Hi everyone!

I'm haaving a few issues I was hoping to get some advice on. In spite of knowing/training dogs all my life, I have come across a pup that doesnt seem to want to mind when it comes to jumping up on people and pawing in a sit. He is not even six months and he's already HUGE! It's obvious to me his brain is still very toddler. Any tips and tricks for stubborn GSD's would be much appreciated!

We just got our Star puppy certification but I'm not feeling deserving since he's still got this bad behavior!?

Is this your puppy? What has been tried up to this point? What exactly do you mean "still got his bad behavior"? Do you mean "In spite of our best efforts" or "I thought he would grow out of it"?

Sorry about the quizzing. Knowing what approach has been taken and/or failed will help narrow down to a solution.

Hey Duane,

To answer your question...the "bad behavior" is in spite of my best efforts. I've tried several things to instill in him that this umping/pawing behavior is not wanted. I've put my knees up to block, with a NO then put him in a sit and said YES, good sit then he will PAW me. I will take his paw and put it on the ground and tell him "no paw" then reinforce with positive encouragement, he puts it right back up. I have used the leash on and stepped on it when he is in front of me in a sit in an attempt to keep him grounded. I have tried putting him into an immediate sit/down to avoid the behavior, I have tried ignoring him but then he just jumps up on my back no matter how many times I turn away from him. If he calms a little bit I always turn around when he is calm and sitting and reinforce with positives, then he paws me. I have tried keeping him in his kennel for a period of time after I've come home to give him time to calm himself when I get home (which is when it's the worst), when he's calm and I take him out he jumps and still tries to paw constantly, he's not happy unless his paw is up on me. I'm sure it's my errors but these methods have always worked with dogs in the past but this boy isnt getting with the program. Please!! Tell me what to do!!!!!

One of the presentations that almost always happens in operant conditioning is a "behavioral burst"---when the unwanted behavior actually escalates before it is extinguished.

This is what you're seeing when you ignore/turn your back on the jumping up or pawing. He is doing those things to get attention--because they have always worked for him in the past.

Now, he tries these things (which his experience has told him will get the desired attention), but this time it doesn't work! So he does it more. He does it to a higher degree. He increases the frequency of the behavior (this is supposed to work! It always worked in the past! Hey, why isn't this working?!!)

What YOU have to do is 1.) know that this is what will happen and 2.) keep up the ignoring. Because eventually, ignoring it will work. Behaviors that aren't rewarded will eventually stop.

For a dog seeking attention, even a negative response is better to him than nothing. Kneeing him, scolding him, looking at him---those are still a form of interaction from you, which is what he wants. Instead, pretend he is invisible when he does something you don't like. Don't speak. Don't look at him. Don't turn it into a game of sit (which will then require a reward when he does it.) The new game is "dogs who jump up are invisible."

Conversely, when you accidentally "catch" him lying quietly, make a point to give him some attention.

 Quote: Tracy Collins

Behaviors that aren't rewarded will eventually stop.

For a dog seeking attention, even a negative response is better to him than nothing.

These two sentences say A LOT!

Oy!! Okay, I believe you! I'll keep ignoring. Is it the bloodlines that make him so stubborn? I remember when the word "No" would suffice (note to self get protective clothing for scratches and bruises, lol)

Stubborn? No. He wants to engage .... and he has been trained that if he keeps pushing long enough, he will be rewarded somehow ... with attention and/or excitement and/or maybe even lots of noise and maybe people yelling ....


.... "Behaviors that aren't rewarded will eventually stop. ... For a dog seeking attention, even a negative response is better to him than nothing."

 Quote: Duane Hull

 Quote: Tracy Collins

Behaviors that aren't rewarded will eventually stop.

For a dog seeking attention, even a negative response is better to him than nothing.

These two sentences say A LOT!

They sure do.

 Quote: Tracy Collins

Conversely, when you accidentally "catch" him lying quietly, make a point to give him some attention.

And this one says just as much. Reward the behavior you do want, even it seems like it's something he "should" be doing.

When we got Vince at 10 months, after a few days of settling in, this behavior was very prominent as well. He was looking for some kind of stimulation ALL the time. I noticed a lot of scratches on the previous owner but didn't put two and two together. She also had a cat and this was not something she disclosed.

It was the worst when my attention was on something, the phone, the computer, in conversation with someone, when my hands were busy. And stretching out to do some reading did not happen unless he was in his crate. He'd actually paw my face, hard.

Routine, draining exercise, frozen kongs and ignoring the behavior.

Michael Ellis says it best: When puppy is wanting to bite and scratch you, let him give you his best shot and don't show any reaction at all.

Don't know what your schedule is but brisk morning exercise and long evening walks got Vince toned down to a point I could work with him.

Good luck. I know how frustrating that can be. You've got the best advice. Don't be tempted to acknowledge it in any way. Persistent ignoring of the behavior will eliminate it.

Oh boy is he having fun with you! Pawing = interaction. It's going to take awhile to undo that association.

Paws on people needs to turn into a pause button. You want a treat? Paw better come off me. Want your dinner? Not while that paw is on me. Petting? Paws on the floor.

If your pup has a solid understanding of marker training maybe you could teach him some paw based behaviors at a time when he's not already pawing you? Once something is put on cue the dog knows that without the cue no reward is coming. Maybe do a foot target/station? Just some ideas to put those paws to work.

If my big dog puts a paw up, I walk toward him, basically thru him, and keep on going.

If my little dog puts a paw up, I hold the paw (which he hates). Months will go by before he does it again.