How To Calm An Overenthusiastic Dog

[tentalover]

Hi everyone

I'm hoping a few people may have some suggestions for me. I am blessed (cursed) with one over the top Tenterfield who is just so keen to please that I can't settle him to get any wothwhile training done.

I am using clicker training as I don't want to be hauling him around on a lead for training but he see's the clicker and goes slightly more feral (keen) than he usually is.

Does anyone out there have any idea's as to how I can settle my boy down so I can have some effective training sessions with him.

I should also add that he is usually way over the top with everything he does, shows brilliantly in the ring but its in obedience that I think he will excel. I also want to get him into agility but until I can get some focus from him that is out of the question.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Leanne

[Erny]

Too difficult to train over the internet - one-on-one tuition can't be beat.

Having said that, are you saying it is the 'sound' of the clicker that gets him going more than usual, or is it just seeing the clicker that sets him off?

[leopuppy04]

i'd also like to add - what do you mean exactly - can you explain the behaviour a little better??

Can you get ANY sense out of him????

[tentalover]

Too difficult to train over the internet - one-on-one tuition can't be beat.

Having said that, are you saying it is the 'sound' of the clicker that gets him going more than usual, or is it just seeing the clicker that sets him off?

Its seeing the clicker and the thought of training I think. Its like " oh boy oh boy! what can I do? what can I do? I can do it! I can do it!"

[Erny]

You need to reduce the 'value' of the sight of the clicker.

He needs to be trained to understand the sound of the clicker is the 'value' and that he will only hear the sound of the clicker when he has exhibited a behaviour that you want.

[MrsD]

I think the most important thing to teach him is that he can be as turned on as he wants *between* exercises as long as he does what you ask him when you ask it. I would be using lots of *hands-on* with him to calm him down, slow stroking, & gentle encouragement to show him what you want & then lots of praise when he does it & if he goes silly afterwards, then it's OK. He will settle down, it's just a question of time .

I agree with Erny, it's hard over the internet to even begin & Im not sure if Im making any sense, but I can tell you that I would rather have an over-enthusiastic dog any day over one that you have to gee up all the time. Dogs that are full of life & enthusiasm rock!

Edited June 6, 2007 by MrsD

[Lablover]

Dogs that are full of life & enthusiasm rock!

Oh yes, give more opportunity to shape their behaviour, and all that.

Sounds like a fun dog, with good nerves. Go for IT.

As others have mentioned, more information required.

[tentalover]

OK here's some more info.

1st of all I'll say that I love the enthusiam I just don't know how to control it.

He is the type of dog that just can't sit still. The only times I see him not moving is when he is asleep. As an example when I ask for a sit I get one but the backside is constantly moving and the front feet still pacing, it might last for 2-3 sec's and then he's offering any and all other behaviours to get my approval. He just doesn't stop.

He is really very clever and I think this is the major problem because he picks up everything very quickly then just goes like a bull at a gate so the whole shaping of the behaviour goes out the window.

To explain how smart this dog is I'll share a story with you. He had raced outside around 7pm last night and I followed to see what all the excitment was about. There is my baby pacing the side fence, on his hind legs backwards & forwards in an attempt to see what was happening on the other side. Now my boy is only 1 1/2' tall on his hind legs and he was trying to see over a 5' fence from about a meter out. I just watched him to see how long he would keep it up & about a minute or so into the pacing (still on his hind legs) he figured he was too short to see anything so he backed away from the fence (still on hind legs) to get a better field of vision. Obviously that didn't help but he was at it, on & off, for another 15 minutes or so.

I really want to train this dog as I know I'll never come across another one like him, and I really believe I can achieve a lot with him. I am just at my wits end trying to figure out how to calm him down so I can start shaping behaviours, I do not want to dampen the enthusiasm though. Learning is not an issue it is just getting things stable and getting exactly what I want not what he thinks I want.

I should add its not necessarily the sight of the clicker that sets him off he is just as enthusiastic without the clicker as well. he just want's to please.

[MrsD]

tentalover, where abouts are you?

[tentalover]

tentalover, where abouts are you?

Newcastle, nsw, unfortunately we don't have any dog training clubs of worth that I have found around here, and certainly none that I know of that encourage the use of a clicker. 1 club has actually banned their use, go figure... needless to say this club is about 25 years behind the times with their training methods which is why I am no longer a member.

[haven]

So what your saying is that your dog gets over excited as soon as it sees the clicker, or you pick the clicker up and you don't want this to occur?

If that's the case I would just be carrying the clicker around all of the time or picking it up often without doing any training or paying any attention to your dog whatsoever. That way your dog will learn that the mere sight of the clicker (as an object) isn't a reliable predictor of training or reinforcement. You should NOT click the clicker though, because you DO want your dog to make the connection between the noise and the reinforcer.