Advice needed - overexcitement before walk?

[jm3405]

Hi there,

I have a 4 year old Whippet mix who I adopted from a shelter about 2 years ago. For about 9 months now, whenever I take her lead and harness out to go for a walk (which we do for an hour daily), she gets consumed with overexcitement: she yips (high pitched), jumps up and down, shakes, and tries to bite the harness/lead. We've made some improvements, I can now tell her to stay/leave it and she'll stop biting them long enough for me to put the harness/lead on.

However, when I clip the lead on, she again starts barking/yipping and shaking until we get outside and start moving.

Does anyone have any advice on curbing this behaviour? I'm not clear what started it, as the first 1 year+ that I had her this wasn't an issue!

TIA x

My advice would be to completely ignore any unwanted behaviour and don't leave the house until he settles. It's easier said then done, you may have to wait ages and it will take time but it is worth it

Get some high reward treats too to praise any good behaviour

Lead down go sit on the sofa. Every single time she goes nuts.
Worth the effort..
Our oldest ddog sadly passed last year was stubborn and crabby but lead routine was perfect.... Felt mean tbh doing the above but 10 years of perfect pre walk manners were well worth it.

I agree with PP, I’d calmly put the lead back, sit down, cup of tea, try again and repeat.

Once lead and harness is on do not take her for a walk for a while afterwards. So lead and harness on (tuck lead into harness) and then go back and have a coffee (you not the dog!)

Build up gradually - get the lead and harness out, out them away. Do that for a few days. Put the harness on and have a cuppa - do that for a few days until the harness is no longer exciting.

I'm currently teaching a puppy to sit her arse down and wait while I get togged up for yet another icy walk. It's very tiresome, but less tiresome than the mania.

This is all such great advice, thanks so much all!! Really appreciate it.