Question about temperament/puppy behavior

Our pup Lexi is a really, really good dog. She really only acts out (by chewing toys that are not hers ) when she doesn't get enough exercise, so we are working on that.

We have been working with her on her biggest issue, which is jumping on people when they come in the house. She is improving, but it's a slow process. She is just SO excitable. Even people she sees every day, like the nanny, get jumped on!

So many people have told me that she will calm down as she gets older but I am not seeing it. She still chases our cat on a daily basis as well

She's a pitbull/rhodesian ridgeback mix, but I would say mostly pit.

Anyone have experience with pitbulls?

Re: Question about temperament/puppy behavior

I don't have a pit but from the behavior you are describing it sounds like your dog may need A LOT of exercise. As your dog gets older she may not need as much but for now I think increasing the exercise a lot more will help. As far as the jumping on people, it's a very difficult habit to break. My dog has gotten sooo much better (he's almost 2 now). The biggest problem with my dog I think has been consistency. I am very strict with him about never jumping on me. DH sometimes lets him, sometimes doesn't. My family encourages the jumping and my in laws don't want him to jump. If you can get everyone on board, training will be a lot easier. Try teaching your dog that she will not get any attention from you until she is calm. That has really helped me. I don't even look at or talk to my dog until he settles. He settles a lot faster now. You can even try training with food and teach your dog to sit when you come in and she will get a treat. Whatever works. So between greatly increasing exercise and door training, things should get a lot better. :o)

Re: Question about temperament/puppy behavior

Ugh I struggle with this everyday. For some strange reason (maybe because I'm the pack leader ) I am the only one my pit bull doesn't jump on when I come in the door. DH will literally go out to bring out the garbage, come back in the house, and Lucy will greet him like they haven't seen each other in years. As for me? Lucy runs into her crate and waits patiently until I take off my coat and go over to pet her. I have NO idea why this is, but I think it's just because no one cares enough to work on it- no one disciplines her like I do. What everyone has always suggested to me is using the crate, which we do when we have a lot of people over. We put Lucy in the crate when everyone is arriving and then once everyone sits down and relaxes or Lucy looks like she's chilled out in her crate, we let her out to mingle. Usually by then she's calm and not jumping but the least bit of excitement riles her again. If you find something that works, I'd love to hear it!

ETA: Lucy is NOT fixed, so once she is, she might calm down a little, too. That's what we noticed in our other dog, Irwin.

Message edited 3/21/2011 9:48:38 AM.

Re: Question about temperament/puppy behavior

This behavior is more of a puppy behavior then a pitbull behavior. When your dog jumps up have the person step back and turn their back to the dog. She will learn that when she jumps up she does not get attention. This will help. I was shocked how effective it was when the trainer demonstrated it with my dog.

Re: Question about temperament/puppy behavior

I have a lab pit mix that jumps on everyone.....he just gets so excited. We are working on it. You have to tell all your guests to ignore him unitl he calms down....They will learn but the more people you can get on board the easier it will be.

Re: Question about temperament/puppy behavior

Both of my dogs get very excited when anyone walks in the house.
We've got them to the point of when DH or I walk in - we won't touch them until they are sitting... and that seems to work... but they still go nuts when anyone else comes in.

Anyone who visits knows they have to ignore the dogs until they are calm... but we've started recently putting them on their beds (which is in the other room) before we open the door to a visitor. They whine and wriggle about, but stay in their beds until they're calm enough that we call them out and when they come out they're to lay down immediately at the feet of the visitor...it took time for them to learn this - and we still have bumps in the road... but it seems to work.

Re: Question about temperament/puppy behavior

when i was trainging Kane i was reading that when most people tell the dog no and puch them down, they go right back to petting them... what you should do is like someone has posted before, when the jump up tell them no and turn your back, when the dog calms down then you can pet them. they will get the point, and catch on. just stay on top of it....

Message edited 3/22/2011 4:15:49 PM.

Re: Question about temperament/puppy behavior

I don't have a pit but I have the same problem with my GSD. We keep a spray water bottle by the door and if he jumps he gets water squirt in his face, he's not a fan of it.

Now I just say "I'm going to the get water bottle" and he runs away from the door.

Doesn't work all the time if I'm coming in the door, or DH, but if I am answering the door it definitely helps.

Re: Question about temperament/puppy behavior

Maggie jumps on everyone that walks in the door. It's a terrible habit that we thought would go away with age but it hasn't. It was okay when she was little but now she's 60 pounds. I do 2 things : I gate her off when some "favorite guests" come like my parents. They pet her over the gate and then I let her out after 5 minutes. Still excited but it's much less. Or I keep her on her leash in the house and make her sit to greet. Once she sits, I put my foot on the leash so she can't jump up. Many people who are use to her will just ignore her and she eventually gives up after a few tries...

Message edited 3/23/2011 12:54:19 PM.

Re: Question about temperament/puppy behavior

We have a pit and she jumps constantly. She doesnt jump on me because I corrected her but DH will let her jump on him and its frustrating.

When someone approaches Casey when we're outside I hold the leash down low and there not too much slack and when the person comes to say Hi I tell them she might jump and if she does jump the leash is short so she cannot jump and I say casey no jumping, and so far it has worked. We have elderly people in our building and I'm always so afraid when she jumps on them and so far so good she hasnt jumped on our neighbor.

Good luck with the jumping

Re: Question about temperament/puppy behavior

Thanks so much for the advice and stories everyone! We are working with her and I am hoping to see more improvement as she gets closer to 2 (which should be sometime in October)