Hello,

I am new to posting on the board, so please excuse any oversights on my part as I learn the proper ettiquette, etc. I have been reading this blog off and on for over a year and have found it very helpful and full of insight. I now have an issue that I am hoping for your input on.

Background: I have a 13 month male GSD, Niko. I have owned him since he was 8 weeks and follow Leerburg's approaches for the most part (I have several of his videos). Niko is from Schutzhund lines, and scored between a 3-4 on his Puppy Aptitude Test (Volhard) across the board, with the one exception being that he's a 1 when it comes to prey drive. He is a wonderfully loving, very friendly and very obedient dog for the most part (he is afterall just 13 months, so distraction training is still in process). I have taken him to puppy classes, novice obedience, beginning agility and the Canine Good Citizen class, as well as done a bunch of socialization work around town.

My challenge: I would best define the situation as lack of impulse control when he meets new people or someone comes to the door. He's not a barker (just one warning bark really) nor is he aggressive at all, but he gets super excited and wants to frenetically greet/lick/mouth the person. I always put him in a sit and stay before opening the door, but he breaks it and lunges forward with great enthusiasm and excitement (puppy style...but he's 97 pounds). He can't control his excitement and sometimes will even jump up (that's new - we thought we eliminated that a while ago, but it's back...). He used to urinate, but he has mostly outgrown that now, although he will sometimes do so submissively esp. to a man who greets him back/towers over him.

I do limit the interaction (petting) from strangers when we are out of the house on leash but he will begin this behavior as someone even begins to approach him (or looks at him from even 10 feet away). And I certainly can crate him when someone comes over, but I want to teach him to control these impulses and calmly greet people coming to the house, or in any circumstance.

I have outlined my approach below. I would like your thoughts on what approach(es) you have found successful, and any advice you can provide so I do this right.

Doorbell rings, friend, the postman or any "friendly stranger" has arrived. Before I open the door, I do the following:

Put him on leash (with prong)
Put him in Sit at my side
Step on leash (just short enough so he will self-correct if he jumps)
Tell the person to completely ignore him (no look, no touch, turn back even)
Welcome the person...

...but in the meantime my dog is going crazy on the leash, lunging playfully forward (almost knocking me down since I am on the leash - and usually pulling that leash out from under me a bit), tail wagging a hundred miles an hour, trying to lick/mouth the person)... I am using strong verbal corrections, which work for a second and then he's back to his excited behavior...ugh.

So there it is...any ideas?

Ugh is right I think you are doing what I'd do, I might also be tempted to crate him in another room.
I'm curious to see what ideas other members have!

Thanks. It's been a tough one for me. He is such a friendly guy, and I want to foster that trait, but also teach him to control his impulses and to know that he is rewarded for being calm...

What a gorgeous pup you have! Now I need to figure out how to get a photo of Niko on here too!

 Quote: Mel Lane

What a gorgeous pup you have! Now I need to figure out how to get a photo of Niko on here too!

Thank you!

To put a photo on here, upload your pics to http://www.photobucket.com and follow their easy directions, resizing etc. I look forward to seeing him.

Here is a photo of Niko..Let's see if this worked..
<a href="http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii179/mtilki01/?action=view&current=DSC03048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii179/mtilki01/DSC03048.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

You can put a smaller sized pic in your signature, but as far as showing pictures I think we are supposed to do that in the bio section.
When you copy a picture to your signature, copy the img code. Hope that helps.

Let's see how if it works now...

Very pretty boy!

Hi Mel
Sounds like you have the right idea. How long have you been working with this?

Another strategy is just replace the behavior with something else - yeah, I know, easier said than done :-)
For example, I taught my dog that if someone comes near me, she should look at me only and ignore the other person. I started with hot dogs (my favorite ammunition) and had her sit, watch me, and click get a hot dog. Of course, I had to recruit people to help me. I started with them not too close, just close enough so that I could maintain her attention. Then we worked it closer until now, she knows to look turn to me when someone approaches. Lots of work!
Lynn

Thanks - what I would love to say is: And he is so nice and calm in his interactions!