QuiltingKrazy

Hello ,

We have a Blenhiem Cavalier about 15months old. Love the little guy so much but.... his jumping up like he is on a pogo stick when he gets excited is driving me nuts! I seriously need to video tape him jumping and then add a pogo stick to the video and I am sure I could win some money for cutest dog video!!!!lol

My problem is right now I have a severe ankle sprain and I am walking on crutches. When I come home after work he is SO glad to see I can't walk up the steps because he is jumping and won't stop!

When we get ready to go for a ride, he jumps and jumps until I get near the truck then he finally goes and jumps at the truck door. He has a calm nature until he gets excited about something then you would think he was on speed or some hyper drug.

My question to anyone is.... How to do train them not to jump? beisdes picking them up ! lol

Any suggestions will be welcomed! He does know basis commands sit, stay, wait, until he gets excited then he forgets everything! It may be just a small dog syndrome I dunno!

Thanks

Mdaniels

My daughter has a cavalier--she is a licker, not a jumper--whole other issue! Anyway, you will probably get quite a few responses, but ideally training should be about reinforcing the positive things he does. Sometimes it is hard to catch them being positive, especially if you are hurting right now. Continue to work on basic obedience, just 10 minutes a day or so, which helps reinforce the bond and his ability to listen to you. When he jumps, say no--put him in a sit or down position and treat him when he does that correctly and holds it for you.

Above all, he is still a puppy, so he is going to be a little more exciteable--at the same time, its the best time to positively harness and train that energy.

Good luck, they are great companion dogs.

gspsplease

Start working on that sit command when your cav is not so excited eg while you are watching TV; during the ad breaks call him over, tell him to sit and quickly give him a small piece of something great like hard cheese, bacon rind etc. make it a game -- every time he gets up tell him sit and quickly reward him -- your aim is to make sit so wonderful that eventually he will do it even when he is excited. I would suggest you don't place him in position -- just use your voice and holding the food just over his head-- not high or he will jump for it-- also don't waste time telling him No -- tell him what you do want him to do. Get everyone in the family involved -- get them to walk him up the hallway sitting every few steps using an excited voice and a food treat EVERY time. As far as jumping outside, prevention is a great weapon -- have him on a lead so he can't run near the car, and continue to tell him sit as a game every few steps as you walk over to the car --don't open the car door until he is sitting quietly. Make sure you tell him how wonderful he is for playing this game and eventually you will be able to fade the food rewards and only use them occasionally. Two excellent web sites are dogstardaily.com and dogmantics.com/free-video-list/

Retired Fire Chief

gspsplease suggestion is very good, I have big dogs that were doing the same thing. Positive commands, sitting, stay, down, will correct the problem, but another thing you must do is control your energy. I used to show an excited energy when I came home because I am happy to see my dogs, but the more happy I am the more excited they get. Same thing with other people, if I act happy or excited to see someone they go nuts jumping and whinning, but if I stay quiet and calm they are much more managable. My 5 big dogs are 3 labs and 2 goldens!

auntpiggylpn

We have this issue with our 5 year old shepherd. We adopted him a year and a half ago and were able to quell some of his behaviors but jumping was not one. We and Cooper are now in training classes. What we have been taught so far with the jumping us this: as soon as the dog starts jumping stop in your tracks. When the dog stops jumping start walking again. If the start jumping then you stop walking. Watch their faces and try to make eye contact with them when they aren't jumping. It took forever (it seemed) to get across the kitchen with Cooper's food bowl but.he finally caught on within a couple days. We do the same thing when we come in the house. Cooper has learned that he can greet us at the door and he almost immediately goes into a sit.

llong0233

I don't own dogs (cats are out animal of choice) but I know enough of them to know most are very smart and highly trainable. You pet sounds like a real joy; happy to see you and excited about going anywhere with you. You're very lucky. Please, invest some time and money and get him the professional training he deserves so you both can enjoy your life! There are very few dogs of his breed that can't be trained to do, or not do, almost anything. Good luck to you both. P.S. Please, please don't blame him if you don't train him.

auntpiggylpn

Cavaliers are very smart! My MIL has one and he is now a therapy dog. He makes weekly visits to hospitals and nursing homes. The nursing home residents prefer Windsor than the other dogs in his group because of his size and also because he is so well behaved! There are other wonderful smart dogs of different breeds in his group as well but he tends to be a favorite!

auntpiggylpn

I guess I forgot about the positive reinforcing! It just comes natural to us now. When the dog makes eye contact with you, be sure and reinforce the behavior with a praise word. We use "yes" mainly because all Cooper used to hear was "No"!!!

Carol Wilson

Try blowing a whistle every time he jumps up, if he doesn't like the sound of the whistle he will stop.

QuiltingKrazy

Whistle huh... might have to try that one for sure. Riley is a smart and loveble dog, yes he is spoiled rotton by my husband. So i guess part of my problem is training my husband as well as Riley