Help! Buster is 2 1/2 years old, weighs 92 pounds and is an avid jumper. We have tried what we think is everything to alleviate the problem (i.e. treats for not jumping, temporarily leashing to doorknob when visitors come, water spray bottle, which he thinks is a game, putting him in a sit when people are walking by, etc.) Buster is great besides this one irksome behavior. He certainly means no harm, but it is not cool when he jumps on my 80 year-old mom., or on a child. Sometimes he won't jump and than other times it comes out of nowhere. In a sense it is a bit unpredictable. He doesn't jump on me because when he used to I turned and ignored him. This isn't effective when he's out in public, because he is so cute. People can't seem to stay away from him! Perhaps this is just an age issue? We have had him in obedience training. Our last boxer, Sugar Ray, was also a jumper, but not on people. He just liked jumping wildly in the air. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
92 pound jumping boxer
- Thread starter busteray
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apollosdad
Boxer Insane
i know you mentioned some variations on what you have tried before, but since you didn't mention "standing on his leash", i thought i would suggest it. it's the same principle of attaching the leash to the doorknob, or anchoring him down to something. the problem i find with suggesting the doorknob, is that it usually is 2 1/2 - 3 feet off the ground, which still gives him plenty of slack to jump up on things. if you stand on the leash, it will not provide him with any slack to jump up from.
one of two things will happen if you do this consistently, each and every time, indoors or out:
1) your dog will stop jumping up because he will begin to realize that it gets him nowhere.
2) your dog will eventually grow tired from attemting to jump up and tire himself into a calmer position.
you can also use this method with a combination of treats and should get even greater results.
hope this method works a bit better for you.
one of two things will happen if you do this consistently, each and every time, indoors or out:
1) your dog will stop jumping up because he will begin to realize that it gets him nowhere.
2) your dog will eventually grow tired from attemting to jump up and tire himself into a calmer position.
you can also use this method with a combination of treats and should get even greater results.
hope this method works a bit better for you.
jennyp130
Boxer Buddy
The standing on his leash thing didn't work for us. It would practically knock me on my butt!
Oliver is 4 and I still cannot get him not to jump on people. He's gotten much better - I think lazier - but still jumps on friends he knows want to play. The people that ignore him -he doesn't jump up on. I think if I could have trained him not to LICK then I would never have this jumping problem. He wants to lick EVERYONE on the face....ugh
Oliver is 4 and I still cannot get him not to jump on people. He's gotten much better - I think lazier - but still jumps on friends he knows want to play. The people that ignore him -he doesn't jump up on. I think if I could have trained him not to LICK then I would never have this jumping problem. He wants to lick EVERYONE on the face....ugh
JennieandMax
Boxer Buddy
We've taken Max to a "personal trainer" to work on jumping, so I feel your pain! Stepping on the leash did work for us, but I can see how that would knock over someone with a bigger dog.
For this other idea, which we've had some success with, you need to enlist the help of friends and family. Do you have anything really really heavy in your house you could tether the dog to? If not, try the following by having the strongest member of the household hold the leash. And, have plenty of treats ready. When your helper comes in, they have a treat in hand or in pocket. That person approaches the dog that you are either holding or have tethered to a strong piece of furniture (In my case, I had to hold him because he would've broken the furniture). Once his feet leave the ground, they immediately say no and walk away or walk out (you're either holding him or have him tethered so that when they approach, he hasn't jumped on them). They keep repeating this process until he keeps his all four feet on the ground and he gets the treat and lots of praise.
You've got to do this over and over again, but it really helps. It's also entertaining for your guests!!
The third thing we've tried is getting him to do tricks right away, like playing dead, or the "watch me" game so that his emotional level is reduced a bit when the newcomers arrive. This has worked sometimes, but not others!
And, if your dog is anything like mine, people will be over for an hour or so and you start to feel comfortable that he's settled down. The minute your guests try to get up, he jumps again!!
Just keep working on it and good luck!
For this other idea, which we've had some success with, you need to enlist the help of friends and family. Do you have anything really really heavy in your house you could tether the dog to? If not, try the following by having the strongest member of the household hold the leash. And, have plenty of treats ready. When your helper comes in, they have a treat in hand or in pocket. That person approaches the dog that you are either holding or have tethered to a strong piece of furniture (In my case, I had to hold him because he would've broken the furniture). Once his feet leave the ground, they immediately say no and walk away or walk out (you're either holding him or have him tethered so that when they approach, he hasn't jumped on them). They keep repeating this process until he keeps his all four feet on the ground and he gets the treat and lots of praise.
You've got to do this over and over again, but it really helps. It's also entertaining for your guests!!
The third thing we've tried is getting him to do tricks right away, like playing dead, or the "watch me" game so that his emotional level is reduced a bit when the newcomers arrive. This has worked sometimes, but not others!
And, if your dog is anything like mine, people will be over for an hour or so and you start to feel comfortable that he's settled down. The minute your guests try to get up, he jumps again!!
Just keep working on it and good luck!
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