Jumpong crazy puppy!

[Anna Lara]

When we are at home, Willie (6 month old, 40 lb goldendoodle) is pretty mellow. He gets walked for about thirty minutes morning and evening around my neighborhood. When we meet people and other dogs on our walk he becomes a complete moron! He jumps like a stallion on people and dogs then takes off running in different directions while jerking me all over the place! It is getting rather embarrassing but I more so worry about him hurting someone else or himself!

We have done puppy class and he sits, lays down and stays beautifully at home. He has proven to be a smart little guy when he isn't distracted. He has a moderate amount of anxiety around new people who come into our home. We are working on that.

Today I am going to look for a better collar/harness set up so he doesn't hurt himself until we get this problem under control.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

[Butch and Michele]

We use the easy walk harness. It has helped a lot. We still have moments where Butch loses his mind and acts like a fool when he's distracted but he is a lot more manageable with the harness. He is a great one year old dood but absolutely a work in progress.

[Anna Lara]

Thanks so much! I have seen this harness mentioned in other places as well. I am willing to try anything that seems to have helped others. Thanks again!

[Malenie Piscetelli]

I use 2 hounds design that's harness and free control. It's fantastic. Wow!!! What a different. I love it. Look for website. This is a great product cuz if he chews or worn out for a long time. It is under warranty for a life. All you have to pay is $6. I am on third now. My Lucy loves to chew it. She's a puppy. Lol she is getting better. Mine is 54 lbs.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I have every training harness/collar ever made I believe, but once I went to the Freedom No Pull/2 hounds design and haven't switched in two years.  Love them.

[Cathy George]

I use a Gentle Leader with leash outside and if we have company, I use the GL without leash. Seems to help keep Scotty calm. He's 6 and still is a jumping 'pup'.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I also use a Gentle Leader with Murphy and because that's the collar we've always used in training he seems to associate it with staying calm and listening to what I tell him to do.  Unfortunately it's probably more about training and proofing around distractions than the actual collar or harness.  I would try setting up some exercises with neighbors who may be willing to help.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Jane, this is about training, not collars or harnesses. Puppy class is great, but it's only the beginning, like kindergarten for human children. Training is for life, and learning to walk calmly on leash is essential. I'd suggest another more advanced training class where they work on leash skills, especially around distractions.  

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Roo is nearly eight and he is a dog that never met a person he didn't immediately like.  He jumped on everyone.  At home he jumped on anyone who came in the door. 

I found that putting him in his crate before people arrive or just before I let them in has really eased the transition for him.  After about an hour he can come out with a little less enthusiasm and a little more manners.  Not perfect, but enormously better.

When I bought a gentle leader for walking him, his jumping behavior changed nearly immediately.  He generally will greet people enthusiastically, but instead of jumping sits immediately on or very close to their feet.  It took him almost a year to stop telling me he didn't like the gentle leader, but boy has it changed his behavior.  Watch the video that comes with it two or three times.  The secret is to keep the leash in your hand at a length that does not allow him to jump up without you doing anything except to say "sit" just as he starts to go up.

[Laura and Angus]

We use the Easy Walk harness and it has made a huge difference in our walks. However, I agree with Jane and Karen on this one and it is also about training. The harness can definitely make your life easier, but it's in your best interest to work with Willie on appropriate leash behavior. With our trainer, we use clicker training (not for everyone) and learned to reward and reinforce when our puppy was walking appropriately. Sounds like you'll have plenty of opportunity to do this. I would also mention that if your puppy gets too excited and jumps on people or other dogs, then it sounds like he may need more space to show you the correct behavior. Every time he jumps on someone or on another dog it can be reinforcing to a puppy. What we learned to do was to cross the street or give more space between our puppy and other dogs or people, so that he has an opportunity to show good passing skills and be rewarded. When Angus was younger, this would literally mean walking across the street or going 10 feet away from someone, so that he could look at them, but walk past calmly. Now at this point (1 year old) we are able to move him to the other side of our body with the dog on the other side of their human's body and he will walk past calmly about 85% of the time. This has given us many opportunities to give him treats and praise when he passes calmly. When our puppy, Angus, would get too close to other dogs he would get crazy excited like you described for Willie. I'd definitely try giving Willie more space from dogs and people on walks, so that you can reward and reinforce each time he passes calmly. 

Just a reminder, though, DO NOT let Willie "meet" or "say hi" to other people or dogs when he is jumping and acting like a crazy puppy. This will reinforce that behavior for him and only make it harder to train him out of it. Only let him "meet" others when he is calm and approaching in a gentle state. This will also be safer for him and other dogs. Good luck with the training!!

[dal]

Hi!  We use the Easy Walk Harness with our 9 month old goldendoodle Cooper.  It made a world of difference.  You will still be able to train him to behave appropriately but you will have much more control over him.  Cooper used to go crazy seeing any people or dogs on walks.  Now most of the time, he walks calmly by them.  I can see he is excited, he looks at them and wishes he could go play but he knows that he can't and if I keep walking, he does too.  If he even starts to go towards them, I give a quick eh eh and he redirects himself.  The only trouble I still have is if a dog is behind a fence (regular or electric) and barks and runs the fence line.  Cooper sometimes will get too excited and start barking and trying to run towards them (but he can't really because of the easy walk harness).  We are working on that and he is 50/50 on walking by calmly in that situation.

Good luck and you will not be disappointed with the Easy Walk Harness!  Will make your walks so much more enjoyable!