[zimmer]

Zimmer definitely has some faults, but his most prominent is the fact that he jumps up on everybody, especially when he gets excited (usually when meeting new people/greeting people when they come in the house). I'm still working on his basic commands, i.e. heel, sit, stay, etc. (most of which he's learned/already knew), but when he gets too riled up, it's like he doesn't hear me. I always warn people when we first meet them that he likes to jump, and I haven't had a complaint since, but I don't want to project the idea that I have no control over my dog. He just loves meeting new people, and "greeting" us when we get home.

With our other dog that we took to obedience classes (something I fully plan on doing with Zim after his "grace period" with us is done), the trainer always said when the dog jumps up to grab them by the paws and walk them backwards because they don't like it. That worked for the other dog - not at all with Zimmer. He thinks it's a game (and gets a little mouthy when I do it). I'm now in the habit of turning my body sideways when Zim jumps up to discourage him from doing it, but I can't exactly tell a stranger to do that, can I? I try to get him to heel when he and I will be coming in contact with someone new, but like I said, he just ignores me.

Is there something else I could do to discourage him jumping up on everybody he meets? Should I just avoid these little meet and greets altogether until he's a bit more trained?