Over Excited in Public - Uncontrollable Yorkie!

[Sunny95]

Ginger is a 3.5 year old yorkie. She has severe anxiety (over excited actually ) issues out in public. At home, she is fine. She attended puppy classes at PetSmart as a puppy and that’s actually when I first saw the beginning of the over excitement. She is not aggressive and I don’t think she is scared either – no shaking anyway. It’s all pure excitement and she doesn’t and I don’t know how to help her control it. The posts below are what I posted last week in another poster’s thread. They had similar issues. I didn’t mean to takeover her old thread and I did get a few replies. I really appreciate those replies and my apologies to those who have already read this saga.

I’m starting my own thread in hopes that more of you experienced owners will see it and give me some advice. Sorry this is so long but I am completely desperate for any advice. I need training ideas so bad.



Last week’s post:

Ginger had a routine vet appt today and she completely freaked out. It started as soon as I opened the car door in the parking lot. Overexcited! She was whining, scream barking, jumping and panting. I stood outside until it was our turn. I had my daughter go in and tell them what the deal was and why I couldn't come in.

Then inside, it was worse with me in the room so they had to take her in the back to do her exam. It was terrible!!!! I'm in tears right now. She has always had some anxiety but this was thru the roof. I can't take her anywhere.

At home she is normal, relaxed and just a good dog. As soon as we leave our house, she is a different dog. She hates the car, scream barks at everyone and everything. I just don't know what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Vet recommended a thunder shirt. I have read mixed reviews but I guess I will give it a try. I'll admit that I'm skeptical. Vet also recommended a couple of dog behaviorists for me to try. I'll call and get some prices on that. I have a feeling it's going to be expensive! Then if none of this works, she recommends medication but I hate to have her on meds when she is fine at home.

I miss having a dog to take everywhere with me. My first yorkie went EVERYWHERE with me so this is so bizarre. It breaks my heart.



Update:

The thundershirt came and she has worn it on her walks. I can't really tell much difference yet. I have thought about going to the Vets office this weekend when they are closed and just get out of the car to see what kind of reaction she has with it on. If she freaks out, what do I do?

When we are walking and she sees someone or something and she freaks out, I just tell her “No” and pull her the opposite direction. I'm pretty much dragging her and she is still freaking out. How do I get her under control? What do I do to get her attention? She just ignores me. I'm stumped.
How do I introduce treats and rewarding calm when I can't get her in to that state? Please someone help me.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Gosh, can totally identify. Have worked with several dogs with this over the years but the latest was my very own Tibbe. His first 2 or 3 vet visits were pretty constant screaming & panting, drooling, ears back, running in circles & barking all the rest of the time. One of the most hyper dogs I've ever seen.

How often does she go out in public?

[Harrysmum]

Melinda (sorry to butt in on your thread, again! ) but is it worth you pm-ing Teresa Ford? She's brilliant with this kind of thing isn't she....Sally + Harry x

[Sunny95]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Gosh, can totally identify. Have worked with several dogs with this over the years but the latest was my very own Tibbe. His first 2 or 3 vet visits were pretty constant screaming & panting, drooling, ears back, running in circles & barking all the rest of the time. One of the most hyper dogs I've ever seen.

How often does she go out in public?

Unfortunately - not much because of this issue and I will totally take the blame for that. I walk her in my neighborhood and she does okay as long as we don't see anyone. It's harder in the summer with so many people out. If I see someone down the block, I turn around trying to avoid the whole scene. Since the thundershirt, I have been going earlier with more activity. Last night she flipped out over a cat in the road and I really didn't think that would set her off. She lives with a cat and they get along great! She barked at some kids in their yard but I was completely shocked that she didn't go off on a man and his riding lawn mower. She just looked at him and kept on getting it. I do think her reactions aren't as strong at the end of the walk when she is hot and tired.

I'm terrified of taking her anywhere. I would never take her to the dog park. I would like to take her somewhere other than my neighborhood though. I think it's comortable for her. More exposure, the better? Is that what I should do? I'm back to how do I get her under control when she freaks out? How do I let her know it's not okay?

[Sunny95]

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

Melinda (sorry to butt in on your thread, again! ) but is it worth you pm-ing Teresa Ford? She's brilliant with this kind of thing isn't she....Sally + Harry x

You aren't butting in! I totally appreciate your replies!!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!

I need lots and lots of ideas. I'm ready to conquer this issue and get it under control. It's so easy to ignore because she is so good at home. That vet visit was a real eye opener!!!!!!

I would LOVE to hear from Teresa!!!! Thanks for reminding me of her.

[Harrysmum]

Originally Posted by Sunny95

You aren't butting in! I totally appreciate your replies!!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!

I need lots and lots of ideas. I'm ready to conquer this issue and get it under control. It's so easy to ignore because she is so good at home. That vet visit was a real eye opener!!!!!!

I would LOVE to hear from Teresa!!!! Thanks for reminding me of her.

Funnily enough - I think she's just replied on the 'other thread'.... Sally x

[Sunny95]

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

Funnily enough - I think she's just replied on the 'other thread'.... Sally x

She DID! I just read it and replied over there. She had a GREAT idea too!

[yorkietalkjilly]

With Tibbe it involved simple behavior modification training with positive reinforcement & the Nothing In Life Is Free sort of basics. It was something that got his attention & taught him to redirect his energy toward something else to do - behave, learn to sit, stay, lie down, & taught him self-control & the NILSF sort of taught him I was in control, he didn't have to worry about it & I would take care of him as the leader in the family. It really relaxed him as far as his extremely hyper behavior but he still needed socialization training & outings, which tended to hype him still. I desensitized him to outings in his airline crate first & then on the leash, keeping his episodes only moments long at times. We would go out for only moments in the crate, walk by people, in the car & out again, up to the vets door & leave immediately, etc., rewarding him with treats sometimes when he was quiet, an "uh oh" when he wasn't. A cry out or bark & I would cover his crate with a shawl. He learned to keep quiet to get to see out. Worked up to leash training & longer episodes out. It gets wearing on you so be prepared - part of the price you pay to have a happy, contented dog. You learn gobs of patience. Eventually & with a lot of patience, he stopped his hyperactivity and refocused on controlling himself & behaving & seemed to find a great peace from learning that he could do that. He's quite the little gentleman now but still has a great lust for life. But he was an absolute wild child when I got him & majored in screaming!

[Sunny95]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

With Tibbe it involved simple behavior modification training with positive reinforcement & the Nothing In Life Is Free sort of basics. It was something that got his attention & taught him to redirect his energy toward something else to do - behave, learn to sit, stay, lie down, & taught him self-control & the NILSF sort of taught him I was in control, he didn't have to worry about it & I would take care of him as the leader in the family. It really relaxed him as far as his extremely hyper behavior but he still needed socialization training & outings, which tended to hype him still. I desensitized him to outings in his airline crate first & then on the leash, keeping his episodes only moments long at times. We would go out for only moments in the crate, walk by people, in the car & out again, up to the vets door & leave immediately, etc., rewarding him with treats sometimes when he was quiet, an "uh oh" when he wasn't. A cry out or bark & I would cover his crate with a shawl. He learned to keep quiet to get to see out. Worked up to leash training & longer episodes out. It gets wearing on you so be prepared - part of the price you pay to have a happy, contented dog. You learn gobs of patience. Eventually & with a lot of patience, he stopped his hyperactivity and refocused on controlling himself & behaving & seemed to find a great peace from learning that he could do that. He's quite the little gentleman now but still has a great lust for life. But he was an absolute wild child when I got him & majored in screaming!

Wonderful advice!!! Thank you! I'm going to work with her this weekend with her crate. I know it's not going to be a quick fix but we have to do this. For both of us. There is going to be a lot of training going on. I can see where the crate will really help.

I loved what you said about "wild child and majoring in screaming!" That is SO Ginger!!!! She sounds like someone is killing her! It's not barking - it is soooooo screaming! It's awful!!!! People look at me like "what are you doing to that dog?"

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Sunny95

Wonderful advice!!! Thank you! I'm going to work with her this weekend with her crate. I know it's not going to be a quick fix but we have to do this. For both of us. There is going to be a lot of training going on. I can see where the crate will really help.

I loved what you said about "wild child and majoring in screaming!" That is SO Ginger!!!! She sounds like someone is killing her! It's not barking - it is soooooo screaming! It's awful!!!! People look at me like "what are you doing to that dog?"

In my experience at least, hyper/nervous dogs can make wonderfully trained dogs as they are so eager & excited to experience things & respond to them physically - just need direction & a purpose - they need to work. Tibbe loves to train daily & in that process, totally modified his behavior & I think he thinks of it as his work - trying to learn what I want him to do & do it well. So with work & patience & desensitization to the things that make them hyper, they can use those same qualities that cause hyperactivity redirected to learn to respond quickly to you & what you want them to do.

I taught Tibbe to learn to bark on command. Boy, he'd do that well. He got a treat for every barking session. Then I taught him "Quiet" by treating him the instant he would stop barking(eventually, they do get tired & stop on their own), saying the word "Quiet" at the same time. He very soon learned that stopping barking was something that got him a nice treat & a big smile. If he barked with the "Quiet" command, I would say "uh oh" with a bit of frown & look away, putting the treat behind my back. Before long, he was barking & quieting like a champ. Then, we slowly cut out the barking part - he does that enough on his own - and just telling him "Quiet" when I wanted him quiet. He stopped barking! Works just as well on screaming, growling, whatever.

So work with your little one & remember that all is not lost. It just takes knowing a few things to try & there are several good ways to get there when one doesn't out work for you & your dog.

[Sunny95]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

In my experience at least, hyper/nervous dogs can make wonderfully trained dogs as they are so eager & excited to experience things & respond to them physically - just need direction & a purpose - they need to work. Tibbe loves to train daily & in that process, totally modified his behavior & I think he thinks of it as his work - trying to learn what I want him to do & do it well. So with work & patience & desensitization to the things that make them hyper, they can use those same qualities that cause hyperactivity redirected to learn to respond quickly to you & what you want them to do.

I taught Tibbe to learn to bark on command. Boy, he'd do that well. He got a treat for every barking session. Then I taught him "Quiet" by treating him the instant he would stop barking(eventually, they do get tired & stop on their own), saying the word "Quiet" at the same time. He very soon learned that stopping barking was something that got him a nice treat & a big smile. If he barked with the "Quiet" command, I would say "uh oh" with a bit of frown & look away, putting the treat behind my back. Before long, he was barking & quieting like a champ. Then, we slowly cut out the barking part - he does that enough on his own - and just telling him "Quiet" when I wanted him quiet. He stopped barking! Works just as well on screaming, growling, whatever.

So work with your little one & remember that all is not lost. It just takes knowing a few things to try & there are several good ways to get there when one doesn't out work for you & your dog.

I really appreciate your excellent advice. I do have HOPE now that Ginger can be re-programmed so to speak. She is so sweet and wants to please - I think she will take to training well. I have been a bad Mom in the fact that I have not worked with her sooner. Life gets busy but that is absolutely not an excuse. I'm very excited and eager to begin. It can be done! YES! Thank you for the encouragement!

The barking on command and quiet is another excellent idea. I could also see that working for her. She loves to stand up in the window and bark at the people walking by and if there is a dog out there - watch out!

I need to find some treats that she just loves! Something excellent! Something different than her norm. I want her excited about it. What are the best treats for training?

[capt_noonie]

Uni is very similar. The sad thing is she is always in public, meets different people all the time, daily in fact at our shop, rides in the car every day, but she just doesn't calm down when we go to some place new or a place we don't frequent. If it's not on the daily routine she goes nuts! Screaming in the car, pulling on the lead, etc. I'll have her sit and she'll sit but still be screaming. I don't have time to bring in a behaviorist or trainer. I'm at the point where I just chalk it up that it's just her personality.

Oh ETA at her first meetups she did pant, drool, and foam at the mouth. Just too many dogs at once I guess. She's now used to other dogs thanks to our fostering, but before other dogs would make her nervous.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Sunny95

I really appreciate your excellent advice. I do have HOPE now that Ginger can be re-programmed so to speak. She is so sweet and wants to please - I think she will take to training well. I have been a bad Mom in the fact that I have not worked with her sooner. Life gets busy but that is absolutely not an excuse. I'm very excited and eager to begin. It can be done! YES! Thank you for the encouragement!

The barking on command and quiet is another excellent idea. I could also see that working for her. She loves to stand up in the window and bark at the people walking by and if there is a dog out there - watch out!

I need to find some treats that she just loves! Something excellent! Something different than her norm. I want her excited about it. What are the best treats for training?

Warm, boiled chicken breast in small bits makes an irresistible treat for training & usually won't upset the tummy. I stick in some of Tibbe's regular kibble amidst it so it takes up some of the juice & odor & put it all in a little treat bag that hangs around my waist. Later, any thing that comes out of that treat bag excites them - even if it isn't the warm chicken, they tend to associate anything from there with a big REWARD - a "paycheck" as I call it to Tibbe. Tibbe redirected those energies & nerves to learning simple obedience & tricks as he worked really hard to control himself and do what he was taught & get his paycheck when done. In the process, it taught him automatically do what I said by rote. And he was happy when working - it was like he had a purpose in life now. Hardly ever saw such a change in a dog.

Good luck & don't expect fabulous results at first. It takes time to get through to a hyper dog and short, frequent sessions of smiling, patient repetition is the key. Once they get that you are just as persistent as they are, they start to really get with it.

[Sunny95]

Chicken is an excellent idea and not too fattening either. Ginger needs to lose 2 pounds according to the vet. So we are working on that too. I need one of those training pouches though. I have been using a ziploc in my pocket and it's not very convenient.

I will post about our training this weekend. The idea of Ginger working to earn a paycheck is outstanding!

I do want to thank you again for your excellent advice!

[Fancysmommy]

My 6 month old has a somewhat similar problem. She LOVES strangers...as in jumps on them, licks them, and is basically uncontrollable with them. She doesn't bark at them or anything but it's kind of like if one of my kids went to every stranger they see and kissed them all over. It weirds me out a little. Granted, I am lucky and grateful that she doesn't bark (hardly at all; mostly when we're playing) but it's still a little embarassing. I'm going to try a puppy training class and see what happens.