over friendly boxer

[bobbenson]

I have a problem. 1.5 yo Boxer. He heels, comes, still chews up my wifes shoes from time to time (not great, not the issue here). I take him for bike rides. He heels next to the bike. All of the basics for a pet dog, he is good. Except for...

When my wife, a friend he knows, or even a stranger comes over he jumps up on them and basically goes crazy trying to say hi. He does not do this with me, but I am the only one who gives him training / discipline. My wife has refused to participate (also a different issue).

There is no aggression or timidness etc. Just an adrenalen burst when someone besides me comes around. He just wants to say hi.

I find that if I put him in a patio area with sliding glass doors next to the living room for 5 minutes the problem goes away. He sees whoever is here, calms down, and I can let him in.

I can say sit or down and this will work momentarily when a visitor arrives, but his tail and entire body is wagging. In other circumstances I can get him to sit for several minutes without moving.

Any ideas how to approach this from a training standpoint.

[Richard]

I don't think it should be too hard to get through to him that jumping on people at the front door is a no-no. The only issue I can see is that if you're not home, you're wife won't provide the same level of training during this time (unless he's crated while you're out).

I think it's just getting on top of him and correct immediately for the jump and then lots of praise (like the rest of the training you do - this one only differs that it's not a regular occurence). Personally, I love to see happy dogs when people come over (vs mean dogs that stare and growl at you) as it does set the tone for the visit - can I relax or do I have to keep my guard up with the dog?

While it's difficult to predict when a neighbor may drop in, you can still keep a leash at the door and work with him then for the no-jump.

If we have a lot of people coming over for a family function sometimes it is easier to let Rocky and Nikki (who also love when family visits) out back until everyone gets in. Our front door and hallway area is only 3 feet by 6 feet long and when you have 5 or 6 people and 2 large, very happy GSD's, it's a tight fit. The other reason we'll do this occasionally is that our parents are elderly and I don't want them to receive the sheppy rush and brush when they come to the door. Even with the down/stay, they sometimes can't contain themselves - it's something they only do with family - the rest of the time, they do the down/stay with no issues.

[sibemom]

Good advice Richard Yes I to would rather be slobbered by a very very happy dog then concerned I might loose a leg or an arm Brody is like this too, only he does not jump, but he wiggles himself sick trying to say hi to everyone he meets. Even at OB class when we are sitting down waiting for class to start I put him in a down stay and he stays down BUT he crawls to the person sitting next to me still holding the down then he looks at them and bats those sweet brown eyes until they notice him Willow on the other hand is a very reserved sheppy. She will hold that down stay until I release her, she is a happy dog but very reserved and when people come to the door she just stands right next to me. NOW when the boys come home to visit THAT'S DIFFERENT ;D Then she act's like SHE IS ON CRACK

[bobbenson]

Thanks for the advice. Sit is still sit with whatever distraction. Seems like this one is going to take a lot of work though.