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The doghouse

Puppy getting over-excited when playing

9 replies

HelgatheHairy · 29/12/2012 14:21

I know puppies are supposed to get excited but mine is in a different league!

Bailey is an 8 month Golden Retriever. I've had a few problems with him on on-lead walks. When he got over-stimulated he used to jump and bite at my arms. Once I realised what the issue was I figured out how to fix it (basically start petting him to calm him) and now I pretty much don't have an issue any more.

But now off-lead playing has become a disaster. I took him out today to play with his Christmas pressies (2 frisbees) and at first he was doing well. Running after them and bringing them back.
Then he started running after them and not bringing them back (fine, fetch is still a work in progress) but then he came back and I still had a frisbee in my hand and he started jumping and biting and nothing I usually do was working (calming, distracting, ignoring). What works with Bailey (although it goes against all logic) is putting my arms above my head, he loses interest straight away USUALLY but today I looked down to see where he was and he was jumping and almost bit my nose (I'm short and he's big!)

I'm a bit shaken and not sure what to do now! I think it might be a bit of a catch 22. He doesn't always get an off-lead run around because the field is pretty much a bog at the moment and I almost lost my wellie there today. So he gets over-excited because it's been a while but with the weather the way it is there's just no other opportunity.

I live in rural Ireland, no behaviourologists (how do you spell that?!) or trainers (unless I want to turn him into a sheep dog!)

Sorry, that turned into an essay!

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driventodrink · 29/12/2012 18:21

My collie lab cross is a bit like this, our trainer said as soon as he won't give ball/frisbee back when its thrown for him get a nice smelly treat (sausage or cheese works for us) get the ball/frisbee off him and put it in a rucksack (which we now always take out with us) and ignore him.

It is starting to work, he no longer jumps up when we take it off him

Sure someone else will be along soon who knows more than me though ;)

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Lonecatwithkitten · 29/12/2012 18:50

Cross your arms across your chest and then turn your back to him it's very boring and is very effective.

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HelgatheHairy · 29/12/2012 20:52

driventodrink putting the frisbee in a rucksack is a really good idea, out of sight out of mind kind of thing. When do you give him the treat though?

lonecat because he's big and I'm small, he can still reach if my arms are just across my chest. And he goes for my bingo wings which bloody hurts! I do turn my back though.

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SheilaWheeler · 29/12/2012 21:18

My friend's collie x used to do this while playing frisbee, jumping up, biting her hair, her clothes - their trainer recommended putting him back on the lead for 2 minutes, completely ignoring him, then continuing the walk as if nothing had happened.

It worked and he hardly jumps at all now. If it looks like he's going to start jumping we distract by excitedly throwing treats for him to hunt.

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driventodrink · 29/12/2012 22:08

I treat when he drops frisbee and then get DD to do a watch me command (he looks at her holding treat) whilst I sneak it into bagGrin

Then carry on walk and ignore any attempts to get the rucksack by treating everything else possible going. Lots of treats and good boys fir everything that isn't jumping and nipping. Fat dog but happy mummy Smile

It took a while but youngest DD (5) plays ball with him so had to stop the jumping and nipping as he is bigger than her when he jumps

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mrsjay · 30/12/2012 10:14

take his frisbeee off him he is starting to get bored our dog does this but he loves his tennis ball so we but it in out pocket , stop the game and try and get him to calm down, we have dog sausage which stinks but he loves it and will calm down our dog is 10 months old (today) your dog is still a baby and their attention spans are so short, keep the game short and sweet

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mrsjay · 30/12/2012 10:15

our dog has just stopped biting and pulling at clothes this week infact he is a good boy it just seems to click with them but you need to control the play iyswim

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HelgatheHairy · 30/12/2012 15:16

Thanks all for the replies. Definitely things to try there.

It's nice to know as well that it's not just me and it's not something I've done terribly wrong with his training!

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mrsjay · 31/12/2012 09:12

It's nice to know as well that it's not just me and it's not something I've done terribly wrong with his training!

It is great I love the dog house I hope some of the things work, jaydog is a work in progress sigh

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