Free Tips to Stop a Dog From Getting Overexcited

For Omaha training session I worked with a couple of Boston Terriers; Rudy and Oscar. Their guardians called me in to teach them how to stop a dog from getting overexcited, especially when guests arrive. Both dogs also have a habit of marking in the house.

Boston Terrier Behavior Problems

Both pups got so excited when I arrived for the session that they got into a little confrontation with one another. This is called redirected aggression. It usually takes place when a dog is reacting in an intense way to a stimulus that is not able to reach. The canine then ends up taking out their frustrations on something nearby in this case, Rudy.

I usually tell my clients not to pick up a dog when they’re is misbehaving. However, sometimes you must act when your furry friends are fighting. After watching the video of this incident and other fights from the session, it seems this was mostly for show. Neither pup showed real aggression.

That said, both canines were so wound up due to my arrival that they had problems settling themselves down. After they argued a few more times, I got out their leashes. This kept them apart and calmed them down.

Boston Terriers can have different behavior problems. These include barking too much, chewing, and being aggressive. These issues often happen because they do not get enough exercise, attention, or mental stimulation.

Without enough physical activity or engagement, they may resort to barking or chewing to keep themselves occupied. Male Boston Terriers can sometimes show aggression towards other male dogs. This behavior is normal and can usually be managed with extra training.

How to Stop a Dog From Getting Overexcited

Once both pups were calm, I began asking about their daily routine. I also wanted to know how the humans interacted with them.

During our discussion, I saw Rudy and Oscar trying to get their guardians’ attention. They were pawing, climbing, and nudging them. When a pup thinks they can tell a human what to do, and the human listens, the dog may feel like a leader. This can make a canine believe they are equal to the human.

When a dog sees themselves as in charge, they often ignore corrections. They only follow commands when they feel like it. Since both dogs showed this behavior, we can assume they felt equal authority to the humans in the home.

Because Oscar and Rudy both thought they had the same position of authority, they were starting to mark on objects in the home in order to claim territory or possession of said objects.

I have found that the best way to stop this behavior is to change the dog’s mindset. This helps them see themselves as a follower. I suggested some rules and boundaries for the guardians. These can help their dogs see themselves as followers.

Another great way to help the dogs learn to adopt a follower mindset is to practice what I call petting with a purpose.

The more guardians correct the dogs at the right time when they break the new rules, the better. When pups earn attention through obedience, they will feel less okay about their old behavior.

How to Teach a Dog to Behave on Walks

Now that both dogs were calm and balanced, I asked how much exercise they were getting. Some breeds of dogs are higher energy than others and Boston Terriers are certainly on the higher end of the spectrum.

The dog’s behavior on walks was so unruly that the guardians had stopped trying to walk them together a long time ago. I showed them how to get their dogs leashed up while remaining in a calm and balanced state.

Many people rush through this process and end up with a dog that is extremely excited before they even get to the door. But the energy your dog has when you put the leash on is the same energy they will typically carry throughout the walk.

I put martingale collars on both dogs. A martingale collar is a type of collar designed with two loops: a main loop that fits around the dog’s neck and a smaller loop that attaches to the leash.

When a dog pulls, the smaller loop tightens a bit. This stops the collar from slipping off. It also gives you more control than a regular flat collar.

It provides a gentle and effective way to guide your dog without choking. The collar only tightens a little, making it safe and secure.

Then, I added a special twist to the leash and went over the rules I follow for a structured walk with dogs.

I took the leash and showed how to position the dog correctly. I also explained how to correct the dog when they got out of position. Finally, I demonstrated how to reward a dog for doing what we wanted.

After I showed the technique, I gave one of the dog’s leashes to the mother. I coached her as she walked with Oscar.

When the mother returned to the house, I tried to give her Rudy’s leash. She looked at me like I was crazy and asked, “Do people really walk two dogs together?”

Indeed they do. And a moment later she was walking both dogs in a nice calm fashion while they remained in the heel position needing few corrections.

After a short walk, we returned to the home so that I could coach the family’s father through the same exercise. I chuckled a bit out loud when he said “oh boy” as I handed him the leashes.

Just like his wife, the martingales provided good control. We took time to calm the dogs’ energy and behavior before leaving the house. Because of this, they were easy to control and lead on the walk.

Even when we saw a puppy on our walk, the guardian kept the dogs calm. They did not react negatively.

Now that we had given the dogs the rules and structure they needed, they saw their humans as leaders. We were ready to repeat the door answering exercise.

Things started off a little bit shaky as the guardian’s timing and technique were off. Her hesitancy in her movements, along with stopping short or stomping instead of walking briskly, caused some problems.

But once she remembered to keep her hips squarely facing the dog, and her focus improved, the results speak for themselves.

I suggested that the guardians text or call each other when they are on their way home. This way, the other spouse can practice answering the door in the same way. If they practice this exercise every day for the next week, the dogs should learn to stay calm.

By the end of the session, the dog’s energy had moved to a calm and balanced state. They no longer invaded the personal space of the humans. They stopped pawing at them for attention. They did not show any redirected aggression towards each other.

Rudy and Oscar are not bad dogs, they simply didn’t understand their place in the family. Now that the guardians understand how to set rules and boundaries, the dogs will start to see themselves as followers. Instead of demanding things they will learn to ask for them and accept the possibility that they may not always get what they want.
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