Jumping up at people and dogs

Question
Hi,  We have an 8 month old Bearded Collie.  He is usually obedient and always very good natured; a lovely dog.  The only things he does that he shouldn't do is jump up at all passers by, in fact anyone in the house or street, and he has an overwhelming urge to greet all dogs, friendly or otherwise.  He also runs straight into my wife and her female friends.  How can we stop this antisocial behaviour?

Answer
HI Campbell!

Ah...antisocial from YOUR perspective. From your dog's perspective he's being quite social! From my perspective it sounds like your dog is VERY social albeit quite rude!

I honestly think that all breeders should have to swear never to teach puppies to jump by rewarding their jumping up for the feeder pan when they transition from Mama Dog to dog food!

1) If ANYONE at all rewards your dog for jumping by petting him or engaging with him, you will have a much harder time breaking this annoying greeting behavior. Dogs do what works even if it only works occasionally. EVERYONE you know must understand and accept the rule that your dog gets nothing (no food, no treats, no toys, no attention) unless his 4 feet are on the floor.
2) Instead of holding your dog's leash in your hand when meeting new people, step on the leash at the place where the leash drops in a straight line down to the floor (no other slack). It should be loose, not taut, but no extra length. When he starts to jump, he'll give himself a correction and you and he aren't engaging in a tug of war to keep him on the floor.
3) Everytime his feet are on the floor he gets rewarded with little pieces of cheese or hot dog and praise/petting.  Teach him a sit b/c if he's sitting he cannot be jumping. The goal is that sit becomes his default behavior when greeting people. When he sits, you should be lavishly praising him for sitting and give him a tiny treat that has value (meaning most treats that are 'dog' treats won't compete at all with greeting his new best friends!)

This will take a lot of time and effort to alter because he has such a history of jumping on people. When the rules change, in his frustration, it is likely he will try jumping more. Keeping being consistent and firm that jumping isn't allowed. Don't give up. The problem won't be fixed overnight.

Good luck!

Jaz