My Dog Is Overexcitable
(Particularly If We Have Guests)

Here's something I was asked recently, together with my reply.

"Andrew,

I've already purchased your CDROM, and am working to get through it. I don't have the time to sit in front of the computer all that much, so it's taken me some time to get through it. But, I AM getting there:-)

Three quick things that I would like your advice on:

We have a ~20 month old Black Lab Male. He is a great friend, and is starting to do a lot better now that we are on your system, but there are 2 things that we are working on with him that we'd like your help:

1. Calm. He gets so excited, no matter if it's me coming home from work, or if we get ice out of the freezer and he thinks he should get one. He gets so excited that he just 'cycles' through all the commands he knows, without really listening to any of what we say. He sits, lays down, sits again, tries to shake hands, lays down, etc. Is there anything you can recommend?

2. Licking. I know he's a dog, but it's particularly difficult for our guests when he comes running up to them when they are sitting on the couch and tries to lick them. Hands, feet, face if he can get within reach. Is there anything I can do to stop it?

3. Housetraining. He's NORMALLY very good. He gets walked 3 times per day for him to do his business. Then, when we have guests over, he suddenly goes on the floor, right in the middle of all of us! It's not like he's hiding, he does it in full view. We reprimand him for it, but he won't stop. We then take him outside, and then if he goes further outside, I try to give him extra praise for doing it in the right place. Upon coming back inside, we don't dwell on it, and move on.

Am I doing something wrong with him?

Any assistance you can provide would be very helpful. We have a 7 year old lab/shepherd mix that never really had much formal training, but she's VERY calm and well behaved. I don't know if that would affect anything, but wanted to get it out there so you have the full picture. My wife and I live in a condo in the city, but there is a park across the street, so that's where we go to walk them. We don't have any children.

Please let me know if you have any ideas for us. We are very pleased with your product, and I talk it up to any and all people that we meet that are having some of the same difficulties that we are.

Thanks again!"
Preston

Hi Preston,

1. Calm

Whenever he gets into an excited frenzy just ignore him completely. Don't say his name or speak to him at all, don't look at him, but just quietly turn your back on him. Have a pocketful of treats ready and wait till he just settles down quietly. At that point - but not before - casually flick him across a treat and quietly praise him. Don't make a big deal of it but do it in a very matter-of-fact way. If he jumps up at that point immediately getting all excited again just turn your back on him and ignore him. If ignoring him doesn't seem to work go out of the room, closing the door behind you and leaving him the other side of the door. Wait a minute or so then go back into the room. If he gets excited immediately go out again. Keep doing it until he ignores you when you come in. At that point quietly praise him (verbally) without making a big fuss.

Keep this up consistently and he'll soon realise that the only way to earn your attention is to be calm.

2. Licking

As soon as he rushes up to your guests to start slobbering you must immediately take him out of the room and shut him out. Wait a minute or so then let him back in. If he does it again you *immediately* take him out again. Keep repeating this until he doesn't slobber over your guests. At this point you must immediately praise him and give him a treat. If he goes back to your guest take him straight out again. As with everything else if you're consistent about it the penny will soon drop - if he ignores your guests he gets rewarded, if he tries to fuss at them he's excluded from the room.

3. Soiling when you have guests

This is just another form of attention seeking. Deal with it the same way as for #2 - as soon as he tries it you must take him out of the room and shut the door so he's excluded from the room. Quietly clean up the mess while he's out. Let him back in and if he quietly goes to lie down out the way praise him and give hiim a small treat. If he tries soiling again just take him straight back out again and shut him out.

Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on....

Regards,
Andrew

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