Hi everyone! After a bit of advice but I will give you a bit of character background on Ernie first! He is a 10 month old Lab. He is very big, bold, determined, curious, happy and gets excited quite easily. He is also fantastic at picking up new tricks and games and can follow loads of commands in house and garden (we are getting there with commands outside surrounded by smells and noise). When we go on a walk its lovely, he is now walking to heel nicely (after using training methods on here) and the nice weather helps too. However when we see another person or dog or child he will pull me very hard to get to them and try and jump up all over them. He used to do this with visitors in the house but we have worked on this and now he is really quite good but outside its a nightmare! This is what I think I should try to overcome this but let me know what you guys think! We borrow a friend, he stands round the corner, we walk Ernie, we only walk closer to the person if he is calm and not pulling. If he pulls we walk the other way. Take it a few steps at a time. When he is not pulling and we reach the person and he is still calm he is rewarded with fuss and treats. What do you think? When he has got this we let our friend have his own dog with him too. Any other suggestions welcomed!! Thanks Danni x
Re: Ernie gets too excited when we see people/dogs on walks! Hello Danni and welcome from me, two year old black Lab Sam and rescue girl Millie, hope you enjoy being part of this lovely forum ;D ;D Ernie is still officially a pup , Lab pups are very enthusiastic creatures and so what he is doing is what most do at around this age It sounds to me as though you are doing all the right things with him , it does take time , repetition and buckets of patience too, but it works , and is wonderful when the penny finally drops
Re: Ernie gets too excited when we see people/dogs on walks! Hi there Danni, welcome to the forum from Poppy and me, sounds to me like you are doing the right things! Ernie sounds a delight; just a little exuberant…
Re: Ernie gets too excited when we see people/dogs on walks! What you're doing is great It will definitely help. Try to rope in as many different people as possible to help with that 'say hello nicely' exercise. You can also practise heeling past other people and dogs, even though you might need a fair distance at first. Use lots of great treats for him having his focus on you. Another trick is to have a special toy (like a squeaky ball) the he only gets for focusing attention in you when other people or dogs appear. Doing that kind of thing will help him learn that he doesn't always get to say hello, but something else good will happen instead. And welcome to the forum
Re: Ernie gets too excited when we see people/dogs on walks! Hi Danni - welcome to you and Ernie. Sounds to me like you have the right idea! Well done Hope you enjoy the forum. Would love a picture of Ernie when you can. Jac and Lilly
Re: Ernie gets too excited when we see people/dogs on walks! sound like you are doing well hi from me and jasper black lab almost 16 month
Re: Ernie gets too excited when we see people/dogs on walks! Thanks for posting this question. My Jackie, an 11 moth old bitch is exactly the same and, in fact, I was going to post the same question. I appreciate the replies that you have recieved and it seems that I am on the right track too.
Re: Ernie gets too excited when we see people/dogs on walks! Welcome, Doninchina Labradors often just want to say hi to everything that moves - sounds like your Jackie is a very typical, friendly, happy girl Great to hear that you've been reassured about the approach you are using.
Re: Ernie gets too excited when we see people/dogs on walks! Danni it sounds like you have got it sussed , But as a back up incase you are out on your own and he is difficult to control and without wanting to risk injury to Ernie or yourself . You could use a slip lead to walk him if you dont already then if he gets to excited the use a figure of eight , Which involves making the loop over his neck bigger the rotate once creating a figure 8 the place the it over his snout . We use this a back up as we have a 22 month old rescue lab in training , It makes easier of us and Jake using a figure 8 as and when needed and to the un-trained eye it looks like you can control your dog in all situations . Mike
