Hi all. Most of you know that we recently adopted Bella, a one year old. She's had no formal training and we've taught her quite a bit, with the help and example provided by Tucker and Tess. We will be taking her to obedience classes soon, however she came with some bad habits, and since she's grown and not a puppy, I'm unsure how to address them because what we've been doing isn't working. I would welcome suggestions.

The most serious is jumping. She's a stealth jumper. She comes up right underneath our faces with no warning. I think she's trying to be affectionate and get her face next to ours, but we've had some minor injuries! (I got a fat upper lip this morning, and DD got clunked in her Adams apple. ).

What we've been doing: grabbing her by the collar and tugging downwards when we see that she's going to jump (but we often don't know in time). Saying "no" and turning our backs on her. I haven't tried the can of coins yet, but may do that next. It seems hard to manage--do we walk around with a can of coins all day long?

Anyway, any ideas for how to work with her? It's getting very old.

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Kathleen, mom to one human, age 17, three canines, and a bunch of fish.

When I rescued my adult GR Buddy he did the same thing. We tried so many things it was frustrating. What finally worked for us was lifting our leg whenever he started toward us, this way he ran into our knee. It became second nature for us to do and when Buddy stopped jumping we had to learn to not raise out knee It took awhile of consistently doing it but it worked. Good luck!

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You would do it the same way as with puppies I would imagine. You will need to be proactive since she is big. Make sure she knows the sit command and when ever she even looks like she wants to greet you give her the command to sit and praise her. If she jumps just walk away.

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Barb, Rick and Tayla (STAR Puppy)



Cheyenne (CGC) and Jesse (CGC) who will be always loved and never forgotten.

"What we've been doing: grabbing her by the collar and tugging downwards when we see that she's going to jump "

Unfortunately, when grabbing her collar she is getting the attention she seeks. So, whether is is good attention or bad attention she is being rewarded.

You and your daughter need to be more proactive in reading the signs and turning your back before she gets to jump.
I understand sometimes this is impossible and when it happens you still have to give no attention and turn your back.
They usually do it all the more before it finally gets extinguished.

Maybe you can keep a leash on her and step on it so that she cannot jump.

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Consider what you want her to do instead of jumping up. Holding her collar would prevent her from jumping but does not tell her what to do. I would suggest training a solid response to the sit command. Anytime she approaches you, and ask for the sit, and reward it. If you can tell she is ready to jump, interupt with 'ah ah', turn away, and immediately ask for the sit and reward when she does. Practice (and reward) the sit in all kinds of situations, whether it is to go out to go pee, go for a walk, her dinner or a pet so that it becomes automatic for her.