full blooded lab

[Shanna707]

My lab is pure bred black that is a little over 2 years old now.  I've had her since she was a small pup.  I love everything about her mannerism except that she jumps on people all the time.  She gets excited very easily and is a bundle of energy.  She has two yards that she can run in and we walk her a few times a day, but I just cant get her to settle down when people come over.  She's like "Dino" from the Flinstones cartoon.  She wants to jump on anyone who comes through the door and love them up.  Some people don't mind, but others do and I want her to be a good dog with manners.  She went through puppy training and passed and the trainer said it's just her breed and that after a couple of years she should calm down.  Well. she is still just as hyper as ever.  We do the knee to chest method when she jumps up and it helps, but doesn't stop her from still jumping more.  Does anyone who has a lab with this quality have any suggestion!
Thanks

[Shanna707]

Thanks everyone.  You've given me some good ideas to try for sure.  I wish some of the other forums answered so quickly.  Great job by all!!
:0)

[Jaybay]

The knee-chest technique simply doesn't work and further, it has the potential to physically harm the dog so there's no point in continuing with it.  The water bottle technique can be effective if you time it correctly.  Of course, as with any training, timing IS everything.  It's also more effective if you use about one part white vinegar to three parts water.  Dogs don't like the smell and it won't damage your furnishes at that low of a dilution rate.

Decide where you want your dog to be when visitors arrive and how you want him to behave.  Maybe you don't want him to even go to the door with you, so mentally picture what you to see.  You can't correct the behavior until it happens, so set your dog up for the behavior by having someone come to the door.  Put on his leash and have a squirt bottle or shaker can ready so you can immediately correct his behavior the second he even thinks about rushing the door.  

Since you've already been through obedience training, have him lay down and stay.  Put your foot on the leash and don't leave enough slack for him to get up.   If he tries to get up (and he will!) the leash you are standing on will be a self-correcting measure.  At that moment, give him a squirt and say No.  

If the water bottle isn't effective, try a shaker can.  Fill a soft drink can with BBs, coins, or anything else that makes noise and duct-tape it closed.  The second his eyes and ears and therefore, attention, goes to the door - quickly shake or drop the can in front of him.  

Next, you move to actually answering the door and inviting the person to come inside.  The object here is for your dog to wait to greet visitors until YOU invite him to do so.  If he follows you to the door, put him back where he was and back into a down-stay and repeat the door-knocking/ doorbell-ringing exercise.  You may have to do this several times, so make certain the person who is helping you understands this process could take some time.

Invite your visitor to come inside.  The visitor should not acknowledge the dog in any way.  No eye contact, no talking and no touching until your dog is calm.  Have your squirt bottle or shaker can ready as a consequence the moment the dog moves in your direction.  If he remains where you placed him and is calm, then you can release him from down-stay and allow your visitor to make contact.  Any excited behavior will quickly escalate to jumping, so again, have the bottle or can ready for correction.

Some dogs understand what you want with one exercise.  Others take longer.  You have to decide that jumping is not acceptable behavior - ever.  Let him get away with it once, and all your efforts will be undone.  

[chasha33]

Have you tried using a water bottle and when she jumps sparaying her.Sometimes that helps.My bulldog is 3 yrs and we have the same problem with him.We do the knee-chest as well and sometimes it helps But the water bottle seems to help more now.He is very high strung and we were told that he would outgrow it,But there are times that he gets all excited and just goes wild.Just like your baby sometimes we have people that dont mind him jumping up and sliming them ,But then there are others that he is just to much for them.He is 65lbs of muscle and when he jumps his whole body comes off the floor and he will knock you down.He wont jump on kids or people that he is around alot though.Does your baby only jump on certain people?Well good luck and Take care.