Training 2 dogs to be "calm" when getting ready for walk..

[danielle9]

Hello all,

I really apologize if there is a seperate thread that already has addressed this problem, as I think it might be a common one, but I couldn't find it!

I have a 1 year old mixed breed dog (20 lbs) that we've had since she's been a puppy. She's extremely high energy and has always been very excitable. When it comes for "walk time" and the leash comes out, she always jumps up and becomes over the top excited. We've worked with her on this and the expectation is that she needs to "sit" and be calm before the leash goes on. She generally does well with this but you can still tell that she has to try very hard to "contain" herself in regards to her excitement of going for a walk. Other than her overexcitement, she is a very well behaved dog.

We recently adopted a rescue dog who is a 3 year old Golden Retriever/Pyranees cross (70 lbs). He is an extremely calm & well mannered dog and is very smart! He walks very well on the leash BUT also gets way too excited when the leashes come out. We haven't had him for very long so are not sure if this was always the case with him or if he has just developed this habit as he sees our other dog behaving like this. It is my opinion that the two dogs feed off of eachothers energy when it comes time for walks!

My goal is to be able to pull out the leashes, have them both calmly sit while I attach their leashes and get out the door without being jumped up on or being pulled.

This is what I have tried so far:

I always make them sit when I attach their individual leashes but the problem is I can't get them to sit at the same time and if one dog is getting the leash attached, the other one is very "in my face" while I am doing this as they just can't wait for their leash to be attached.

They cannot sit still when I am trying to attach the leashes. They squirm with excitement. I have tried to disengage from attaching the leash and waiting until they calm down before attemping to attach the leash again but it seems like they will do this with me time and time again without associating that they cannot go for a walk unless they are calm when I attach the leash.

I've tried seperating them (putting one in a different room) while attaching the leashes but by that time, they already know its "walk time" and have gotten excited.

I take them for walks at least 2x per day. The first walk is always right before I go to work so its at the same time every morning while the afternoon or evening walks will be staggered in time depending on my schedule. They defintiely "know" what time the morning walk is so by the time I come to get them for the walk, they're already excited. The afternoon or evening walks aren't as bad for excitement as they don't know its walk time until the leashes come out.

I'd also like to mention that once we get past putting on the leashes, the two dogs walk perfectly when we get out of the house... it's just getting to that point that has ben difficult!

Has anyone else had this problem? Please let me know any tips or training methods that have worked with your dogs. I am sure that problem has to do with my technique in going about it but I cannot find a way to do it that works. Thanks very much for any and all advice, it is much appriciated!

Danielle

[Marty11]

I have the same issues, I'm giggling at your story...........sorry I know it's frustrating. I have managed to get the Boston to stand quietly for her leash, but the Manchester (he's the older one) and in my face. I'll take suggestions too Your right about feeding off one another, my perfectly good walker is copying the other with leash aggression. Can't win. Someone may suggest one dog at a time?

[pattymac]

Yup, I have that problem too!! With me it's a bit more of a pain cause Bayley wears on Easy Walk harness...so it's pretty much wait, then I grab her, throw her down on the floor, sit on her and put her harness on!!! Just kidding of course...but it's tempting sometimes!! Usually I get one of her fave treats, sit on the couch and wait till she stops running back and forth like a demented thing, then she realizes I've got a goodie and sits like a good girl.

[BenMax]

I have 5 dogs and this is actually very easy to handle if you follow these instructions.
A. Command Sit.
B. Both dogs must sit. DO NOT force into sit. Just stand before them until they sit.
C. Say nothing at all. Stand in front of them calmly. Do not make eye contact.
D. When you get the leash (they should be readily available); chances are they are no longer sitting.
E. Command Sit.
F. Don't move, don't make contact with them until they sit without getting all excited.
G. Clip (meaning - clip the leash) to the first dog. At this time chances are the other dog is no longer sitting.
H. Command Sit.
I. Clip 2nd dog. Chances are dogs are no longer sitting.
J. Command Sit.

Do not take the dogs out until they are calm and you make the first move which indicates to them it's time to go outside. Remember that the dogs should not lead you to the door, but you lead them.

This exercise may take you minutes or maybe even 1 hour. Stick to your guns.

I guarantee you this will work. If I can do it with 5 dogs ranging from 5 lbs to 155 lbs - you can certainly do it with your dogs.

Ensure that your command is sharp, you are calm and don't loose patience.

[cell]

Follow BenMax's instructions, I suggest starting on a weekend, it may take you a while to get out the door.

I can sympathize though, although my dog is only 14lbs so it is not much of a issue. He knows when his walkie is each morning and when I come back from work. He races toward the door at my slightest movement. He usually just dances around and whines with excitement then licks my hands like crazy when I reach down to collar him (but he stays still, although it seems like he is about to explode in excitement).

[Marty11]

It's funny how the dog senses the walk coming, I do not walk at the same time time each day but still they pick up the signal and I don't say a thing....I swear it's hilarious.

[Stinkycat]

Originally Posted by BenMax

I have 5 dogs and this is actually very easy to handle if you follow these instructions.
A. Command Sit.
B. Both dogs must sit. DO NOT force into sit. Just stand before them until they sit.
C. Say nothing at all. Stand in front of them calmly. Do not make eye contact.
D. When you get the leash (they should be readily available); chances are they are no longer sitting.
E. Command Sit.
F. Don't move, don't make contact with them until they sit without getting all excited.
G. Clip (meaning - clip the leash) to the first dog. At this time chances are the other dog is no longer sitting.
H. Command Sit.
I. Clip 2nd dog. Chances are dogs are no longer sitting.
J. Command Sit.

Do not take the dogs out until they are calm and you make the first move which indicates to them it's time to go outside. Remember that the dogs should not lead you to the door, but you lead them.

This exercise may take you minutes or maybe even 1 hour. Stick to your guns.

I guarantee you this will work. If I can do it with 5 dogs ranging from 5 lbs to 155 lbs - you can certainly do it with your dogs.

Ensure that your command is sharp, you are calm and don't loose patience.

Exactly how it should be done. The only way you'll succeed is with ALOT of patience and consistency, but it will work

[danielle9]

An update on how our progress is going:

We started our new routine this past Friday and have followed the steps suggested by BenMax. Definitely a HUGE improvement. They still get super duper excited when its walk time but when it comes to clipping leashes and the rest of it they are improving. My smaller dog (Kinga), who I thought was going to be the more stubborn one in regards to sitting still, has caught on so quick and she definitely understands that we are not going for a walk until she plants that little bum of hers down on the ground. The bigger dog, Brody, he will sit but has a hard time staying in this position until we are ready to go but he doesn't jump up on me hardly at all anymore (meanwhile Ms. Wigglebum is sitting perfectly still). Establishing this was definitely a battle of wills for the first few tries but at this point, I definitely can see major improvements so I will be sticking with this no matter how frusterating it can be at times! I think that the dogs just needed for me to be very confident in letting them know in how I expect for them to act.

I think that incorperating other ideas suggested by other posters in regards to not make walk time SO exciting (ie. pulling out leashes a times and not going for walks or getting the dogs to do other tricks before going for the walk so they can get over their excitement) are things that we'll definitely be utilizing.

We haven't had Brody for very long so we're still establishing with him our routines and behavioural expectations and I can understand why this might be harder with him but I am confident that we'll get there with him... just needed some encouragement so thanks to everyone for their replies!