[Citrine]

Hi Folks,

We just got back from the dog park, where Layla (5 month dane/retriever) and I had a couple embarrassing incidents. There were some small children there running around, she was excited and jumped up on a couple of them knocking one down. She also jumped up on someone who was there holding a small dog in her arms.

I happen to kinda disagree with bringing children into a dog park but I certainly can't keep people from doing it, what I need to change is how she reacts to them. I realize she's only excited but she's going to be a big dog, and that's just not acceptable behavior. Any tips? I'm thinking walking her before the dog park will decrease her manic puppy energy, but I don't know how to correct behavior when she's not on leash, I'd rather not be the crazy dog park lady hollering at her dog to no avail! Any tips???

[TooneyDogs]

You start by teaching the behavior you want while on leash. For example do you want her to sit to greet people? You teach her sit and then start the greeting/petting process. Any attempt to get up from the sit stops the greeting immediately.

[MyCharlie]

Exactly what Tooney said.

[Citrine]

She's actually quite good about greeting people without jumping up, we've worked hard on that because I find it so irritating in other dogs. It just seems to be at the dog park all training flies out the window because she's excited and running with other dogs.

[Durbkat]

I would have told the people with kids that the dog park is no place for kids and that they need to leave. Seriously, at our dog park kids under 10 aren't allowed and anyone older who is not an adult has to have an adult with them and we do have the authority to ask people to leave if they bring young kids.

[melgrj7]

Do you have some friends with kids? If so, ask if they will help. You all go to the dog park at a very slow time, keep your dog a long line (30 foot) let her run around and play. All the kids and adults should have treats in their pockets. When she runs up to one of them, if she sits she gets a treat, if tries to jump you keep her from moving forward and the person turns their back and walks away (quickly so she doesn't actually get a chance to get her feet on the person). If any of your friends have some well trained dogs then the next step would be to do this with 1 or 2 dogs in the park playing off by themselves while you worked on this.

[Elana55]

Originally Posted by TooneyDogs

You start by teaching the behavior you want while on leash. For example do you want her to sit to greet people? You teach her sit and then start the greeting/petting process. Any attempt to get up from the sit stops the greeting immediately.

I did that. Everywhere. I PAID people to walk toward my dog and then either back away or walk away if she got up from a sit. I went thru $100 at $5 a person PLUS all the people who helped for FREE. I worked in front of the grocery store, at the local park, in the city, at sheep dog trials, in Petsmart and every other place I could that was distracting and exciting to her.

Still is a problem.

Originally Posted by MyCharlie

Exactly what Tooney said.

And, like you, I thought it would work.

Well, with my dog, now 19 months old, it helped some but honestly, she finds the jumping so self rewarding that it is still not extinguished and I have been working on this regularly for MONTHS.

I am now considering adding an aversive so that getting up or jumping up from a sit (and she can... VERY quickly) results in some unpleasantness beyond the mere removal of attention.

Sort of like a kid who does something bad so doesn't get ice cream for dessert. If the bad behavior was enough fun, the kid doesn't CARE if he gets the ice cream so you have to up the ante and now make him sit in a corner and face the wall for an hour.. and if the bad behavior continues, maybe you have to add something like writing the same sentence 200 times, or moving wheel barrows of dirt or something.... IOW's make the fun NOT worth it and the right behavior to avoid the aversive very much the best option.

Jumping on people is NOT cute and, if she were to knock down someone and they got hurt, I could have trouble I do not want.

Originally Posted by Citrine

She's actually quite good about greeting people without jumping up, we've worked hard on that because I find it so irritating in other dogs. It just seems to be at the dog park all training flies out the window because she's excited and running with other dogs.

Read my thread on our recent CGC/TDI test. Same issue. Some environments are so reactive. Some behaviors are so self rewarding. I am not sure there is a positive way to work around or past some negative behaviors.

[Citrine]

Originally Posted by Durbkat

I would have told the people with kids that the dog park is no place for kids and that they need to leave.

I believe our dog park has a sign specifying no minors without an adult present.... So that means people come in with two or three kids, plant themselves on the picnic bench and let there kids run around. I understand wanting to make it a family outing but people need to be aware of the risks, besides there's a million childrens parks out there in the world and very few dog parks...they deserve their space too!! okay rant over.

A man did come in with his young daughter after the initial jumping incident and I walked over and just warned him that my dog was young and excited and to keep an eye on his daughter as I hate to see kids doing face plants at the park He was good about it and stayed right beside her.

Regardless of the kids being there or not, my dog shouldn't be jumping at all. I'll try Melgrj7's advice and try to practice within that hyped up environment.

Thanks guys!