Ok, so I know its GREAT that my dog loves to work, but what if he gets waay too excited? Hes 13 months, but didnt start working till ~7 months (when I got him).

I've worked many-a-dog that live for the 'ok!', but none get into it like Magnum. He gets so excited at the command (not the release, the actual command) that he's too busy jumping around being happy to do it right/quick.

For example; Going from a sit in front to a heel, he always winds up where he needs to be. But between the command and getting there, he spends 45 seconds jumping on his hind paws for no reason.

On the recall, he comes to me, and sits in front, but before he sits, hes so excited he jumps up on his hind paws and 'hugs' me. Scratched me with his dew claw pretty badly last night actually. The knee in the chest trick that I would normally use just sends him into play.

On a down, he jumps a few times, and spins around, or moves, always winding up at my feet somehow. In his really hyper moods, he tries to creep and follow.

I may be wrong, but I think this is all from his excitement. I'm positive he knows the commands right, and I know hes hyper. I cant even leave him out at night like I'd like, he spends all night jumping up and down from the bed.

I know hes young, but is there anything I can do to teach a dog to chill out? Or at least not get so hyper-worked-up at working? I love that hes excited, but I need more control than I'm able to get. Every dog I've worked in the past has gone down in drive a bit with an e-collar, mags on the other hand, doesnt seem to care.

Since this dog already has plenty of drive, are you doing everything slowly, calmly and quietly? My youngster is quite the same...19 mos. now and finally calming a little. For example, I don't do a front from a distance recall yet, until he gets more self control for him to manage his drive. In the house we just quietly tell him to go lay down, which he does well for about a minute. Lots of repetition and we don't fall for his ploys to get us to play, we just ignore him, and he finally resigns himself to laying down and chewing his kong or bone while we watch TV.

Hope you figure it out, or have the patience for maturity to start coming along <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Other thing I'd suggest is to increase his exercise VASTLY over whatever you are doing. I know when the weather is bad and I can't take my girl's out for their miles long tears in the woods, their focus and control in general rather goes to pot. Let alone if I'm trying to do some specific obedience training. Since I do NOT want to have my dogs loose the enthusiasm and love for training, just the OVER enthusiasm that keeps them from focusing, tons of exercise does the trick for us.

Real exercise has to be off leash for my dogs. So whether it's the off leash hours hiking. Or the running after the Chuckit tennis ball until they are exhausted, or going over to a friend who has a friendly active dog that they will all play for hours with. If I can do this early in the day, and train in the afternoon, my dogs work much better.

And, generally, I try to plan these fitness activities for about every other day just so I can live with my girls and not be yelling at them all the time to KNOCK IT OFF because they are so full of excess energy they are driving me crazy in the house. If I can 'manage' the exercise to take the edge off in general, everything works better in the household.

I do have to work on my calmness a bit I think, I tend to have the same volume with my voice inside the house (where hes a brat) that I do out on the field (little less than a brat). My trainer keeps telling me to wait for him to mature, but its becoming painful to train him (think 100lbs behind clipped claws in your side).

As far as the excercise, I was thinking about that today. Hes loose in the am for about an hour, then crated till i get home (6 hrs or so). Then hes loose all night. Maybe I'll try and wear him down when I get home, and work him right before bed. I know if I play with him right before training, hes horrible because he just wants to go sleep.

Just turning 2 it's nice,still exciteble,but were getting there,brain work,is good for excess energy,hide loads of toys let him find them,yard time he hammers the buster cube it has helped,he's still very young,i still do most of my training in play mode which starts to tire him then only 1 or 2 correctpositions it's worked alot better than fighting against, him have fun and enjoy, they always teach us something new Helan