Calming Down

[WarahGirl1995]

Rupert has got to be the craziest dog. He jumps around everywhere and pulls on the leash as hard as he can, he whines when on walks and when he sees other dogs. He barks on walks, and he is pretty crazy. How do I calm him down? He also jumps on me when I come home from school and goes crazy.

[lute]

is Rupert getting anough excersize? a lot of the time dogs seem to be acting "crazy" when they don't get enough excersize. when you walk with Rupert maybe use a choke collar or gentle leader.

if he gets to excited around other dogs i would leash him and have him in a sit possition. keep him sitting while the dog(s) pass by. he will eventually stop being so crazy around the dogs.

[Chilli]

Also, Have you tried using a squirt bottle (with water in it, of course)? And give him a spray when he's misbehaiving? I once talked to a lady who was training a great dane this way, and its worked wonderfully when teaching Ethan not to do certain things. It has no effect on some dogs, though.
Its worth a try.

EDIT//Also, to help with him pulling on walks, they have certain collars and harnesses made to help train them to not pull. We used one on Ethan, and its worked wonders.

[sammy101]

For his pulling i would get him a gentle leader or a prong collar.and get him a shorter leash so you have more control of him.Like Lute said,put him in a 'sit' and reward him for sitting and behaving while the dog(s) walk by.Reward him with a treat or just 'good boy'.

[WarahGirl1995]

We have a prong collar that we use on his put he still pulls, it seems to help, but he still pulls and is crazy on walks. I will definetly try the sit when seeing other dogs thing. He most definetly gets enough excersize! He is in the backyard with Maxwell most of the day. He comes inside when I get home from school and goes out in the morning.

Also, Have you tried using a squirt bottle (with water in it, of course)? And give him a spray when he's misbehaiving? I once talked to a lady who was training a great dane this way, and its worked wonderfully when teaching Ethan not to do certain things. It has no effect on some dogs, though.
Its worth a try.

EDIT//Also, to help with him pulling on walks, they have certain collars and harnesses made to help train them to not pull. We used one on Ethan, and its worked wonders.

When he is around water it makes him jump on the person and makes him more crazy and restless, so what should I do? He doesn't really like water like most Labs do...

[Lori Jordan]

I find coming into spring my dogs get more anxious,in winter my guys go for walks and that but dont really like to be out in the cold now its nice they do not want to be in the house!

[Karen]

Has he taken an Obedience class? If not, sign up now! You'll both benefit.

[bckrazy]

Lab/Pit mixes are bound to be energetic! Rupert is really cute.

Even though he's in the backyard most of the day, is he really getting exercised? Romping around sporatically isn't enough for some dogs. My Border Collie could be in the backyard all day, he would NOT be satisifed at all and he would get spazzy. We have to walk/jog him 2+ miles every day, play fetch with him for an hour straight in the evening, and he gets to play frisbee, practice flyball, and do recall/down-stay training for at least another hour spread out through out the day. How many hours/minutes every day do you dedicate to taking him outside and really exercising him? Try upping that, or playing with him every day when you get home so that he can relax when he's in the house. Don't reward his jumpy behavior, don't even pay attention to him until he's sitting down, then give him a treat or pet him.

Obedience would also be great! Often, a training collar isn't even necessary (or only needs to be used for a few weeks), after you learn from a good trainer how to work with your dog.

[lute]

Lab/Pit mixes are bound to be energetic! Rupert is really cute.

Even though he's in the backyard most of the day, is he really getting exercised? Romping around sporatically isn't enough for some dogs. My Border Collie could be in the backyard all day, he would NOT be satisifed at all and he would get spazzy. We have to walk/jog him 2+ miles every day, play fetch with him for an hour straight in the evening, and he gets to play frisbee, practice flyball, and do recall/down-stay training for at least another hour spread out through out the day. How many hours/minutes every day do you dedicate to taking him outside and really exercising him? Try upping that, or playing with him every day when you get home so that he can relax when he's in the house. Don't reward his jumpy behavior, don't even pay attention to him until he's sitting down, then give him a treat or pet him.

Obedience would also be great! Often, a training collar isn't even necessary (or only needs to be used for a few weeks), after you learn from a good trainer how to work with your dog.

ditto!

[Kfamr]

Just being in the backyard with another dog is NOT enough excersize for a hign energy dog!

I was basically going to say what bckrazy said. Kiara would be uncontrollable if all she did was chill in the backyard. She swims, plays frisbee, fetch, tug, etc. EVERY day numerous times a day. Even after I work a full time job on my feet, we still play several "games" a day that are physically and mentally stimulating to her. High energy dogs NEED this.

We take her on the boat, to the beach, park, etc. every day/every other day.

My other two are fine with a few romps in the backyard and playtimes inside. They are a lot less energy than Kiara.