Bilbo is now 2 years old and getting there with his behaviour. He's great when out on walks and when in the house with us. As soon as we have visitors he goes nuts and just jumps up. He is just pleased to see them but never calms down. When people do come to visit we make him sit stay and let him greet them. He then looses concentration and we start all over again. We have started to put him in the kitchen for a moment and try again with greeting once he has calmed down etc. We can't ignore him as he just starts to jump up again. Any suggestions please. I have to say 'touch wood' this is his only bad point.

You can ask your visitors to turn their back on him as soon as he starts to jump and if they are sitting down to stand up without saying anything. I still struggle with this problem with certain visitors as they are the naughty ones by not ignoring her!

I agree. Toffee is 3 and is still very excited when greeting visitors and strangers!! She is much better than she was and doesn't jump up too much, think that's because-as angel suggested- we asked our visitors to turn their back if she jumps up but also bend down to her so she doesn't need to jump up.

She is still very excited to see people but once they've said hello she tends to settle down, think she is more difficult when people don't say hello to her but once they have she ignores them. Don't know if this is helpful-usually will improve if everyone is consistent.

Sarah and Toffee!!

worked with us too. Talk to your visitors before they arrive, ask them to ignore her. As soon as she sits nicely then they can make a fuss and say hello.

Honest it works, Marls has settled so much, he still gets excited when they arrive, within a few mins he's wandered off to find something else to do.

any sugestions for when visitors first arrive and trying to get the dogs bum sitting in one place whilst the door is opened?
Just wonering as i have this problem with a client. xx

Ellie, is it possible to keep them out of the first initial greeting place? Charlie is much better (note, not good ) if we keep him behind a child gate in the front room til the first hellos are done.

You still doing the doggie walking thing then Ellie? How's it going?

Sounds just like my flippy Fippy and she is three now . I asked all visitors to ignore her, but unfortunately you get different kinds of visitors, the worst are the one who giggle and laugh at your dog's silly excited behaviour, they are as difficult to train as the dog . What I do, Fipps is in the kitchen as people come into the house, she is behind a fireguard as this stops her from jumping, she has the utmost respect of a fireguard . Visitors sit down, after a wee while I let her through, warning the visitors that a whirlwind is coming in. After she has said hello welshie-style, with me straight behind her I just tie her up at the radiator and voila, she happily settles with visitors in view.

Yeah still doing the dog walking/ training thing. Its only for close family friends that i do the training with. I have three at the minute.
My boyfriends cousin who has a sprollie a springer and a new springer puppy!?!?! A family friend with a golden retriever pup i have trained her since she was 4months old she is now 7mnths. And finally the dog i have doorway issues with, another family friend in their 60's with a old english sheepdog/labrador, sally!


When i first saw sally, they were already shutting her away in another room and the issue was that she was going mad jumping at visitors, if my friend couldn't get her into another room in time she would refuse to move then run out the front door jumping again.
So im not sure if shutting her away would be the right answer because its what they did before and she stil went nuts.

I will mention that i do think part of it is the owner, she is very doubting of sally being able to do anything and would rather complain than do it.


Sorry to ramble and high jack the post. xx

I'd pop any dog who can't be relied upon on a lead around visitors. Perhaps put a note on the door saying you are training the dog to greet nicely and may be a bit longer opening the door...... Then you've got a way of reinforcing the behaviour you want.

Thanks for all your suggestions. Like some of you we have tried to get visitors to ignore Bilbo or get Bilbo to sit before there is any contact. Again some friends think this is all very funny which of course makes him even more excited. Some do turn their backs but his paws are so big they can hurt when he jumps up. Will try the lead in the house to start with and maybe then go for a stair gate into the kitchen, at least he will then still see everyone. Maybe in time he'll get the message.