Puppy excitement in a LARGE puppy. What to do?

[bass]

I've got a 7 month old pup who is larger than most grown dogs. He is mixed (not one of my breeding dogs) and I'm having alot of problems with his puppy excitedness. He's a great dog, but I can't get him to calm down. The problem is his size. He can easily knock you down and hurt you with his claws, even with them clipped. He weighs about 60 lbs right now and is nearly neck highth (sp?) when he stands on 2 legs. I've tried all the basic commands, but this isn't an easy dog to teach. He is very stubborn and forgets easily. When he gets excited its like he forgets everything he's ever learned.

Any suggestions?

 

[Fran27]

Be patient. Repeat commands all the time. I have a 70 lbs 7 month Golden Retriever so I can see where you're coming from. He still won't listen when he's really excited, but he's getting much better at it.

Just take 15 minutes everyday to repeat the main commands with him, and make sure to reward him with treats. Once he seems to be reliable enough, just do it a little bit all the time, and always keep treats on you if possible. It's crazy the attention you get from a dog when you have tasty treats, lol.

And he should calm down in 6 months or so hopefully...

 

[Renee750il]

Do you have any idea about his parentage? That can give you some clues to directing his behaviour and make things easier . . .

You've got my sympathy . . . by the time my grrrrls were 7 months old they weighed 100+ pounds Sometimes all you can do is brace yourself, lol!

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

What kind of mix is he?

Just take 15 minutes everyday to repeat the main commands with him, and make sure to reward him with treats. Once he seems to be reliable enough, just do it a little bit all the time, and always keep treats on you if possible. It's crazy the attention you get from a dog when you have tasty treats, lol.

I agree. If he's excited when there is not a training session and you cannot spend time doing something with him, give him a kong (www.kongcompany.com) stuffed with peanut butter.

 

[Saje]

Remember that a tired dog is a good dog! LOL

Maverick was the same way but after a good 2 hour walk he'd be pretty calm. swimming and exploring really worked for him.

 

[Richie12345]

Umm, I read if you have guests, and he gets really excited, just tell them to ignore the pup. Eventually, he will get the idea and sit quietly. That is the time to reward him.

 

[juliefurry]

keep a leash on him at all times, in and out of the house. Just make sure to hold the leash when he's greeting people and put him in the sit position. If he's TOO excited put him in another room until he calms down, if he comes out and acts up agian put him back in the room. Soon he will realize if he's calm he can be around everybody. Also long walks and lots of playing help me with my puppies.

 

[Barb04]

I have to agree with Sage and a good dog is a tired dog. My Kona is 8 months old and already 81 pounds. She can be a handful, but if she is exercised, it helps calm down all of that energy she has stored up.

 

[bridey_01]

If you can't concentrated on alot of commands just now, teach "four on the floor", you don't have to say anthing. Just as soon as he jumps cross your arms and turn away. When he gets down turn and praise him, repeating if he jumps again. The only drawback to this method is gettting EVERYONE he meets to do the same!

 

[Saje]

My dogs think that's a game Bridey. I have to walk away and leave them alone for a few minutes or use the sit method.

 

[bridey_01]

What do they do, jump on you when you turn back? I've had this happen to me, so when I turn back I immediatly get down to their level so they can't jump.

 

[Saje]

No, well, Maverick does that when he is extremely excited. But normally they just think it's a game. Jump on mom than sit nicely and get pets and then jump on mom...

 

[Renee750il]

ROFL! Which is exactly what I'd be doing if I got down on Shiva and Kharma's level, Bridey You can see those brains working: "AHA! Now we've got her where she's vulnerable and we can hold her down and tickle her!" They love to find one of us lying on the sofa or otherwise below their standing eye level so they can take those big noses and snuffle in our necks and ribs. It tickles like crazy! Then Bimmer gets in on it and he can REALLY tickle with that pointy nose of his

And it's really hard to tell them to stop when you can't quit giggling long enough to get your breath . . .

 

[bridey_01]

Lol, i think the hardest jumping problem i ever cured was in a great dane, and when he jumped he was way over my head! Plus he was owned by an old lady! Not all techniques work with all dogs, so naturally you have to do a bit of customizing if the ignore technique doesn't work. Just no kneeing in the chest or paw squeezing.

 

[sparks19]

I also have this problem with Teddy. We don't have people at our apartment very often so he gets REALLY excited when we do. Outside of the apartment is not too bad like if we are walking him and meet someone i can get him to sit and behave. Same if we are at someone else's house he can also be controlled fairly easily. When puckstop comes home from work Teddy can be well behaved because he is used to this routine. But when someone comes here it is impossible. No treat on the planet will distract him from this new person. I have tried hot dog pieces, roast beef, chicken, peanut butter EVERYTHING. Nothing is more important than this new person.

Now the ignore thing doesn't work either. you can stand there and ignore him all you want but you are going to get knocked over in the process if i do'nt have him in submission by then lol. even if you get down to his level he will just climb all over you. It would be convenient if we could have someone anyone come over every once in a while but we don't know many people in this city (new here) so the only people he sees are outside the house.

I'm not trying to take the convo away from the original poster but I sympathize with what they are saying. I know what exactly what they are going through as we are going through the exact same thing lol. This thread is giving me a lot of good advice. I'm glad someone thought to ask.

 

[bridey_01]

I'm going to ask some people about alternate methods, this ones got me intrigued. I've heard of chucking food on the floor when you get home so he doesnt jump, but that sounds to me as if as soon as he is finished eating he'll be up again!
Personally i teach all my dogs from puppyhood "sit for greeting" so we don't have any jumping, but it would be much harder to cure once it has become ingrained.The turn your back with arms high ignore thing seems to work well with most dogs at the club, but from what you guys are saying it doesn't work for alot of dogs!
I have heard of screaming "AAAAAAAHHHH" at the top of your voice when he's jumping, I've only used that once on a very jumpy lab and it cured the problem quick smart. But I wouldnt recommend that for many dogs, especially sensitive ones.

 

[oriondw]

Simplest method to prevent over excitement when you come home is to completely ignore the puppy...

Seriously will only take a week or two.

 

[Fran27]

Been ignoring for months and he's still jumping, obviously it doesn't always work. He's getting better, but when he's too excited... he jumps.

 

[oriondw]

Been ignoring for months and he's still jumping, obviously it doesn't always work. He's getting better, but when he's too excited... he jumps.

Make sure your family members do the same as you do.


Also, by ignoring, I mean complete ignoring, like he doesnt exist

 

[bridey_01]

Thats what I always recommend first Orion, but it doesn't seem to be working for anyone here.