Tulsa-Dan
Your Friendly Moderator
Re: Raise your Knee
This method only teaches the dog to avoid your knee. It doesn't teach the dog not to jump on people, You need to teach the dog what is appropriate behavior before you can "correct" inappropriate behavior. If no one ever showed you how to spell, and then told you to spell "encyclopedia," and you didn't how because no one taught you to spell, and when you didn't spell it right, you get yelled at "NO!" "BAD DOG!" What kind of signal does that send to you?
However, if you were taught first how to spell, you'd make a good attempt and probably succeed at spelling encyclopedia and avoid correction. If you train me to spell, I can spell for you all day long, but if you don't teach me how, I don't know what else to do except what I've been doing, or doing it when I won't get caught doing it. Try and put yourself in your dog's position.
To that end, you need to show the dog what is the behavior that is expected of it when someone comes over to your house. And yes, DON"T LET YOUR DOG JUMP ON YOU EITHER, as this sends very confusing signals to the dog.
Rule 1: When someone comes over, put the dog on leash so you can control the dog. If the dog sits/stays well, have him sit and stay at your side, invite the guest in and take the dog with you, on leash and be seated with your guest. Ask the guest not to give the dog any attention until the dog is calm. Sit and have the dog sit/stay next to your feet. When the dog is calm and not trying to get the attention of the guest, you can let go of the leash (keeping it attached in case you need to regain control) and then let the dog calmly greet the guest and get some attention.
After doing this again and again, consistently each time someone comes in, the dog begins to learn what is expected of it when the door bell rings. You can then begin testing the dog without the leash. If the dog again begins to jump, take it a bit further by going back to the leash and working it more until the dog can proof off leash.
If the dog isn't proficient at sit/stay you can put the dog on leash, before you open the door you can place your heel on the leash so that it gives the dog only enough room or leeway to sit or stand, but not enough "rope" as it were to jump up. Keep your heel strongly on the leash and prevent the dog from jumping. When he stops trying, you can then work a "control" command such as sit/stay and begin working as above.
Good luck. It is a particular problem with boxers, so be patient and consistent. They are "in your face" dogs and love to get up and jump on you and tell you how much they love you. Be kind and gentle, but let the dog know what you need from it and reward that proper behavior over and over and soon the dog will be happy to behave like a proper dog at the door and when guests come over.
This method only teaches the dog to avoid your knee. It doesn't teach the dog not to jump on people, You need to teach the dog what is appropriate behavior before you can "correct" inappropriate behavior. If no one ever showed you how to spell, and then told you to spell "encyclopedia," and you didn't how because no one taught you to spell, and when you didn't spell it right, you get yelled at "NO!" "BAD DOG!" What kind of signal does that send to you?
However, if you were taught first how to spell, you'd make a good attempt and probably succeed at spelling encyclopedia and avoid correction. If you train me to spell, I can spell for you all day long, but if you don't teach me how, I don't know what else to do except what I've been doing, or doing it when I won't get caught doing it. Try and put yourself in your dog's position.
To that end, you need to show the dog what is the behavior that is expected of it when someone comes over to your house. And yes, DON"T LET YOUR DOG JUMP ON YOU EITHER, as this sends very confusing signals to the dog.
Rule 1: When someone comes over, put the dog on leash so you can control the dog. If the dog sits/stays well, have him sit and stay at your side, invite the guest in and take the dog with you, on leash and be seated with your guest. Ask the guest not to give the dog any attention until the dog is calm. Sit and have the dog sit/stay next to your feet. When the dog is calm and not trying to get the attention of the guest, you can let go of the leash (keeping it attached in case you need to regain control) and then let the dog calmly greet the guest and get some attention.
After doing this again and again, consistently each time someone comes in, the dog begins to learn what is expected of it when the door bell rings. You can then begin testing the dog without the leash. If the dog again begins to jump, take it a bit further by going back to the leash and working it more until the dog can proof off leash.
If the dog isn't proficient at sit/stay you can put the dog on leash, before you open the door you can place your heel on the leash so that it gives the dog only enough room or leeway to sit or stand, but not enough "rope" as it were to jump up. Keep your heel strongly on the leash and prevent the dog from jumping. When he stops trying, you can then work a "control" command such as sit/stay and begin working as above.
Good luck. It is a particular problem with boxers, so be patient and consistent. They are "in your face" dogs and love to get up and jump on you and tell you how much they love you. Be kind and gentle, but let the dog know what you need from it and reward that proper behavior over and over and soon the dog will be happy to behave like a proper dog at the door and when guests come over.