Puppy just gets TOO excited!

[Sher]

My puppy is 8 months old. If we are in our yard and she is on her leash and someone walks by she almost does somersaults on the end of it to get to this person. If this person would happen to stop and try to pet her, she will practically turn inside out, not just wiggling and exciting, but actually jumping in their face. I try to hold her down, but even at 10 lbs., she is unusually strong. She does the same thing when we are walking and meet people or other dogs on our walks. I have to drag her away and make sure she doesn't wiggle right out of her harness. She is exhuberant to a very bad fault. I have taken her to a dog park and settles in very fast with the people and dogs and acts just fine. It seems to be more the one on one thing. I don't know enough people to 'practice' train with her and I sure don't want to ask complete strangers.

Just for reference, I adopted her 4 months ago from a home where she was sorely neglected. She was gated in the kitchen area all day while the woman was at work and I am sure she didn't bother to let her out when she got home. Then her two little boys would come on the weekends and she would probably get to come out then (I am thinking that is where all the excitement comes from?)....

Sorry this is so long. I just don't know how to break her of this habit. I was hoping it was just a puppy thing, but I see so many other puppies and they don't act like this wild woman .... she is such a loving, sweet dog, but I would like her to realize that not everyone wants her to be jumping in their face.... Can anyone help??

 

[Charliesmommy]

Part of it is her age. 8 months was crazy time for Charlie too. The best thing would be if you had someone to help you and you could walk her up to that person, on leash, and have the person completely ignore her until she calms down and sits, then treat.

It is hard when you don't have anyone else to help. I had the same problem and eventually enlisted a neighbor friend to help me. A lot of boarding places and doggie daycare places have monthly social events for dogs to come and hang out and owners to get to know eachother. Is something like that an option? Would be a good place to meet someone willing to help.

 

[Herschel]

Part of it is her age. 8 months was crazy time for Charlie too. The best thing would be if you had someone to help you and you could walk her up to that person, on leash, and have the person completely ignore her until she calms down and sits, then treat.

Seriously. 8-10 months is hell, and from 10 months on life is so much better.

Don't let her train you. If she goes insane, she doesn't get to say hello until she calms down. We went through that with Herschel and we're going through it now with Nala. They don't move forward until they sit and chill out for a second, then they can say hi.

Luring her with treats probably isn't going to work, but you can pull her close to you and just wait for her to settle down. As soon as she calms down, praise her and let her meet the person/other dog. Be consistent!

 

[Ilyena]

I don't really have any advice to give as I have the exact same problem with Dante and no one around that I can ask to help but I hope you get some good answers that work for you. Nothing I've tried has worked so far, so I'm hoping it's just a phase he'll outgrow eventually even though he has been like this since I got him at 8 weeks. I just end up keeping him on a really tight leash whenever he gets excited and wait for him to settle down, which he never does regardless how long I stand there waiting so unfortunately he just doesn't get so meet as many people as I would like him to.

 

[Charliesmommy]

This will be very unpopular, but if you have no other alternative, you might consider a prong collar to keep him from jumping/lunging.

 

[Sher]

I know part of it is her age, but she has been like this since I got her at 4 months.... when I first met her at this woman's condo, she was so excited she drew blood on my arm from her nails from jumping on me. I asked the woman if she was always like this and she said..."no"... yeah, right!... :lol-sign: ... oh well.... at least she is friendly!....

 

[Charliesmommy]

I have scars from Charlie doing that to me at that age. Literally - scars on my arms.

 

[Herschel]

This will be very unpopular, but if you have no other alternative, you might consider a prong collar to keep him from jumping/lunging.

On a small breed puppy? Sound like a quick fix...

How about "Control Unleashed"? http://www.amazon.com/Control-Unleashed-Creating-Focused-Confident/dp/B000UCF53A It is supposed to be incredible.

 

[bumhouse]

I'm still having this problem with Colt as well at 16 months. He's a nut ball!! He is great when it is just us but out in public he just gets beside himself. He will calm down if people ignore him but the minute they give him attention - you guessed it - he goes crazy again. The worst is the doorbell!! OMG he freaks out. I can't get him to settle down. We practice this over and over again and he just doesn't seem to get it. He goes into another world, no focus. I could train with him all day - sit, down, stay, paw, roll over - but once the doorbell rings it all goes out the window. I've tried giving people treats or a toy to give him - forget about it - he just wants to jump on the stranger!! I guess every dog has his hang up......

 

[StunnedMonkey]

No advice for the original poster, but I just wanted to say that I'm glad I saw this thread. Darby is about 8 1/2 months and just goes nuts with excitement when someone comes over, even if it's someone she's seen a dozen times. I hate to admit it but she's darn near uncontrollable with her crazy-eyed squirming, rolling, and leaping. After a couple of minutes she's fine, but those first few minutes are something else.

I hope she outgrows this a little.

 

[corgipower]

This will be very unpopular, but if you have no other alternative, you might consider a prong collar to keep him from jumping/lunging.

not unpopular in my view. i am happily surprised to see it posted.

but i don't advise a prong collar, especially on a small puppy, without a trainer to show you how to use it correctly.

 

[milos_mommy]

This will be very unpopular, but if you have no other alternative, you might consider a prong collar to keep him from jumping/lunging.

she's FAR too small for that.

Her age. she's a "teenager". get used to it, you've got a few months of hell ahead.

Some obedience will help, so she can "sit" and then get pets from a stranger. Don't let her jump. You can bring her close enough to the person so they can pet her if they want, but she can't jump all the way up (step on her leash.) have them ignore her, and AS SOON AS HER BUTT hits the ground, they can give her lovins.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

At least she's friendly. Be happy. LOL

~Tucker