Puppy keeps on jumping at me.

Question
QUESTION: My boxer puppy who is 8 months old keeps jumping at me when I come in from work. She bites and keeps pulling at my clothes tail always wagging but it is getting to much even though I tell her no or hold down she keeps on coming back at me with a vengeance what should I do?. Thanks Annette

ANSWER: Your dog is demonstrating over excitement at seeing your return.  There's no reason she has to greet you at the door.  In fact, allowing such a young dog free run of the house when you are not at home is actually setting her up for a great deal of anxiety, as this is YOUR 'den' and she need not be in charge of it all day.  For her own peace of mind, she should be confined to one room (with baby gate) such as the kitchen, with soft bedding, special toys, food and water, while you are at work.  You must also begin a regimen of positive reinforcement training and teach this dog one simple behavior (sit, but using a different word, something special).  You can learn about positive reinforcement training, as well as learn about dog psychology, by reading Patricia McConnell (her books are available on amazon).  You can also learn about positive reinforcement training by going to karen pryor's web site.  Within a short 36 trial training (over the course of a week or two, short sessions each day) your dog will learn to sit at your unique command.  At this point, make the dog EARN every interaction with you by sitting FIRST.

In the meantime, when you first enter the room upon your return from work, if the dog begins to jump, EXIT the room; count to ten; try again.  If you exit the room (and turn your back to the dog), your dog will very quickly learn that jumping up results in your leaving (not speaking her name, not touching her, not making eye contact.)  Within the first few episodes, she should show displacement behavior (meaning, visible confusion.)  Take advantage of that by stepping in, getting a firm handle on her collar, praising her and immediately putting a leash on her (the leash is psychological restraint and can help dogs settle when they are experiencing over excitement -- keep the leash by the front door and have it in your hand.) The leash also allows you a ready method to stop any further jumping.  All you need do is step on the leash and she cannot jump up.  After attempting to jump one or two times, she will probably sit (a common displacement behavior) and you can then engage her.  When she has firmly and consistently learned her new "sit" command, you can  direct her into that behavior before giving her eye contact and reward by petting.  This is a juvenile dog who has simply not learned her "manners" and is left in charge of your entire living space, far too much responsibility for her.  Teaching her things that you can reward (behaviors like 'sit' and others), giving her plenty of opportunity to exercise her newly acquired behaviors, and offering ZERO reward for those behaviors you do NOT want, will create of her a calmer and more stable companion.

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QUESTION: I have a one year old Boxer also and she follow suit to! She never used to do that she just follows the other one At least when you tell her to sit she will!Can you give me some advice? Thanks Annette

Answer
Dogs often sink to the least common denominator in behavior.  Your older Boxer is following that of the younger and this is most likely a rank problem (Darned if she'll let the youngster get to you FIRST!)

Allow the older dog  free run of the house and greet her first (after asking for her reliable "sit".)  Then address the younger dog as I formerly suggested.  Observe the interaction between these two after you begin doing this.  Report any problems that might develop.