Hi all (this is a bit of a long post sorry)

I don't usually post in the dog forums, I'm normally in the cat forum but have been reading through the dog forums today and thought I would ask for some advice please?

We have a Rottie who is now 10 1/2 months old. He is a wonderful dog and we could not be more pleased with him. To give you a basic history (in case it helps with any advice), when we first got him as a baby, we set the ground rules i.e. no chasing the cats/kittens, we made sure we can approach him when he's eating, remove his food, touch him etc. (had to do this if the cats go near him while he eats), we taught him to sit, stay, down (sort of, down isn't perfect lol), I walk him twice daily, once in the fields behind our home off lead, he comes back as soon as I give him the command, and he's walked onlead around our area in the streets etc. He's incredibly loving, and when it's just us at home with him, he can't be faulted with regards to obeying commands. We also did a dog training course with him. He has never had a toilet accident in the home, he is not a barker, only barks when people are in the field behind the home. He really is a wonderful boy with a superb temperament and we love him to bits.

The problem we have is with visitors. Because Jag is still so young, he's obviously quite boisterous and excitable as all puppies are but being a Rottie who now weighs more than 50 kilos and is a big dog, his excitement towards visitors is overwhelming. Being cat breeders we do obviously have a lot of kitten families and friends visit. One of our friends is disabled and each time visitors come to the house, he jumps up at them and despite us telling him "Bed" and Sit or Down, he totally ignores us and paws at all our visitors. He even tried to sit on one poor guy's lap bless him. We are lucky in that our mates know him and love him, but it's frustrating when we're trying to have a coffee and chat and Jag is jumping up at them or pawing at them constantly. In a way, this is our fault, well hubbies more than mine, as hubby taught him to "shake hands" and also taught him to jump up. I know this is a definite "no no" and we now need to undo where we went wrong obviously but we don't know how. Also, if kitten families visit and we are in a different part of the home, Jag will constantly jump up at the door etc. over and over, to try to get attention. Obviously some kitten families are not dog people (mad I know!) and as such, I don't allow Jag access to these people, particularly if they have a fear of dogs.

We were going to try crate training as suggested by the training course. The problem with this is that the crate is massive and once we put it in the room, there is no room for us to sit down.

What I would ideally like is for visitors to come into the home into the main part of the room, and for Jag to gently say hello to them, and then retire to his bed, or sit quietly with one of them while they stroke him etc.

I truly would appreciate any advice that any of you on here may have? Am off out now to take him for a walk but will check replies when I get back, and thank you again in advance.

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Purrs and best wishes
Kat
http://www.schimmelorientals.com

Try an indoor lead, our trannier recommed we tried it and it really had made a differnce, he isntally calms when we put him on him and it gives you so much more control.

Never leave him unattended on it though as a) he could hurt himself and b) they are very easy to chew through!!!!

Dog Training Leads 3rd item

It's not the dog you need to train, it's the visitors.

Dogs jump up because it is their way of saying hello. If they don't learn not to jump up, it is because they haven't learnt a reason not to. e.g. something in their environment is reinforcing the behaviour. (your visitors and/or you in this instance)

As he is already jumping over your visitors, I'm sure they'll be happy to co-operate while he learns not to. I do a few things.

Firstly, shut him in another room until they are actually in the house and sat down, so he can't knock them over. Then, when he comes in, make sure they TOTALLY ignore him, regardless of what he does. No speaking, no saying 'down' or 'off' or anything else, no eye contact and no waving their limbs around or squeeking! When he starts to get bored, and he will if they do it properly, call him to you for a treat. After a while, when he has calmed down, the visitor can either call him over for attention, but ONLY if he sits nicely, or they can come over to him while he is sitting by you and give him attention. If he gets excited again, start again.

You must be absolutely consistent, but he will soon learn that visitors aren't as exciting as you, as you are the giver of treats when they come round and that he can only get attention from them if he calms down and has all 4 paws on the floor.

Cant add any more than above really - apart from you could possible use a babygate so that he can see the visitors but not reach them and then when he's quiet he can be invited in

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is the problem,big dog + small home?????

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Why Dont You Go Peddle Crazy Some Place else As We Are All Stocked Up Here

Hi everyone

Thank you so very much for your replies. Wil look at the dog training lead link in a moment. I hadn't thought about that but it does make sense.

Jackson, thank you, yes you are right. It is our friends and visitors we have to train because there is no point me telling Jag to sit if they are making a fuss of him while he jumps up at them. So from now on, all visitors will be given instructions prior to entering the house. I'm going to try exactly what you have said and I will make sure we are consistent. It will be a case of being stern with the visitors and making sure we do this each time someone comes around.

Jo thanks We do have something similar to a "baby gate" in a way, and in effect, to give you an idea, people come through the front door, along the hallway and then enter what we call the "main room". That room has a wire screen door or it , and then there is a small, sliding door. So he can see visitors as they come into the home, but when they go to come into the main room, he then barges straight into them as they enter the door.

Gary, no, I don't think so (?) It's a fairly large home, 3 bedrooms, 1 main room, another back room, standard hallway, kitchen, bathrooms etc. Jag has the run of the house during the day, as well as his walks and play time so that he doesn't get bored and his mind is kept active. I also do basic training with him on every single walk. I will say as I don't know if it makes a difference (?) apart from his walks and play time, he is indoors the majority of the time. When he wants to go out to go to the toilet he lets us know and we let him out. Or if he wants to go out into the yard just to be outside, he also tells us and we let him straight out. If the cats aren't in the main back room i.e. the screen wire door is shut, then the back door is left open so he can come and go as he pleases although he chooses to stay in with us most of the time. Actually, on reflection, despite having the run of the house, he still chooses to be in the main room where we spend the majority of our time. This might be more info than you need sorry but just wanted to give the full picture in case anyone happens to pick up on something about his environment that may help.

Thanks ever so much guys, lots to think about, and lots to start to put into practice. I really appreciate the advice

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Purrs and best wishes
Kat
http://www.schimmelorientals.com

i got a simlar proplem with my Tia ,anybody comes to see us and she just wants to jump on them
but i just put her outside untill their gone or in her cage

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Why Dont You Go Peddle Crazy Some Place else As We Are All Stocked Up Here

Is Tia the gorgeous dog at the bottom of your signature? Apologies if not because I still don't know who most of the people on the forum are as I'm new and really do belong in the cat forums lol.

I will admit that when this problem started, we did try putting Jag outside. The problem was that he would then jump up against the back wire screen door, and the glass patio door over and over, and he is relentless. So we can't put him outside when people come over.

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Purrs and best wishes
Kat
http://www.schimmelorientals.com

He sounds like he's doing the typical boundary pushing of a teenager - what ever you decide is the right way to handle things then do it, stick to it and dont give him an inch. Rotts by nature are bold, confident dogs (as I'm sure you know by now!!) so they do need firm but fair, consistant guidance.

Bet ya get loads of fun out of him though - I know I do with mine - I find Rotts to be such characterful dogs - I giggle at mine every single day

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The only problem with that is you'll have to do it forever, because you're not addressing the behaviour.