Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Crazy over excited greeting - help!

13 replies

clbj · 11/11/2021 13:36

Our sweet whippet has just turned one. Lots of things we have had to work really hard on with her have hugely improved over the last few months and she has become a lovely calm dog in most situations.

The one thing I cannot seem to make progress on is how over excited she gets with visitors in our house. She completely loses her shit, cannot leave them alone, cannot listen to any commands (is far too excited to be distracted by treats) leaps and jumps and nips hands (things she has not done with us or with anyone outside of the house for months). We have asked visitors to ignore her, cross arms etc, it just doesn’t seem to work, and there is only so long you can expect someone to stand silent and stock still when they have been invited round for supper…. I have tried putting her in her crate (where she is usually very happy for naps) or tying her lead to a chair leg to stop her bothering people, but she howls and whines indefinitely while staring at the visitor like she is trying to steal their soul.

Should I avoid having people round for a while? Might she grow out of it? House is open plan so we don’t have a separate room she can be put in.

I am avoiding having friends round, or my kids having play dates, or even going out as she does this with the babysitter, so really need a plan of action. Any advice gratefully received.

OP posts:
Billybagpuss · 11/11/2021 13:42

Have a place for her to go, we use our bottom stair. Every time someone comes to the door we give her the command ‘on your step’ then don’t open the door until she’s calm and treat lots then when they are safely inside you can give the release cue. By which time she should be calmer.

Billybagpuss · 11/11/2021 13:45

Just reread the op. The step distraction will work but are you saying she won’t settle while they are in the house either. Try frozen kongs or raw bones? You need to up the treat value.

clbj · 11/11/2021 13:50

Yes, she seems to be able to stay excited by someone new in the house for hours. Perhaps I should save up her food allowance to give in kongs when people visit....

OP posts:
Billybagpuss · 11/11/2021 13:57

It’s going to be an ongoing project, but start by working on the calm when they arrive, by not letting them in until calmly on her step or wherever. This also means your focus is entirely on her. (Let your guests know the drill beforehand.

Then work on keeping her calmly on the step until they are safely inside.

Then cue ok then so she can say hello and after a short time let her have a bone or kong

Hopefully by not letting her get excited to start with you will be able to control the excitement
.

I have the same problem, she is now 3.5 and is massively improved but work on calm and calm placement at every opportunity.

Summertime2 · 11/11/2021 13:59

We give our dog a filled bone to distract him when we have people over for dinner. Works very well, he just takes it off and forgets about everything else.

clbj · 11/11/2021 14:00

Thank you, it’s good to know progress can be made.

OP posts:
Anna713 · 11/11/2021 14:01

Watching with interest. I have a 13 month old cocker spaniel who is exactly the same. He is fine with people and other dogs whilst outside the house but a nightmare with visitors. Just gets completely overexcited.

Prattypitel · 11/11/2021 14:07

Do you know about lickmats.my collie lives it and nothing will distract her.my annoyance with my one year old collie is:walk close beside me without lead.will she ever get itGrin.i think you need to find a way to tether her when visitor come.when she is quiet,visitor will go up to her and greet.every time,your dog jumps,the visitor will go away again from your dog.sometimes it just takes time,I am sure one day she will be fineWink

Elieza · 11/11/2021 14:10

Would she be any better if you met the visitors in the street outside prior?

Prattypitel · 11/11/2021 14:10

I forgot to mention,of course it is extremly important that when you enter the house(after being away out) to just completely ignore her until she is calm.its like you act,as if she wasnt present.its difficult,but it works,eventually.

clbj · 11/11/2021 14:43

Thank you for all the advice. She is so calm when any of the immediate family come home she often can’t be bothered to get off her bed, so no problem not making a fuss then! I think that is what is so strange and makes this hard to handle, I feel like her default setting is very calm, except for this particular quirk.
She isn't particularly keen on lickimats, but does love a frozen Kong, so that might be our best bet.

OP posts:
clbj · 11/11/2021 14:43

Interesting idea about meeting outside first, will give that a try...

OP posts:
AlCalavicci · 11/11/2021 15:06

I was also going to recommend meeting out side first. I did this with my lab x as he was a big strong pooch and a friendly jump up could put you on your ass if you were not expecting it !

I would get people to ring a few mins before they were due and take him for a walk round the block and meet up with them a few doors away form my house. They would make a bit of a fuss of him providing he kept 4 paws on the floor.

Then they would walk ahead and let themself into my house ( i was seconds behind ) that way there was not the whole WOOHOO SOMEONE HAS COME TO SEE ME plava .
A kong with meat paste / peanut butter/ cold porridge ect would be given to him while people took coats off made brews and settled . I took a while and I had a very good friend who would help by 'visiting ' when ever I asked .

One point though , I had to change my ringtone every now and then as otherwise when I got a genuine call he would think he was going for a walk!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread