[UnderRugSwept]

what's the best way to handle it?

She is my cousin's dog...a black lab/border collie mix. She is untrained, strong, obnoxious, and gets really, really excited when I first arrive, plus she smells my cats (although I try and shower/put clean clothes on right before I go over there to keep this to a minimum.) Unfortunately she doesn't ever calm down very much all evening, even if she has been on a long walk right before I arrive. Plus everyone thinks she's so CUTE so all of her bad behavior is reinforced (treats when she jumps on me as a distraction, petting under the dinner table when she forces her head into your lap, etc.) I have given up on my family doing anything about her (they won't), so I know I can only do so much, but would like to be able to keep her off of me somehow! I have tried turning my back on her when I walk in and then she jumps up on my back. I know someone once told me to lift my knee up, but I don't want to hurt her. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[lizardlady]

Elsewhere, it's a shame that your family has not taught her good manners. To me, bad manners in any dog is unpleasant. It can be downright dangerous with a large dog.

My recommendation is what you've already been told. When she goes to jump on you lift your leg a bit so she runs into your knee. It will not hurt her and will protect you.

[DogTrainingLove]

I'm sorry you're experiencing this. Is it possible for you to work on some training with the dog if they won't?

[Pikku Myy]

Agree with DogTrainingLove My Little Bell is not a hyper dog by breed - Bull Mastiff. But the first thing we worked on was training in order not to have her no.1 eat off the table, and no.2 not to jump and intimidate people. At 120 lbs she is about as big as me and quite powerful. She is all muscle Almost as big as me and would not want her bouncing on anyone much less jumping on my friends. As a puppy she did completely knock me down twice ran full speed to the back on my knees... enough said. That did it. Hope they find the time to train the beautiful animal

[Perna]

I would tell my cousin to control her dog or I would not go see my cousin I was jumped on by a neighbor's big dog on its leash (idiot owner calling out, "Oh, he wants to greet you!" and it bit me in the shoulder and its claws raked me so I had to use a stiff brush to clean the wound out each day until it healed and that hurt! I had a friend that wouldn't come over to my neighborhood because of that dog (she had been bitten badly, the entire top of her head in its mouth, as a small child by a German Shepherd and never got over it). It was on a military base though and the owner outranked my father so. . .

[teesie76]

I have a large puppy, but we taught him his manners, no jumping, no begging and he deffinately gets no treats at the dinner table. Putting your knee up wont hurt a large dog, and i would say no at the same time. Thats how my dog learned to stay down.

My inlaws had dogs that were just unruly and never listened because they were rewarded for bad behavior, we stopped going there for any kind of visits.

[UnderRugSwept]

Originally Posted by DogTrainingLove

I'm sorry you're experiencing this. Is it possible for you to work on some training with the dog if they won't?

I don't see them enough for anything I say to really stick. (Maybe like once a month? I will be seeing them soon, thus why I thought about posting this thread.) Plus she is so hyper that she doesn't really focus. My uncle has taken her for a three-hour walk before and she still isn't tired out! Anyway, I have gotten her to sit like once. She appears to listen some to my uncle and my cousin's husband...he is actually the only one who makes any effort to control her. It really wouldn't be so bad if it were just when I came in the door (not that I am making excuses for the dog's behavior; just saying it would be less troublesome for a shorter amt. of time).

[UnderRugSwept]

Originally Posted by Pikku Myy

Agree with DogTrainingLove My Little Bell is not a hyper dog by breed - Bull Mastiff. But the first thing we worked on was training in order not to have her no.1 eat off the table, and no.2 not to jump and intimidate people. At 120 lbs she is about as big as me and quite powerful. She is all muscle Almost as big as me and would not want her bouncing on anyone much less jumping on my friends. As a puppy she did completely knock me down twice ran full speed to the back on my knees... enough said. That did it. Hope they find the time to train the beautiful animal

I bet your dog is gorgeous! Well...I honestly don't think my cousin and her husband have enough time to spend with such a high energy dog; they are both gone all day, and I don't think she gets much exercise at night (and obviously not any training). They did a puppy class at Petsmart but never enforced any of the training. Plus I have been to one of those classes before with a boyfriend and his dog, and they are terrible! Anyway, it's nice to hear you spent so much time training your dog to be a model citizen!

[UnderRugSwept]

Originally Posted by Perna

I would tell my cousin to control her dog or I would not go see my cousin I was jumped on by a neighbor's big dog on its leash (idiot owner calling out, "Oh, he wants to greet you!" and it bit me in the shoulder and its claws raked me so I had to use a stiff brush to clean the wound out each day until it healed and that hurt! I had a friend that wouldn't come over to my neighborhood because of that dog (she had been bitten badly, the entire top of her head in its mouth, as a small child by a German Shepherd and never got over it). It was on a military base though and the owner outranked my father so. . .

Yikes...I am really sorry that happened to you, as well as for what happened to your friend! It sounds awful.
The dog has scratched my arm some with her claws, although she is much too friendly to bite. And I certainly won't wear nicer clothes over there (she also really likes to lick and drool on my shoes). Not seeing them at all really isn't an option, tho. Besides my father, they are really the only family I have.

[RichardBrooks]

I call my boxer my 120 pound lap dog. Yes, he jumps on me, but only when I let him know it's okay. Voice command training takes time and consistency, but dogs communicate through body language, so use that to communicate and establish your dominance. First, when the dog tries to jump on you, move toward it throwing it off balance. Use a simple command or phrase, such as "Don't jump," or just "No". If (when) she tries again, grasp her firmly (but don't squeeze) by the top of the muzzle or back of the neck and force it to a sitting or prone position while calmly repeating the command.

Remember to be firm but gentle, both in the way you handle the dog and speak to it. When you pet her, pet the back of her neck, top of the head, and top of the muzzle. When you play with her, always approach her from above. This is how dogs --even wild dogs-- display and reinforce dominance and pack position amongst themselves. I've used this and similar techniques to control large dogs, hyper dogs, 'vicious' dogs, even wolves people try to raise as pets without ever considering they have no 'tameness' in their breeding.

[UnderRugSwept]

Originally Posted by RichardBrooks

I call my boxer my 120 pound lap dog. Yes, he jumps on me, but only when I let him know it's okay. Voice command training takes time and consistency, but dogs communicate through body language, so use that to communicate and establish your dominance. First, when the dog tries to jump on you, move toward it throwing it off balance. Use a simple command or phrase, such as "Don't jump," or just "No". If (when) she tries again, grasp her firmly (but don't squeeze) by the top of the muzzle or back of the neck and force it to a sitting or prone position while calmly repeating the command.

Remember to be firm but gentle, both in the way you handle the dog and speak to it. When you pet her, pet the back of her neck, top of the head, and top of the muzzle. When you play with her, always approach her from above. This is how dogs --even wild dogs-- display and reinforce dominance and pack position amongst themselves. I've used this and similar techniques to control large dogs, hyper dogs, 'vicious' dogs, even wolves people try to raise as pets without ever considering they have no 'tameness' in their breeding.

Yeah, I know re: voice training...she's not my dog. I don't live in their house so I can't provide the time or the consistency. I have helped to train a boyfriend's dog before, but that was because I saw the dog every day and because she did see me as someone she should listen to. I do know how to play with a dog and pet/approach one...I grew up with dogs. However, I don't ever play with this dog or pet her; she is never calm enough around me for that. If I show interest in her, I get jumped on. It's like trying to control a doggie tornado. I am not strong enough or big enough to control a dog that comes racing around the corner at me out of nowhere. Your methods make sense if the situation were different. I was just looking for the best way to keep her off of me when I am there since that's really the best I can do.