Going playfully crazy around new people

[Gene]

Anyone experiencing this?

So my boy loves meeting new people so much that he looses his mind in a good way when he gets around new people.  He starts pulling and jumping out of control and I cant get his attention unless I pull him away but even then he is trying to look around me.  Any suggestions on getting him to focus?  The watch me game just is not working.

[Lisa Tiro]

FOOD! Keep high value treats on you and start working his obedience as soon as the guests come in. Wave your treat filled hand under his nose. Use a lead to keep him close to you. My Axel was a big goofball when people came in and it can be dangerous because they are big and strong. My first BB jumped on my mom-in-law and knocked her down and she broke her ribs so be very diligent in controlling your boy. Good luck!

~Lisa

[Gene]

What type of treat did you use?  I have some home made liver treats that usually worked, but yesterday they didn't have a strong enough smell to grab and hold his attention. 

[Lisa Tiro]

Axel loves cheese, any kind but I usually keep string cheese on hand to grab quickly and they are easy to take along. If I need something really good like at training where there are lots of dogs and lots of distractions I cut up little tiny pieces of leftover steak or pork. Hotdogs also work and I buy Redbarn too sometimes.

[Gene]

Cheese..hmmmm... I'll give a try.  thanks again.  

What age did Axel start to really get his training?  Brodie is about 50/50 right now, sometimes he does as I command and sometimes he can't make a decision to listen or chase the leaf that's flying by.  Brodie is truly special sometimes, because of his size I have to remind myself that he is only five months old.

[Lisa Tiro]

Oh it will be a process. Five months is very young to expect too much. He is a baby and will start to challenge you when he hits his teenager stage. It is good to practice with more and more with distractions (blowing leaf, busy street, etc.). Just be patient and firm. Never train when you become frustrated or assume that he knows the command. It takes hundreds of repetitions before you can really say he knows it. Develop a good bond with him and later it will pay off. He will want to please you. Make yourself the funnest guy he knows so that when there are distractions he will want to return to you or turn and listen to you. There was a point in Axel's training that I thought "forget it"! It was so hard to keep his focus at the training club I went to. There were dogs running agility off leash on one side and young wild pups on the other side. But I stuck with it and he finally got it and he literally was a different dog. He would sit and give me complete focus like never before. I'd say he was about 12-14 months at that point. Remember this breed is slow to mature. Males mature at about 3 years. It's so rewarding when you stick with it.

~Lisa