Big dog jumping up - help!

[LionsandBears]

Nickle - they're based in Eastern suburbs but if you call them, they may be able to come out your way or refer someone who can.

Krysalyss - that makes sense about the mouthing. I'll have to discourage it.

[Shanti]

When our big dog jumps up on visitors we tell them turn their back to the dog, if that fails, put your knee up as you face them, usually deters a big dog from continuing....

[EssTee]

Thanks, krysalyss, I will try what you have suggested tomorrow. We have somewhere I can easily tie her up on a long lead, we use it when the horse is in the arena or the dog goes berserk!

AngelPants, we are on several acres and she has plenty of exercise and much to keep her occupied. Being a GS, she spends much of her day running from the chooks to the horses to the rabbit to us, checking on her 'flock'.

I just had a friend come to visit and the dog jumped up on her several times - muddy paws all over her WHITE top! I don't want a dog I have to lock away when we have visitors, I want a well behaved, obedient dog I can trust.

Just on the exercise point - sometimes the more intelligent breeds like GSD, while having sufficient levels of physical exercise, need more mental stimulation in order to really satisfy them. i know it isn't always feasible with kids, and especially given you work weekends, but there are various sports out there that dogs like GSD excel at that can absolutely exhaust them mentally, plus they increase in bonding time with you. Tracking is one that springs to mind. Even if you couldn't do something like that, I would continue to pursue a suitable training club. You will probably find that the day/evening you do train, you will have a calmer, more compliant dog following training.

Directly on the jumping aspect... I agree with L&B on the coming and going ignoring behaviour - do not give them attention until they are calm, and have them come to you once they are calm for appropriate attention. if they launch back into mouthing and jumping either ignore again if it's effective enough, or isolate the dog until again, it is calm, and you can call it over and it greets appropriately.
Another very effective thing I have found works particularly for young dogs is yelping if they mouth. a loud, effective yelp can usually snap them out of it and then you move onto ignoring behaviour. This is what happens with littermates, where the one that is hurt usually yelps and then moves away from the offender.

Aside from this type of thing, you can try other things, such as teaching the dog to lie down if it wants attention (call over, put in a down position and then give pats as reward whilst they remain in that position) but it should really be done in conjunction with the above - which is really a principle of nothing in life is free (NILIF). You are dictating to them that you want a particular behaviour before they get what they see as a positive in return (be that treats or pats as praise).

Also i would suggest you contact DogsVictoria and ask them if they know of any training clubs in your area that train on week nights. I'm very lucky that my training club trains on Monday and Thursday nights at a dedicated dog grounds about 15 minutes from home. I'm hoping to be able to pick back up on my training later when bubs is a bit older as i am currently training 3 dogs to competition level obedience and/or tracking.