Required fields are marked *. ! The trainer has suggested a ball for distraction. At wits end. How to calm an over excited puppy or adult dog is a skill that dog owners need to learn. Grisha Stewart’s excellent book Behavior Adjustment Training is packed with information and practical advice for helping dogs with this problem. It requires identifying the specific stimulus or situation that evokes the behavior and then actively working on systematically desensitizing the dog/dogs to it and teaching alternative behaviors. Unfortunately it’s not quite as comfortable for humans and even if your dog knows better, they might become so stimulated that they forget the house rules and start playing a … My border terrier is 18 months old and used to rush up to dogs and bark excitably. Essentially a dog which is described as over threshold, is so fearful or anxious about a particular situation – the presence of another dog for example – that he has crossed the point at which he is capable of responding to anything else. When a dog sees another dog and goes into a state of excitement (whining, pulling on the leash, sometimes barking), he might be anxious and alarmed—or he might be enjoying the dopamine rush. In the meantime, do join the forum so that we can help and support you. Dog Aggression Towards Other Dogs: Fix It In 10 Steps. If so, the chances are he is ‘over the threshold’. The kitchen is pretty ‘puppy proof’ and we’re easy about the things that are in there but …. I have to ring my husband to come and walk him home sometimes. In earlier episodes of the Dog Trainer podcast, I’ve discussed dogs who bark and lunge aggressively at other dogs, and how to help them. To make matters worse , we are keeping our sons two, much larger dogs for a few months. Nowadays, you will also often hear the term threshold used to describe situations where dogs are fearful or reactive. ; In my earlier episode on attention, I explained how to teach your dog to look at you when you say her name, and also to check in with you spontaneously and often. Make sure to show them that there’s no danger or anything else negative. Other things can create similar problems such as over stimulating play with other dogs, getting into hunting/tracking/sniffing mode and running around aimlessly off leash. Don't miss out on the perfect companion to life with a purrfect friend. Patiently doing the treat reward when she is calm which is working ok with squirrels and deer, but other dogs…well that’s still an issue. I’ll let you know my results!!! Jolanta holds professional certifications in both training and behavior counseling and belongs to the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. A dog with excess energy cannot focus on discipline, while showing affection toward an over-excited dog will just make it worse. However 9 times out of 10 when he goes over to another dog he will growl or bark. It's okay, this is normal... i have a female pit bull who is SO loving to other dogs that she also can get excited. Controlling your dog when in public is your responsibility. Again, expectation becomes reality. She's 26 pounds, spayed a week ago, fed 1 cup of Science Diet twice a day partially in a bowl and partially in puzzle toys along with occasional treats. I have adopted a 5-year-old spinone (possibly spaniel)cross female. We have the same problem with our dachshund mix rescue. How do I deal with keeping him under threshold when it is surrounding him ? Son in law plays with dog – which dog LOVES. Hi Sally, do join the forum so that we can help you with your dog 🙂, Hi Pippa, I just adopted a 10 year old female Pitt/Terrier mix. He might be able to come when called if no other dogs are around, but will fail if there are other dogs nearby. 1. Quick & Dirty Tips™ and related trademarks appearing on this website are the property of Mignon Fogarty, Inc. and Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC. Lastly, your dog might be getting excited due to having too much pent-up energy. If in doubt, always ask the dog for an ‘easy’ behavior first. The more your excitable dog focuses on you, the less attention she has left over for other dogs. This is something he's more likely to grow out of over time. e can only train a dog that is under threshold. She then goes crazy and barks and lunges and will not calm. He gets so excited, he jumps on them and worse, urinates on them. A dog that urinates when dealing with someone who approaches them directly, speaks loudly near them, leans over them or reaches towards them is likely exhibiting submissive urination. Digging Issues 9. The key point here is really important to understand. 2. It’s just that one thing that triggers it. The dogs are often operating under extremely exciting conditions and this will never help a more neurotic or high energy, over excited dog. I have a 10 months old Black Lab. Teach your dog to focus near other dogs. You can stick food under his nose and he probably won’t even sniff it. Aggression is usually born out of fear. This week he has gone for 2 young rather nervy cockerpoo type dogs whereas he has walked lots of other dogs. The temporary paralysis is similar to that of Mytonic goats, which have been dubbed "fainting goats." But if you persist today with a situation that takes the dog way over threshold, he will be just as incapable of responding to you tomorrow. If you do this, it will ingrain in them that other dogs are their friends rather than enemies. Proximity is often the best way to dilute a distraction – just moving the dog further from it. The moment the other dog looks stressed (tucked body, head down, ears back) or like he’s trying to get away from your dog, use your time-out phrase to mark your dog’s behavioral infraction, then pick up the long line and lead your dog away from the fun. 2. Think too, about how you play with your dog. I now change path as soon as I see a dog/owner. Hello Pippa, I’m finding your puppy and recall books absolutely brilliant and they’ve been a great help. Please let me know and we will be happy to look into this for you! Your Miniature Schnauzer is no different to other dogs when it comes to being over excited. She has her own toy box but in these moments nothing in there is of interest. Dogs are always on … she tears the cushions off the chairs, and anything she can grab or chew. The more your excitable dog focuses on you, the less attention she has left over for other dogs. Puppy (border collie) is now 18 weeks old and enjoying learning. The moment you put your dog’s leash on he is then in “protection mode”. I have tried clicking and treating him for calm behaviour and it works from a distance but every time we get a little bit closer he begins to ignore me and acts giddy. So, no success! Introducing your staffy to other dogs at an early age is crucial in cultivating a dog-friendly personality. He has worked with dogs and other pets for many years and … They may be moving uncontrollably (lunging about at the end of a lead) or literally frozen into immobility, eyes fixed, muscles quivering. I have a 2 yo lab with the exact same issue. Walking your dog too close to other dogs may make you feel compelled to increase your level of authority to make your point across. The reason for your dog giving so much attention to other dogs is because dogs are very intelligent, yet instinctual creatures. Separation Anxiety Issues 12. We tried it a couple of days ago, and he was, ask expected, lunging and flipping out, no barking though. The level of your dog’s arousal to a particular distraction, whether his response is one of wanting to escape the distraction (fear) or one of wanting to engage with the distraction (excitement) will decrease with repeated exposure to that distraction PROVIDED that the repeated exposures do not take the dog over threshold. In the dog world, submissive urination is a way to avoid confrontation. Perfect! He is in fact unable to do anything except focus on the source of his anxiety. I have tried clicking and treating him for calm behaviour and it works from a distance but every time we get a little bit closer he begins to ignore me and acts giddy. So for example your dog might be able to sit on cue in the presence of another dog, but will be unable to maintain the sit for any length of time. Jumping On You or Other People 3. Traditional dog training does not recognise or acknowledge the question of threshold. My dog gets so excited to meet other dogs it scares them, and then they don't want to meet her. Mouthing and Biting Issues 6. He is so strong I have to get him to somewhere safe and tie him up. It is surprising how resistant people can be to this suggestion. Aggression Towards Other Dogs 13. Take a 30-second break during which your dog has no exposure to the other dog. your dog is getting all tense around another dog, and you rechannel that aggression into play with you, etc.) Before the day of your party, ask each guest to simply ignore your dogs when they first arrive. Uncontrollable while riding in car. She went wild and now hangs outside the door of the room where they are now living. Moving the dog further from the distraction is a positive step and helps build foundations for better behaviour, If your dog cannot sit on cue next to another dog, he may well be able to do so, if you walk him ten feet away. Pick the spot where your dog can see the … Learn how to help these dogs keep their cool – and when friendly excitement might reflect anxiety. We’ve adopted an 18 month old terrier mix. Though it is easy to mistake over excited play for aggression. ... All this does is alert the dog to danger, and if their human does this a few times then the dog will make the association with other dogs and danger. Though universal, this can be particularly seen in breeds that have a tendency to get over-excited. In training, the word threshold can also be used to describe the point at which a dog is so interested in and excited by a particular situation – the presence of a rabbit in a cage for example – that he too is unable to focus on or respond to, anything other than the source of his excitement. We really want to let her run but so far are unable to let her off-lead. While the over excitement also happens as a response to a stimulus, he’s not overwhelmed by a whole lot of stimuli. Sometimes he might start out being frightened, but over time he loses the fear and just goes into eager anticipation particularly when he can predict certain situations. When the first dog has calmed down, add another dog to the mix and so forth. It generally appears very uncontrolled and very wild. When he sees another dog out walking, he is initially very excited and will wag his tail and pull (not too hard) on the leash as if he wants to go over and say hello. Aggression Towards Other Dogs 13. I believe this will be so easy. It can be difficult to deal with a puppy or older dog that is over excited, especially if we don’t know the reason for their excitement. Thanks, Lois, I just adopted a 75lb ten month old lab/retriever. Find a mature, calm, well-balanced dog to help. - before you'll be able to do that with your other dogs in tow. Dogs in this state cannot absorb information and are incapable of learning. He is calm and easily trainable when the environment is controlled or even when other dogs are near by. A significant factor is the power of the distraction. Many times, if your dog is really excited or frustrated, his barking gets much worse. How can I help her. Problems With Stealing 11. This video gives tips on what to do when your dog gets over excited when the door bell rings. If your dog is becoming excited or fearful, you may be able to get him to refocus on you by asking him to comply with very simple cues. As your dog gets better and better at paying attention to you and keeping her cool when other dogs are in view, you can gradually decrease the distance. She just wants to play but sounds horrible. If your dog is so hyper that they get distracted even while you’re out walking, some trainers suggest dressing them with a weighted backpack or belt before you go out.. Some dogs naturally get more excited than other dogs. Wear Your Dog Out (and Possibly Yourself!) She is over 2 yrs and is a great dog unless we come across deer, squirrels and other dogs on our walk. So our objective is to expose the dog (whilst keeping him under threshold) repeatedly enough that his arousal levels fall sufficiently for us to increase the power of the distraction (usually by bringing it closer). Even if he sounds ferocious! Crying When Left All Alone 7. Another factor is the trained behavior that the handler is asking for. Especially puppies and young dogs are most likely to pull on the leash or jump up on guests. Lastly, your dog might be getting excited due to having too much pent-up energy. She's 26 pounds, spayed a week ago, fed 1 cup of Science Diet twice a day partially in a bowl and partially in puzzle toys along with occasional treats. Remember that attentive behavior is harder for Bouncy than it is for her laid-back cousin Mel O., so you’ll need plenty of practice without other dogs around. He won’t stop. Thanks. I am female – dog and I live alone he is exgtremely obedient…we have fantastic walks – 6 mile plus per day. Of course, it’s easier to keep your dog from being over-excited if she doesn’t … unable to focus on or respond to, anything other than the source of his excitement. Hi Pippa, I would really appreciate your help. This week, we’ll talk about 3 steps you can take to help your over-the-top Bouncy get a little more suave. If you would like to listen to the audio, please use Google Chrome or Firefox. W Invest in Special Gear As mentioned, when your puppy pulls and whines to meet people or other dogs, his excitement is getting reinforced. Though he is learning to walk beside me on a leash, he has this nagging habit of nipping grass or picking dry leaves from the ground. He tries to hump me. Not Responding To Your Commands 8. All dogs can get over-excited, or upset at times, whether they are puppies or adults. Any thoughts on how to calm him down enough to begin training as the wife is at wits end and myself. Does the dog in your life have a cat in theirs? The excitement from all three dogs I can work with more, it’s the urinating from our little one that is really causing concerns. A hyper dog who pulls and jumps at other dogs is a menace, especially if he’s a large breed like a rottweiler or Great Dane. A common cliche’ is two dogs who run along the fenceline barking mad at a person walking a dog behind the fence. Instead, if your dog becomes too excited as a dog is approaching, turn and walk the other way. Hyper in the sense that if you touch the lead to go for a walk your dog is out of control. Overly excited guest greetings will send excited dogs into a frenzy of jumping up and knocking people over. Some friendly dogs get so excited to see other dogs that they’re completely out of control. Our aim is to bring the dog back under threshold and only then to attempt training. Over excited dog behavior can have different forms. We are currently experiencing playback issues on Safari. The difference in how my dog approaches other dogs … Get his attention back on you, and if necessary withdraw from the distraction before trying something more complex. How can I curb his freakouts? We think SHE may have US thoroughly trained, as our response is one of these nice things. It’s easier to keep your dog calm if he doesn’t have … Hi Janet, Do you mean The Labrador Forum? Calming down an overexcited dog on walks … Again, expectation becomes reality. To be loose in woods she uses e-collar as she also hates dirt bikes and will throw herself at them. 1 year old dogs are the equivalent of teenagers. So let’s get to the steps of managing your dog’s over-excitement. She crosses the threshold quickly and sounds “viscous” trying to get to the other dog to play. He jumps up on everyone and everything. One dog is really good with commands and the other is just a little over a year old and rotten. It is a simple matter of having enough training and control over your dog to ask him to sit calmly when another dog approaches. Even if he sounds ferocious! Your dog can’t channel his emotions in those kinds of situations which then results in undesired behavior. Grisha describes how “BAT teaches the dogs to have lower excitement around their triggers. So knowing how to calm a dog can be a big help to any dog parent. Many dogs become over-excited at the prospect of leaving the house, whether it be simply going out in the backyard or leaving for a walk. In the beginning, give your dog only limited freedom on the end of a leash when a guest comes to the door; over time, work up to having her off leash when the doorbell rings. Separation Anxiety Issues 12. Strictly speaking, behavior thresholds are the point at which a behavior begins to break down in the presence of a distraction. If a dog is ‘under threshold’ in the presence of a distraction, he is able to observe and acknowledge the distraction, whilst responding to other events going on around him. I’ll let you know my results!!! The extra weight and the coordination required to carry the backpack will force your dog to focus their energy on the task at hand and so they’ll be less likely to be distracted by other animals. An over excited dog can usually calm himself down, even if it takes a while. It is so out of character that it shocks us. This is just what I needed. This is a shorthand way of saying that these dogs are easily over-excited by things. He is a big dog and has injured people by swimming to them and scratching them. Especially puppies and young dogs are most likely to pull on the leash or jump up on guests. The most common are: jumping, either in the air or on a person/object; barking/crying; running around very wildly; having the zoomies. He only major issue is walking on leash in the borough and meets another leash walking dog. Invest in special gear if your puppy tends to pull towards dogs and people. One of the problems with arousal is that it appears to be addictive. I also have two resident cats that she has not yet met face to face, but did see the first day I brought her home. You have dogs that are so laid back that even geeing them up with over the top praise will not create a stir! He is in. She is a really sweet dog. How close to other dogs can your dog get, and still be calm and attentive? We’ll look at how to bring an over excited dog back into a state where he is capable of learning how to behave. Your email address will not be published. Using a drag-line during playtime can also be super helpful. Don’t Get Excited. Can’t wait to get home and try this. The dog that is over threshold is incapable of responding in that moment, due to factors outside his control. If your dog is totally uncontrollable around other dogs, this is actually the sort of “dog teacher” your dog probably needs. I rescued a year old German shepherd. He is still a very hyper dog and needs distraction and calming on walks. And nowadays ‘threshold’ is more likely to be a term you hear at your dog training class, than at a wedding. Submissive dogs pee when they are greeted or when someone approaches. If your dog is so hyper that they get distracted even while you’re out walking, some trainers suggest dressing them with a weighted backpack or belt before you go out.. We’ve done distraction, say leave it and keep walking, nothing helps. My lab can get over sexually aroused if he’s out with me on a walk and smells a bitches urine. It's a bit off putting, for the other dog and for the owner. If you see people interested in your puppy or some rambunctious dog coming straight at your pup, it helps to make a quick about-turn so that you and your pup won’t be put into a situation that will set your puppy for fail (or a situation that may turn dangerous as you don’t know how friendly the other dog really is). When he gets excited, he freezes, and falls on his back. I have two dogs that get so excited when they need to go out that they won’t hardly let me get to the door. Puppies can get very over exited when play with other dogs. Digging Issues 9. His trained behavior then breaks down. I am at a slight loss and rather alarmed at this behaviour. Fortunately, threshold is influenced by a number of factors. He’s usually dealing with his frustration or excitement by vocalizing it, as people do. A dog which is ‘over threshold’ is a dog that is in the presence of a distraction of some kind. I’ll try to clarify exactly what we mean by it, and to look at how an understanding of how behavior thresholds can help us train our dogs without force. Hi, we have a 13 month old border collie we have had since he was 5 months old. Perfect! How to find a puppy and raise a happy, healthy dog, May 17, 2016 By Pippa Mattinson 23 Comments. With those that get excited to see other dogs, calm behavior results in them getting to move closer. It is very hard on them, they haven’t been out of the room for 19 days. We’re both retired so around a lot, and do do a fair amount with her. Not excited, really out of control. And quite aside from the ethics of using severe punishment, such punishment creates its own problems. Have you found a solution? A dog with excess energy cannot focus on discipline, while showing affection toward an over-excited dog will just make it worse. Also tried eye blinders looks like horse mask for flies that is supposed to block out some vision. They all get very excited,but our little terrier is the only one that wets everywhere. Aggression is usually born out of fear. This is most often characterized by attempts of a pursuit of the other dog, usually being of the opposite sex. License: Creative Commons image source; Whether it’s dealing with excited dogs in cars or trying to find the best waterproof dog coats for your pet pooches, Percy Jackson is the man to go to. A constant pant even though he hasn’t done anything to get hot and water is always available for him it’s cool fall weather also. Mouthing and Biting Issues 6. I have not let him off lead as I know I would lose him (he’s finding it difficult to even respond on lead) . The moment he sees another dog he becomes over-excited. This can sometimes be awkward to set up in practical terms, but it is worth the effort. We’ll give you some great tips for calming an excited dog, and look at ways to calm a dog that is agitated or upset. Hi Carolyn, you have got your hands full there with a well established problem. Your dog can’t channel his emotions in those kinds of situations which then results in undesired behavior. You might even feel that you took the time to train your dog to walk heel and all that other stuff but still you have no control what so ever over your dog. In the beginning, give your dog only limited freedom on the end of a leash when a guest comes to the door; over time, work up to having her off leash when the doorbell rings. While the over excitement also happens as a response to a stimulus, he’s not overwhelmed by a whole lot of stimuli. You can wave your hand in front of this dog’s eyes and he won’t see it. When dogs have been punished too often for a very normal behavior, eventually that punishment can become associated with other dogs or people, since it only happens when the other dog or people are present. Toilet Training Issues 5. Working your dog over the threshold, will not help your dog learn anything other than bad behaviors. They’re friendly, but they can pull your shoulder out of its socket. Doing twice weekly dog training that is calming him a lot including ‘ settle’ when he gets over excited. My 18 month old has become over threshold with excitement every time we go for a walk from our new house – we now live in a forest area with deer, boar, squirrels etc. One in the morning and usually one in the evening. One of the biggest problems that people fall into is also getting excited or irritated. pulls away. On walks she turns in to her evil twin and whilst she will respond in the open, in the woods she whimpers, cries and howls, especially when it’s wet. You will also need to find other dogs to help teach your dog to be calm when in the presence of another dog. We have had her 3 months now and she doesn’t really seem to be improving. Rescued choc lab (turned in at 18 months) over excitement my guess. Hi, my 3 yo lab has gone through many classes, attended doggy day care and lives with an older dog. So, let’s see what we have so far. And it is a term we are hearing more and more often, as our understanding of dog training is swept along by the forces of progress, and as the language of behavior filters down from behaviorists, to trainers, and on to dog owners themselves. Careful training and management reduces a dog’s arousal levels, and teaches dogs to cope with increasingly exciting or demanding environments in a positive and effective way. He loves water himself and will fetch frisbee from a far distance. And to complicate matters further, thresholds will vary from skill to skill. Socialization is the way to ensure these interactions go smoothly. Hyperactivity. This is just what I needed. As an Amazon Associate and a Bookshop.org Affiliate, QDT earns from qualifying purchases. This video goes over how to help your rambunctious, overexcited dog or puppy. In fact in order to refocus the attention of a dog which is over threshold using punishment, the punishment itself would normally need to be very severe. Do not want to use e-collar in car. I know some of you are confused by exactly what we mean by threshold, so I want to take a closer look at the use of this term in dog training. Jumping On You or Other People 3. Learn more about socialization and greeting dogs at Dog Behavior: Learn to Speak Dog. If your dog is starting to get out of hand, you can use the line (attached to a harness) to reel him in. Aggression towards other dogs is arguably the most common form of aggression shown by our canine companions.. It’s not uncommon for a dog to get aggressive toward an unknown dog, or other dogs in the home, because a dog often feels the need to protect her territory.