training issues for over excited 14 month lab - any advice appreciated!

[happy2bhere]

Firstly hello, am really glad to have found this website. I've got some 'issues' with my lovely, but easily over excited lab & hope that someone has some suggestions, as its driving me nuts!

Indoors & when we are out on our own he is pretty well behaved, comes back, waits for food, sits & lies down on command; however the sight of another person or worse another dog sends him into such a frenzy he becomes completly uncontrollable when we're out. At home he doesn't jump up even at visitors, but when out given a chance he'll leaps at others.

Its such a shame because he's a really happy, friendly thing & loves tearing around (he has a huge amount of energy & we've really been unable to tire him out, despite taking him up various mountains off the lead!!!). But i don't feel that i can let him off the lead anymore untill some of these issues are resolved.

All sugestions much appreciated. Thanks

[Mynona.]

See if there are any good outdoor training classes nearby. Hopefully, most trainers these days work on meet and greet and control. Your guy would really benefit from working outdoors rather than inside a hall.

Also, if he is over 18 months and fit and healthy, you might want to think about some fun agility classes with him. It will teach him to respond to commands in an exciting situation.

On a cautionary note though, make sure you choose a good class - there are many not so good ones out there

[sarabe]

This is a common problem. One I see a lot of.

I would suggest that you build value for food and games and access to other dogs. Then you can use these three things as a reward for him giving you attention and coming to you.

Instead of getting him to sit and wait for his food indoors take it outside and feed him from your hand. Say his name excitedly and move backwards as he comes towards you and takes the food from your hands.

If you don't already, teach him to play tug with you. This is better than retrieve games as the dog engages with you for fun instead of you sending him away for fun.

When you take him out use a long trailing line. Keep a distance between him and the distraction so that when he sees another dog or person you can prevent him from taking off and encourage him back to you. When he comes back you have the choice of three rewards. Food, a game or access to the other dog if it is appropriate. If he never runs to other dogs or people unless you say he can he will soon learn to check in with you first to get access to what he wants.

[Denisemcleod]

Great advice above. So Id defo follow that but would add.

Remember, Labs in particular are bred to be friendly. They are often attracted to other people and dogs int eh same way that a border collie might be attracted to sheep! Its in their breeding to be that way.

So you need to train him as above and build up the levels of distractions slowly.

One other thing to remember is that if your dog is really well focussed on youm then he wont even notice the distractions (other people and dogs) so much, so get him in the haobit of thinking that his walks are more about playing with you, and the problem is automatically reduced.

Havea specific toy that you keep away from him at home in a cupboard say ad get him in the habit of having a really good game of tug with that specific toy on a regulkare basis with you at home. Every time it comesd out of the cupboard, you play big games, then you put it away again. Once he is really really jkeen on this toy, maybe after a few weeks, you can hopefully take it out on a walk with you and get him to focus on it - instead of scanning the horizon for potential "friends".

What food ar you feeding? Avoid Bakers - which can bring about exciteable behaviour and make sure that you either use your food to train (as Sarabe suggests) or to teach his brain otrher interesting and productive activities - I recommend throwing food all over the garden (only if you dont have time for training) so the dog can ue its predatory brain to search and find its food. THis usually has a calming and maturing affect on the dog.

Good luck.

[happy2bhere]

Thanks for the replies, certianly given me some new ideas to try. Hadn't heard of outdoor training, but will certainly look into it in my area. Thanks again.