Jeckyl & Hyde Labrador

[kregas]

If my wife or I start doing things that even resemble a routine of preparing for visitors (setting the table, organizing certain things, etc), it starts then. The slightest noise sends him running around the house looking out windows and barking. He'll sit there at attention staring at the door because he knows (or sometimes thinks) someone is coming.

[Karen]

Okay, that's the time, then, to disrupt his "getting wound up" routine. As soon as you see it starting, make him sit, leash him and keep him calm. Because it starts before visitors arrive, that makes it easier to set up "practice" sessions. Good luck with this, I know 80 pounds of enthusiastic Lab can be difficult to train, but just keep at it, and it WILL sink in!

[lizbud]

Hi & welcome to PT.

What jumps out at me is the statement " I took him through a few of the basic behavior/obedience courses. He learned the basics, and still follows them fairly well to this day (sometimes with a little stubborness)."


I believe he needs more training in the basics. If you are not sure the dog
really "gets it", then formal training would really help you both. Training
never ends really, & talking him on walks & reinforcing commands might be
a good idea too.

[kregas]

Thanks for the replies. What I meant by "basics" means that he obeys the normal sit, stay, lay down, no, etc. He even gets the paper when it comes. We reinforce these quite often and, like I said before, he obeys fine when it's just us.

I started the guest training today. My wife is pregnant so I went out and bought a gentle lead for him to wear so he doesn't try to pull her around in his excitement. Hopefully he picks it up quickly.

[Karen]

Oh, good - and the gentle leader sounds like a good idea as well. Let us know how it goes!

[Giselle]

The problem is that your pup is just not used to guests being over and so reacts in a chaotic frenzy. He is quite simply being overstimulated.

To counter this, practice "getting ready" for guests a couple times a day. Set the plates, tidy up the house, etc. As soon as you see him noticing or getting riled up, however, sit back down. Ignore him. Let him stare at the door. The minute he starts to calm down and go back to his bed, toss him a bone and start your "getting ready" routine again. If he starts getting excited, take away the bone, sit down, and let him get bored. As soon as he calms down again, give the bone back and do your "getting ready" routine again. Eventually, you can get ready in peace and your dog will associate your "getting ready" routine with being calm and chewing on a bone.

The same thing goes for the doorbell ringing. If that excites him, have a friend ring the door bell. Let him bark. Let him stare. Eventually, he'll get bored. You can then distract them and give him a bone to chew on. At that point, have your friend ring the bell again. Let him bark and stare and then get bored. Repeat the activity. Eventually, he'll bark a few times, but he will easily reorient back towards you. Eventually, you can work your way up to bringing the guests inside, etc. etc.

Good luck! It's all about teaching self control MENTALLY instead of physically (btw, I'm not a huge fan of head halters, but if your wife needs it to feel in control, by all means use it. I recommend trying to achieve this mentally, first )

[kregas]

She doesn't need it to feel in control, she needs it because she's small and 7 months pregnant. I'm 6' 3" and 215lbs. He gives me a run for my money sometimes when he gets excited. Thanks for the advice though.