How can I get my Golden Retriever to calm down?!?

Question

My one and a half year old female Golden Retriever is the sweetest girl you'll ever meet. She's pretty well trained and is absolutely wonderful with our children. The only downside is whenever she see's someone new or someone she doesn't see very often she gets so excited that we can't even control her. We will tell her to sit and she might for about a second until she can't control herself anymore. But when just my husband, daughters and I come in the door she'll give us a friendly hello without jumping and go back to sleep. Why is she like that with us but so hyper that she pulls us over if we try to hold her back when someone else comes in. She also doesn't really calm down much while the guests are here. My husband gets so frustrated that he just locks her in the bathroom which I hate! I don't think she'll learn that way. I know she's still young but what can I do to teach her to not jump on our guests? I'm too embarrassed to take her to dog training classes.

Valium or any other type of medicine to help her calm down doesn't work on her! Her vet gave it to her when she got fixed so she wouldn't hurt herself from being so hyper and it worked for one day then it stopped working.

To "Joe B"- You'd be embarrassed too if you saw how she was. I cannot control her when she gets that hyper. She pulls me! She's 80 pounds which I hear is pretty big for a female Golden Retriever. There was no need for you to be rude.

Answer 1

She sounds like a gorgeous dog! Definitely have her on the lead when guests arrive. If she goes to jump, bark whatever give a quick pull on the lead and say shhhh in a stern voice. Get her to sit. Tell guests to walk past her, not to greet her. When she is calm you can take her to the guests and they can say hello calmly. If she gets over-excited then do the correction and make her sit. She will look to you for her cues and with a bit of practice it will happen. Maybe get some good friends to act as guests to start with!

I'm not a big fan of some of Caesar Millan's techniques (the dog whisperer) but he's done loads of shows on dogs like yours and it seems to work wonders.

I can understand locking her in the bathroom but I'm with you, much better if she learns to get out of this habit.

She sounds like a lovely, friendly dog. With age and some training she'll be even better :)

Answer 2

If you know you'll be having guests put her on a leash and dont allow her to welcome guests until she is clamed down. I have taught my Golden's that they can't get with in 6 feet of the door so they are not allowed to great people as soon as they step into my home.
She is still young and she needs constant training with this. It will take some time but I would not allow her to be the first one to the door. Put her in a sit, stay with the leash on and then step on the leash so she can't get to your company. I have 3 Golden males here 2 over 85 pounds,1 puppy If I can do it so can you.

ADD: Embarassed why??? Obedience class's are set up just for that reason to teach you and your dog. You think every dog in the class is already trained? No! Find a good trainer and sign up for a class you will find out very quickly that there are dogs that need the training even more than yours.

Answer 3

Don't be embarrassed to take her to classes. Trust me trainers have seen it all, and this is definately not the worst thing they've dealt with.

You may also want to look into a gentle leader or halti collar for when guests come over as well. If she's pulling you hard this will help. To some people they look like muzzels but they aren't. Your dog can still eat, drink, pant, and bite. They are comparable to a horses halter.

Answer 4

You know, you shouldn't be embarrassed to go to training classes... that's what those are intended for... to train your dog. My Border Collie is a handful with company too and we have worked very hard and consistantly to break her of jumping up on guests. This sort of thing can be trained out and a good, experienced trainer is really the best way to learn how to change your dogs behavior. A good trainer is not going to give you a hard time for your dogs behavior, he/she is going to focus on helping you fix the problem. If the trainer doesn't, then you need a different trainer.

Contact your local obedience club and ask for referrals to good trainers in your area. You need to learn how to train your dog and a good trainer is so valuable.

Answer 5

A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tr.im/XCvCx

If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.

It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I'm too embarrassed to take her to dog training classes.
This is a dog right not a pimple treament you have applied before going out. get over it and do the right thing take the damn dog to the trainer you'll be glad you did.

Answer 8

NEVER EVER be embarrassed about dog school...

She needs to be on a leash when guests arrive... YOU need to go to dog school,,, just a 6 week class,,, it will socialize your dog,, meaning that you will train her to work with a variety of distractions... this is such an easy fix.....

also, heavy physical exercise.....


ps,, by locking her away when guests arrive,, she is learning to be more crazy when they come,, because she knows she is going to get locked up ( stressful)

Answer 9

make him sit and gently rub his/her chest and say settle day and be calm

Answer 10

one word: valium.