I have a Rott and a Lab each 6 mths old. The problem is I no longer have friends come over because when someone comes to the door they are bombbarded by these two. They jump playfully all over people. If the door is ajar they out and gone. Please help

you could put them in a different room or train them yourself get a friend to help teach them to sit stay untill you open the door use treat and lots of prays when they have done what you want them to
could take time if you have the time to train them to do so

I've played this game, with two Rottie X pups and visiting nieces. You need to train a reliable sit on your own with the dogs. I did this at meal times with hand feeding. So the dog is used to being seated and waiting before food is given. (Have the image of choir boys waiting for the hymn books to be given out.) Also trained shake paws.

When the family arrive the dogs are excited and do their barking - that's why you have dogs to carry out guarding function so allow them to bark a bit. But when you arrive at the door you are in control and you get them to sit and wait. Then go to open the door if the dogs move from sitting - you close the door (people outside) and move in front of the dogs blocking their access to the door, when they sit and are calm (slight wagging permitted) you open the door, if the dogs move close the door - block with your body and make them sit. It will take a few goes for the dogs to understand that barking means that people don't come in.

When people finally get inside (you have told them before arriving that they may have to wait a while before the door is opened for them - but when it is they are to get in and stand by the door and look at you only) you close the door and release the dogs to "say hello", the dogs will want to smell the new arrivals and that's all they will do as long as the guests are just standing and looking at you. If the people cooo and reach to the pups they will respond and switch into play mode.

Jumping up. A sharp "down" command supported with a hand gesture to get down, instruct your guest that they are to turn away from the dogs if they are getting too excited or look like they are liable to jump up. Especially important to train kids with this rule, also kids are liable to scream excitedly which only encourages dogs to jump up and play.

That said when I visit such houses I love the mad pup welcome.

I have a pet gate that I put Kilo behind when I answer the door to guests; he is allowed to come and greet once he is sat quietly; any silliness and he goes back behind the gate (I leave a lead on him and just quietly take him back out if he gets daft) - only took a few visitors for him to cotton on that quiet = access to people, silliness = no access to people.

I often also give him a bone or stuffed Kong so that he is occupied and settled and so that visitors = good things.

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1. Put your dogs on a lead when people come.
Reward dogs when calm.
Ask visitors to ignore dogs (they thus lose interest.

2. Put dogs on lead. Step out of front door. Go back with dogs. Reward dogs (high value rewards).
Repeat frequently.

3. Remember to Shut the door.

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