I have a couple of problems with my dog.

He's 7 month old male Kangal/Boerboel who I've had since he was 9 weeks old. He graduated basic and advanced obedience at the top of his class. I've always been VERY consistent with him. He has an awesome temperment, and hes very smart and learns (most things) quickly.

My problem is this. He gets super excited and acts wild around new people, and jumps up on them. He's about 90 pounds, so it's not okay. I've NEVER EVER let him jump up on me, he knows it's not allowed, he wouldn't dare. But, he seems to think it's okay to jump up on everyone else. I try to correct him, I'd snap on his leash and tell him no, but he doesn't seem to care.

Also, the whole time I've had him, I've never let him approach strangers on walks because I don't want him to be pulling on the leash to go up to every stranger he sees to get petted. I want him to be a protective watch dog, so I don't want him to think every stranger he sees on the street is his friend. I've been very consistent with this, yet he still gets all wiggley and excited and pulls on the leash when we walk by anyone. I've always discouraged this behavior. I can't have him keep doing this because at 90 pounds and only 7 months old, he's hard to control when he's pulling on the leash trying to approach people. Also it's disappointing that he's not the least bit wary or strangers, he thinks everyone is his best friend, so I'm losing hope on him becoming a protective watch dog.

I've used a pinch collar, it didn't phase him, so I'm using a head halter and its working a little better but when he sees someone and get's REALLY excited, the head halter doesn't bother him.

Does anyone have any advice for me? What am I doing wrong, or what am I NOT doing that I SHOULD be doing?

Thanks!

E Collar

You have a puppy. I prefer confident and not afraid to approach to being overly suspicious or protective at this age. And be grateful he is full of the puppy happiness and not protectiveness while you gain control.

Number 1; he's not ready for the distraction of people so I suggest back to square one on having him walk with you on a loose leash even if that means marching around in your yard then progressing to an empty parking lot early morning before the businesses open and slowly introduce people. How have you trained him so far on walking with you on leash?

For the jumping on people I like to stand on the leash so he can't jump but I weigh more than my dog; if you are really small that might not work for you

Number 2; If you are confident he knows what you want, and a correction is fair at this point; I agree with Dennis; it sounds like the E Collar would be the most effective and efficient tool for your dog.

Darn, I was so impressed with Dennis's two word answer I tried to be concise but I think I failed

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into getting an E-collar. He heels perfectly when he feels like it. In our doggy class, we were working around other people and their dogs and he was used to their presence so he did just fine. It's just new people and new dogs that get him all worked up.

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

You have a puppy. I prefer confident and not afraid to approach to being overly suspicious or protective at this age. And be grateful he is full of the puppy happiness and not protectiveness while you gain control.

Number 1; he's not ready for the distraction of people so I suggest back to square one on having him walk with you on a loose leash even if that means marching around in your yard then progressing to an empty parking lot early morning before the businesses open and slowly introduce people. How have you trained him so far on walking with you on leash?

For the jumping on people I like to stand on the leash so he can't jump but I weigh more than my dog; if you are really small that might not work for you

Number 2; If you are confident he knows what you want, and a correction is fair at this point; I agree with Dennis; it sounds like the E Collar would be the most effective and efficient tool for your dog.

Darn, I was so impressed with Dennis's two word answer I tried to be concise but I think I failed

De nada

 Quote: heather myers

I have a couple of problems with my dog.

He's 7 month old male Kangal/Boerboel who I've had since he was 9 weeks old. He graduated basic and advanced obedience at the top of his class. I've always been VERY consistent with him. He has an awesome temperment, and hes very smart and learns (most things) quickly.

My problem is this. He gets super excited and acts wild around new people, and jumps up on them. He's about 90 pounds, so it's not okay. I've NEVER EVER let him jump up on me, he knows it's not allowed, he wouldn't dare. But, he seems to think it's okay to jump up on everyone else. I try to correct him, I'd snap on his leash and tell him no, but he doesn't seem to care.

Also, the whole time I've had him, I've never let him approach strangers on walks because I don't want him to be pulling on the leash to go up to every stranger he sees to get petted. I want him to be a protective watch dog, so I don't want him to think every stranger he sees on the street is his friend. I've been very consistent with this, yet he still gets all wiggley and excited and pulls on the leash when we walk by anyone. I've always discouraged this behavior. I can't have him keep doing this because at 90 pounds and only 7 months old, he's hard to control when he's pulling on the leash trying to approach people. Also it's disappointing that he's not the least bit wary or strangers, he thinks everyone is his best friend, so I'm losing hope on him becoming a protective watch dog.

I've used a pinch collar, it didn't phase him, so I'm using a head halter and its working a little better but when he sees someone and get's REALLY excited, the head halter doesn't bother him.

Does anyone have any advice for me? What am I doing wrong, or what am I NOT doing that I SHOULD be doing?

Thanks!

Hi Heather,
I feel your pain My Boerboele is a scaredy cat right now, and he is 4 1/2 months and @ 90 lbs. If your pup has obedience, maybe you could have him sit before allowing him to "go say hi" Since you say he doesn't jump on you, can you get between yourself and your "new person" give him a sit and wait comannd, before the go say hi? I crate my pups when a visitor comes to my home. When my visitors are settled and the dog quiet in his crate, then he gets to come out and say hi. Maybe you have a friend who is willing to get jumped on until you get it down. As for the protection, he will kick in sometime between 1 and 2 yrs. You probably need to do no more than be a good pack leader, and he will protect, but remember, boerboeles guard, but are not known to be "working" dogs as in SCH training. I think it's good he likes people at this stage, and I would be pleased he has such a good temprament. Let me know how things are going cause as you see, I am in the same boat, just a few months behind. Good luck. These techniques worked on my Black Russian Terrier also pictured. I am hopeful for my Boerboele!

Here's what I've done with my enthusiastic greeter. She's still not perfect, but much better.

Enlist someone to help you with this (neighbor, etc) and practice a lot.

Instruct the person beforehand to avoid direct eye contact w/ your pup and also not to speak to him. Also, tell the person that if the pup jumps, to turn away, keep their arms crossed and present their side to the pup.

This may take a few attempts before the pup learns that jumping will not get him any attention. Of course, you can also stand on the leash ( and I do this sometimes), but you want the pup to
figure out on his own that jumping is non-rewarding.

Once he's calm, you can mark and reward. Put him in a sit if he's calm enough, and carry on a brief conversation with your helper.

Repeat and extend the length of time that you expect him to be calm.

What I do when meeting new people is to immediately say 'Please don't pet my dog or talk to her; we're working on her manners...'
Usually this works...

I almost always have her in a prong collar when oustide; I don't correct her with it, but at 90 lbs, I want to be able to physically control her, if the situation calls for it.

 Quote: Lynne Barrows

... Enlist someone to help you with this (neighbor, etc) and practice a lot. ... Instruct the person beforehand to avoid direct eye contact w/ your pup and also not to speak to him. Also, tell the person that if the pup jumps, to turn away, keep their arms crossed and present their side to the pup. ... This may take a few attempts before the pup learns that jumping will not get him any attention. Of course, you can also stand on the leash ( and I do this sometimes), but you want the pup to figure out on his own that jumping is non-rewarding. ... Once he's calm, you can mark and reward. Put him in a sit if he's calm enough, and carry on a brief conversation with your helper. ... Repeat and extend the length of time that you expect him to be calm. ... What I do when meeting new people is to immediately say 'Please don't pet my dog or talk to her; we're working on her manners...'

These are pretty much my methods too. Just wanted to add that I mark and reward even if I am standing on the leash, at first, in order to have enough reward-situations. I pretty much pretend that the dog decided on his own to stay down there and be calm, even though he is really dying to get me off his leash. I think it helped to speed up the lightbulb moment when the dog sees the connection between sitting (instead of jumping up) and fabulous rewards.

Yes, I cheated. But now my dedicated jumper-dog restrains himself 90% of the time (rather than the old 0%). And I still keep wonderful rewards like the tiny soft Leerburg training rewards around regularly to reinforce that slot-machine mentality.

yep my dog jumps on me and others. I've decided to go E collar on her too.