Dog jumping up

[slimjim86]

After some advice, I walk a couple of lab crosses who are very excitable, they are crated during the day and simply explode when they come out. The smaller one is manageable as I do the usual thing of putting my knee up and it connects with her chest when she tries to jump on me and after a few attempts she gives up, her brother is more retriever size and somehow manages to always get his feet over the top, he's scratched my face paddling at me, tonight he's ripped a big hole down the side of my jacket and I've no idea how to stop him. I've trued not letting them out till they calm down but they just get more wound up that I'm there to take them out and haven't let them out yet, I don't have enough time to wait this out for as long as it takes for them to realise, I've turned my back but he just jumps on my back, asking him to sit is hopeless. Any suggestions? Anything good to squirt at him to get him to back off?

 

[slimjim86]

Also should I ask the owner to pay towards the jacket or is that just something you expect your dog walker to suck up?

 

[Jenko109]

I'm sure this will be the first of many damaged jackets.

Yes, I would suggest they pay for the damage. If they are unwilling then I would simply no longer walk their dogs.

Unless the owners also help with training to prevent jumping up, I daresay you are fighting a losing battle.

 

[slimjim86]

I'm sure this will be the first of many damaged jackets.

Yes, I would suggest they pay for the damage. If they are unwilling then I would simply no longer walk their dogs.

Unless the owners also help with training to prevent jumping up, I daresay you are fighting a losing battle.

Thanks, that's kinda how I felt too, it's so frustrating as his lead walking and recall have come on leaps and bounds ( apparently previous dog walker wouldn't walk him because he pulled too much). I know it all stems from not getting enough exercise but I can only do what I'm paid for, I'm not actually sure how often he gets walked apart from when I take him, I think it's a bit sporadic

 

[slimjim86]

I messaged them about the jumping up and just got told he doesn't do it if you ignore him, we'll funnily enough that was the first thing I tried, I think because I equal walkies he's much more excited around me than his owners, nice to be so wanted but maybe not lol

 

[twiggy2]

It may be worth trying some really high value treats (or meat/fish paste /pate) drop or smear on the floor before you let him out, if he is a foodie then he comes out hoovers up you clip lead on and off you go.
As a walker you are not there to train but to manage and exercise. I used to do both are charges were different.
A knee in the chest is not something I would recommend.
Also as a walker ( or trainer) clothing damage is in my experience expected but if the dogs are not manageable then let the owners know that and stop walking them.

 

[slimjim86]

It may be worth trying some really high value treats (or meat/fish paste /pate) drop or smear on the floor before you let him out, if he is a foodie then he comes out hoovers up you clip lead on and off you go.
As a walker you are not there to train but to manage and exercise. I used to do both are charges were different.
A knee in the chest is not something I would recommend.
Also as a walker ( or trainer) clothing damage is in my experience expected but if the dogs are not manageable then let the owners know that and stop walking them.

Thanks, I did try scattering kibble around to distract him but it didn't work, will try again with higher value food x

 

[twiggy2]

Squeezey cheese can be good too as you can get them licking at the tube before you open the crate door and then lure them out and clip lead on with other hand.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Any chance you can get the lead on his collar at crate opening, and physically hold him down? Difficult I know with 60lbs of hysterical dog. Sounds rather like the dogs are a life accessory, to be shut away when not needed.

 

[slimjim86]

Any chance you can get the lead on his collar at crate opening, and physically hold him down? Difficult I know with 60lbs of hysterical dog. Sounds rather like the dogs are a life accessory, to be shut away when not needed.

Unfortunately not, it's a large crate for both labs and it's just too much to hold onto when they both rush the door, there was a week or so when they weren't crated and I walked into the room, held the door open and shouted "door" at them and they went to the front door and waited mostly nicely for leads, it's the crazy rush of energy when they get let out, and the general lack of manners but I feel on the whole we are moving forward with outdoor manners.

 

[Sandstone1]

A licky mat with squeezy cheese on ready in front of crate before you let him out? It may take a few goes but if he gets used to the routine of having licky mat with a bit of something tasty on when he comes out? It might allow you time to get him out and put his lead on?
Poor thing, not surprising he gets excited to see you if hes in a crate all the time.... Thats why I hate crates used like that. Putting up your knee or turning your back is unlikely to help as he is so excited to see you and knows hes going out. Maybe two licky mats spaced out for two dogs?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Do you open the door to the garden before letting them out of the crate? That is what I would do to avoid them jumping up. If they expect to have the lead put on in the garden, they may/should rush out to meet you there.

 

[slimjim86]

Do you open the door to the garden before letting them out of the crate? That is what I would do to avoid them jumping up. If they expect to have the lead put on in the garden, they may/should rush out to meet you there.

Yep, opened all the doors, even put their breakfast down before they came out this morning, made no difference, I kept putting him back in every time he jumped, then let him out when he sat and so on, he just started barking in his crate then which at 6am in a residential area is not good.

 

[Sandstone1]

Kong pate another option? It comes in a tube. You could let him lick it from the can to stop jumping up? The idea would be not to let him practise the behaviour and add in another behaviour that stops him jumping up. Does he like toys? A special toy that he only gets when four feet on the ground?
I get you dont have much time with him. The problem is you taking him out of the crate and walking him is very rewarding for him. Its really not fair to spray him with something. Its not his fault.

 

[Petalpoos]

I think perhaps you should find some better behaved dogs to walk and give up on these 2.

 

[Highmileagecob]

What happens if they are not caged? Do they eat the kitchen?

 

[skinnydipper]

Suggest to the owners that they find a good dog trainer, one who can visit the home and assess the problem(s). The trainer can then devise a training protocol for both you and the owners to follow.

Or don't walk the dogs.

 

[MurphysMinder]

So are both dogs in one crate ? I can’t imagine any crate being big enough for 2 for a prolonged time , not that helps your problem . I’ve used a water bottle with some success , but a lab might enjoy it

 

[slimjim86]

So are both dogs in one crate ? I can’t imagine any crate being big enough for 2 for a prolonged time , not that helps your problem . I’ve used a water bottle with some success , but a lab might enjoy it

Yeah it's this sort of crate / kennel, they seem comfortable enough in it and do run back into it and lie straight down after their walk. Sadly I definitely think he would find water being squirted at him a fun game and become even more excited. I honestly never realised there was so many dog owners that just don't train or exercise their dogs enough.

 

[blackcob]

I am personally not averse to methods like knee to chest and properly roaring at the buggers to pack it in, when a dog is big enough and persistent enough to hurt you, but in this circumstance I don't think it's suitable to use punitive methods. Partly because they're not yours to roar at, but mostly because if they're not getting enough exercise, they're locked in a crate all the time and the owners are doing no supportive training then it's not fair to bollock them for something that's completely out of their control, they simply can't be expected to have self restraint in those circumstances.

If they're not willing to change anything about the arrangement you may want to consider sacking them off.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Compressed air can when he's gunning toward you to jump up? You'd need to run it past the owner first, but if positive reinforcement isn't working, then that is what I would try next

 

[Birker2020]

After some advice, I walk a couple of lab crosses who are very excitable, they are crated during the day and simply explode when they come out. The smaller one is manageable as I do the usual thing of putting my knee up and it connects with her chest when she tries to jump on me and after a few attempts she gives up, her brother is more retriever size and somehow manages to always get his feet over the top, he's scratched my face paddling at me, tonight he's ripped a big hole down the side of my jacket and I've no idea how to stop him. I've trued not letting them out till they calm down but they just get more wound up that I'm there to take them out and haven't let them out yet, I don't have enough time to wait this out for as long as it takes for them to realise, I've turned my back but he just jumps on my back, asking him to sit is hopeless. Any suggestions? Anything good to squirt at him to get him to back off?

Deleted

 

[slimjim86]

Well I separated him and his sister and spent 30 minutes putting him back in the crate everything he jumped on me, he's calmer now, not sure how many days of this repetition it will take though and if it will even hold after his owners are back.

 

[skinnydipper]

and if it will even hold after his owners are back.

I misunderstood. I thought the dogs were over excited when you called round to walk them and let them out of the crate.

Are you staying at the property while the owners are away? If so, do they need to spend so much time fastened in the crate? What about doing something with them that tires them mentally to help them settle and not be so hyper. Sniffing games or training games for instance. Obviously I realise that you are not a trainer but if you have a look on line I'm sure you will find simple games that you could play with them just for fun.

 

[slimjim86]

I misunderstood. I thought the dogs were over excited when you called round to walk them and let them out of the crate.

Are you staying at the property while the owners are away? If so, do they need to spend so much time fastened in the crate? What about doing something with them that tires them mentally to help them settle and not be so hyper. Sniffing games or training games for instance. Obviously I realise that you are not a trainer but if you have a look on line I'm sure you will find simple games that you could play with them just for fun.

I'm not staying there, their plans for the dogs when they went away fell through last minute so I agreed I could fit in early morning breakfast and toilet break, and bed time toilet break, other friends and colleagues are popping in and out during the day to check on them etc and I walk them each lunch time ( obviously they need more than 1 walk per day but that's all she's paying me for)

 

[slimjim86]

This morning is going much better, only 2 half hearted jumps, straight back in the crate then try again, trouble is he gets so excited by attention as soon as you reward him with a stroke he boils over and is all over you again. There's also 2 terriers here and he goy a bit over excited after playing with them this morning and turned that excitement on me so quickly back to crate and was good again when he came out. He's actually quite trainable as demonstrated by how nicely he loose lead walks now, he just struggles to manage his emotions, its why I'm still not prepared to trust him off lead with other dogs around when we are out.

 

[Sandstone1]

Sounds like he is just a lively lab who does probably not get the attention and mental and physical stimulation he needs. Not your fault but its sad.

 

[skinnydipper]

I'm not staying there, their plans for the dogs when they went away fell through last minute so I agreed I could fit in early morning breakfast and toilet break, and bed time toilet break, other friends and colleagues are popping in and out during the day to check on them etc and I walk them each lunch time ( obviously they need more than 1 walk per day but that's all she's paying me for)

Right, I can see now why the dogs would be hyper and stressed with various people coming and going.

 

[slimjim86]

Right, I can see now why the dogs would be hyper and stressed with various people coming and going.

Yep and everytime the front door opens it makes a chiming noise to alert them
They are however currently chilling on the sofa chewing on some antlers not a care in the world. I think a few visits where I don't take them out is good for them in 1 way, not so much in terms of they need to get out more but as the phrase goes "not my circus, not my monkeys"

 

[MurphysMinder]

No wonder the poor dogs are stressed/hyper . Not your fault but sounds like the owners haven't really made adequate provision for while they are away .