Sometimes even the best of trainers can’t prevent a dog from spinning
out
of control. If that happens to you, your first job is to stay quiet and
calm
yourself. Overly excited dogs generate enough energy to power a small
city-the last thing you want to do is add more to the mix. If you’ve
worked on the cue “All done,” try that first, keeping your voice low and
calm. (This is easier said than done, we know.) But even if your mind is
screaming “NO! NO! NO!” try to convince your mouth to speak as
though you felt in complete control of the situation. (Hey, this is your
chance to become an actor!) Be mindful of your body as well; move only
as much as you need to and move slowly and purposefully.
You can also try asking your dog, in your most calm and confident voice, to sit. Use a clear visual signal along with your voice-visual cues tend to get more attention from dogs, especially when they are excited. If you can get your dog to sit, even for a moment, you’re already ahead of the game. Your dog’s posture affects her emotions, and moving into a sit helps her internal physiology settle down along with her hindquarters. (There’s a reason that police usually tell people to sit down during a domestic dispute!)
If your dog sits but pops up again, that’s okay; just ask for another sit. You can ask her to stay if that’s a skill she’s mastered, but it’s okay to ask for several sits in a row, as long as you stay quiet and calm about it. Whenever she calms down in the slightest way, use that long, calming “Go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-d” to reinforce her without getting her revved up again.
If you get no response, you might try surprising your dog with an out-of-context cue like “Wanna go on a walk?” or “Dinner Time!” Who cares that you’re at the dog park and the dinner bowl is five miles away? If you can stop your dog from an emotional spiral, more power to you! If it works, reinforce the attention with a “Gooooooooood dog” or other soothing words of praise. (However, avoid praise words that themselves hype up your dog, like “Yes-Yes-Yes!!!”). You can also try simply walking away, or quietly attaching the leash to your dog’s collar and striding confidently away. It’s an option that professional trainers are quick to use if they feel it’s necessary.
You can also try asking your dog, in your most calm and confident voice, to sit. Use a clear visual signal along with your voice-visual cues tend to get more attention from dogs, especially when they are excited. If you can get your dog to sit, even for a moment, you’re already ahead of the game. Your dog’s posture affects her emotions, and moving into a sit helps her internal physiology settle down along with her hindquarters. (There’s a reason that police usually tell people to sit down during a domestic dispute!)
If your dog sits but pops up again, that’s okay; just ask for another sit. You can ask her to stay if that’s a skill she’s mastered, but it’s okay to ask for several sits in a row, as long as you stay quiet and calm about it. Whenever she calms down in the slightest way, use that long, calming “Go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-d” to reinforce her without getting her revved up again.
If you get no response, you might try surprising your dog with an out-of-context cue like “Wanna go on a walk?” or “Dinner Time!” Who cares that you’re at the dog park and the dinner bowl is five miles away? If you can stop your dog from an emotional spiral, more power to you! If it works, reinforce the attention with a “Gooooooooood dog” or other soothing words of praise. (However, avoid praise words that themselves hype up your dog, like “Yes-Yes-Yes!!!”). You can also try simply walking away, or quietly attaching the leash to your dog’s collar and striding confidently away. It’s an option that professional trainers are quick to use if they feel it’s necessary.
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