get some distance between you and them. Then, you can work on "Look At That!" training with her (do a search on the forum to find some descriptions of it) at a distance she can cope with. If someone approaches, put your hand out like a policeman and say "DON'T PET MY DOG" - this will stop them in their tracks and you can then explain how you're training her and how they can help, if they want, by ignoring her until she's calm. You have to be a bit thick-skinned (it was a bit of a learning curve for me - I don't like to seem rude!) but it's wonderful how many people are really appreciative when you explain what you're doing and how they can help. Most people are eager to do what they can and get a little ego boost for that.
Thanks guys. Yes we go to obedience training every week. She is so well behaved and focused. They have moved us up to the top class and we haven't even passed bronze yet!????!!! She is very well behaved if we do a pavement walk and someone approaches I say to her, 'people, leave' and she walks by perfectly and then I treat her. I walk her on a harness and have a blue 'training' lead which helps. I will definitely tell people to ignore her. She goes crazy when we bump into dogs and owners she knows. Examples of her behaviour: 1. I take her to my parents house and she's playing football in the garden with my dad and sister for quite a while. Suddenly she goes crazy dog zooming around and lunges up as them. They stand still like a tree but it makes it worse and she jumps and nips. She nipped my sisters arm and bruised her. I finally managed to get her to stop by saying 'sausage', grabbed her and put her into the porch for time out. 2. We were in my garden and she was playing with her play date having a great time. At frequent intervals she would look at play mates owner and jump at his face. We both try saying, off, no, or sit with limited success. He says I am not firm enough with her but shouting makes her more excited. Will she ever grow out of this? Will I ever be able to walk her safely off lead?
When she jumps or mouths at you leave the scene entirely. Go inside. Removing any chance of getting attention in response to jumping/grabbing will help to reduce the jumping and grabbing. You'll have to train your fellow humans to quickly and consistently respond in the same way. We've been through the same thing with our dog Obi when we got him at 9 months. He grabbed at faces, hands and clothes with his mouth (especially dangly bits or cords on clothes....he once pulled down my tracksuit pants in public by pulling on the cords at the front ). The most effective solution was to silently walk away whenever he got mouthy or jumpy. We'd just go into another room and shut the door for 5 seconds. Pretty quickly the behaviour reduced as he realised it made the people go away and therefore just wasn't worth it. To stop jumping on others we heavily reinforced him (ie lots of treats) for sitting or lying down when around other people. We now trust him completely around our very young nieces and nephews.
I have been "lucky" enough to have had 2 extremely sociably Labs...lucky in that if a young dog doesn't display this behaviour, then they might have some problems being around people. So it's good, well, in a way.... I think the best thing to do is prevent the behaviour. This is what I do with my 1 year old, and what I did with my (unbelievably excitable when young now 4 year old). I let her off lead, but I have a very good recall. When I see people, I recall her and put her on lead (these days I just pick up her handle lead - a short cord which she wears on her collar whenever she is off lead). Then, if the people don't have a dog with them, we just walk on by....if the people do have a dog with them, and that dog is off lead, I explain she is a puppy, might jump up and ask them to ignore. If they say 'fine' I tell her 'go on' and let her handle lead go as she moves forward. The handle lead is important, because she can't tell the difference between me holding her and the release cue 'go on'. (My older dog can, he knows exactly when he is on a handle lead or not, but very thankfully my younger dog is too stupid for that so she acts the same whether or not I have hold of her handle).
Thanks for all the help guys. I will get a collar with a handle lead, that sounds very useful. Yesterday on our walk we met a family with a 14 week old choc lab, turns out he is from the 2nd litter of mines parents, so it was her baby brother! They went crazy for each other!
Our 14 month old is the same on a walk. Completely ignorant to his name, not interested in a ball etc. However in the house he responds well to both. I think it is the distraction for him. We have 2 different leads a short rein style and harness and a long lead which we use for walks away from home where we know there are less interesting things to see/eat. I feel your pain luckily we don't have the mouth open bit but our boy def favours people and love a standing cuddle. He is learning though. We are being really firm and fair. Encouraging those he comes into contact with to use the same language as we do.
I really hope our labs improve as they get older! I brought a flirt pole toy recently which seems a big hit!
