Leash Excitement
© 2010 Pat Miller/Peaceable Paws LLC
All Rights Reserved
5 THINGS TO DO
When Your Dog Gets Too Excited About Going For a Walk
You look forward to taking your dog for a walk with mixed emotions. You love the
idea of going for a companionable stroll through the neighborhood together, but it’s a
major hassle to get out the door. When you pick up his leash he becomes the Tasmanian
Devil – body slamming you, racing around the foyer, and bouncing off the plate glass
door with such intensity you’re afraid he’ll crash right through it. Here are five
suggestions for turning this potential disaster into the enjoyable outing you dream of.
1. Exercise first. Spend 15-20 minutes tossing a ball for your dog in the back yard,
playing “Run upstairs to get a treat from the Manners Minder,” or providing
intense mental exercise with a heavy duty shaping session, (See The Shape of
Things to Come, March 2006). You’ll take the edge off his excitement, reduce his
energy level, and make leashing-up and walking more relaxed and enjoyable for
both of you.
2. Teach him to “Say Please.” Reinforce your dog’s “sit” behavior so heavily that it
becomes his default behavior – the behavior he chooses to offer when he doesn’t
know what else to do. Then wait for him to sit (say “please”) to make all good
things happen: sit for his dinner bowl; sit to be petted; sit for you to throw his
ball; sit to have his leash put on, and sit to make the door open.
3. Pick up his leash throughout the day. He gets so amped up when you touch his
leash because it always means the two of you are going for a walk. Of course he
gets excited! If you pick up his leash numerous times through the day, sometimes
draping it over your neck and wearing it for a while, sometimes carrying it from
room to room, sometimes picking it up and putting it back down, sometimes
clipping it on his collar and then unclipping it, the leash will no longer be a
reliable predictor of walks, and he won’t have any reason to get all excited about
it. Note: This will take a while. Hope springs eternal.
4. Use negative punishment. If he goes bonkers when you pick up his leash, say
“Oops!” in a cheerful tone of voice and set it down. Walk away, if necessary.
When he settles, pick the leash up again. If he sits (say please!), proceed. If he
winds up again, do another “Oops!” (no reward marker) and set the leash down.
You’re teaching him that getting excited makes the opportunity for a walk go
away; staying calm makes walks happen.
5. Reduce the significance of other “walk cues.” Other things you do as part of
your walk preparation routine can also feed his energy – getting out treats, putting
on your jacket, grabbing your cell phone and keys… The more you randomize
your ritual, the less these steps contribute to his growing excitement over the
pending event, and the calmer he’ll stay as you leash him and walk out the door.
For example, put your keys and cell phone in your jacket pocket before you eat
breakfast.
Happy walking!
