Greeting people

[Kathie Mau]

Help....our 20 month old will simply not calm down when we have visitors so we have to seclude her in another room.  I need training suggestions desperately!

[Kris and Sawyer]

I think you may have to start over as if she was a new puppy. Keep her leashed whenever someone is expected. I'd step on the leash so she can't jump or get crazy. What I did with Sawyer was to not open the door until he was relaxed and calm. I made sure no one addressed him in any way (not even eye contact) unless he was sitting calmly, then when he was, I had the visitor give him a treat. (I kept a bag of treats near the door, for unexpected visitors). You may want to recruit some willing neighbors or friends to help her practice. Remember the more calm you are, the calmer she will be. I wouldn't yell, just a "shhh" and wait for her to relax. I'm not a trainer, just sharing what worked for us! If you're still having problems, it wouldn't hurt to consult a trainer! :-)

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

^ perfect!

[Kathie Mau]

Thanks!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Greeting people is so difficult for lots of Doodles, and it takes lots of training.  If I know ahead of time that people will be coming over I set the dogs up for a training exercise.  I put them in a down/stay and wait for the visitor to come to the door.  The visitor knows they can't acknowledge the dogs.....no eye contact.  When everything is calm I release them.  If they get excited they go back to their down/stay and have to wait until they calm down.  If I'm expecting a crowd and know that I won't be able to control the greeting I gate the dogs in another room and wait until everyone is in the house and the dogs are calm.  I release them, but if they jump of get excited, they go back into the room.  It doesn't take them long to figure out how they have to behave in order to be with the visitors.  Doggy Dan recommends using a "Calm Freeze" when they're overly excited.  You hold their collar underhanded under their chin and just wait....you must stay calm yourself and not look at the dog or say a word.  I've tried this and it really does seem to transfer your calm energy to the dog pretty quickly.