Dog training Q&A: How to manage an excited dog when guests come over?
Operating since 1982, Leerburg has over 40 years of dog training excellence
View online | Unsubscribe August 13, 2026
Leerburg Logo
Training Gear Online Courses Training Videos Discounts
15% Off Sitewide Ends July 13
Voila - The Ultimate Treat Pouch $52.00 - $70.00
Voila - The Ultimate Treat Pouch
Leerburg's Multi Odor Scent Kit $59.99
Leerburg's Multi Odor Scent Kit
Keeper Collars Hidden Prong with Snap $67.00 - $93.00
Keeper Collars Hidden Prong with Snap
Biothane Leash with Black Stainless Steel Snap $31.99
Biothane Leash with Black Stainless Steel Snap
Shop All Categories
Dog Leashes Dog Muzzles
Dog Collars Apparel
Detection / Scent Work Shop All Categories
[*spacer*]
Leerburg Seminars This Fall
Bitework Development for All Levels with Joaquim Dovat in October 2026 Detection Training with Kevin Sheldahl - November
[*spacer*]
Alt text here
[*spacer*]
Warehouse Sale
[*spacer*]
Today's Q&A

How to manage an excited dog when guests come over?

Hi. I have a 3 year old standard poodle who gets way way too excited when anyone comes into our home and I would love to teach him to leave people alone on command. There are certain people who will not leave him alone and that’s not at all helpful either. If people do not encourage him, he does better, but his initial excitement is a bit over the top. He’s had a lot of training, currently working on recall. He is great learning obedience commands but this thing with people I’ve never gotten very far with. It’s a bit embarrassing, considering how hard I work with him, all the classes we’ve taken, etc… I’ve had him stay on place when worker types have come in and he can do that well. I’d like him to not bamboozle people when they first enter our house but not sure how to accomplish this. Is there a course I could take that would help me out?

I did just sign up for your course on managing dogs in the home. Seemed fitting.

We had workers in today and I put him on a leash so he’d stay back, then he’s on place while they’re here. That’s working out quite nicely. Guess it’s going to take some work and stick to it-ness on my part.

Today's Q&A

Leerburg's Answer

Thanks for reaching out. I'm glad you found our course on Managing Dogs in the Home, it is a very fitting course for this problem. It seems you have a good handle on workers coming in, keeping him on leash or in a place spot is a great solution. As for more friendly guests and his excitement, I handle this in several ways with my own very excitable dog.

The first is I will crate my dog depending on who is at my home and for how long. My dog has an excited peeing problem so I try to do most of my greetings outside if I can. Because of this, I tend to take my dog for a short walk after the greeting to help her calm down a bit and then if she's good she can stay out, but if she gets rowdy again, back in the crate she goes. With people whom I have trained, I ask them to never pet, look at, or interact with my dog if she is jumping or barking. She can only get "pets" if she is sitting nicely and as calm as she can muster (she patters her feet a lot as she impatiently waits for people to notice that she is sitting - it's very cute). I keep her on leash a lot or in an ex-pen for these interactions so I can stop her from jumping and licking people excessively. From there, after she says hello and gets her attention, she has to relax. Whether that is in the chair with me or on one of her beds, I usually don't care as long as she can settle.

Give these things a try, and anticipate having to manage this initial excitement for the life of the dog. This excitement is very much part of the dog's temperament, and some dogs just get so excited that they literally cannot contain themselves, so it is up to us to manage that reaction.

Leerburg's Answer
Ask Leerburg
[*spacer*]
Deals from Leerburg
K9 Kennel Boss – Collapsible Dog Crate Leerburg 5-Year Warranty
Discounted Items Free Video + Free Shipping with Every Remote Collar Purchase
[*spacer*]
[*spacer*]
Join the Leerburg Community
Join our growing community!
Follow Leerburg on Facebook Follow Leerburg on Instagram Follow Leerburg on YouTube Follow Leerburg on Pinterest
View in Browser | Unsubscribe

©2026 Leerburg. All rights reserved.

Email sent by: Leerburg.com
406 Technology Drive West, Menomonie, WI, 54751
Call us at (715) 235-6502 or Contact Us.