Recall/Hyperactivity Help Please

I bought a harness and one of those very long lines that help with recall today. The harness was annoying, but anyway, took Loki to the field to try him out with it and have come across a problem. He's just too hyperactive and playful. Seriously, as soon as he hits the grass, he's jumping, chewing the lead and playing tug-of-war with it and more importantly, biting me. I know he just wanted to play, but my stomach is covered in blood from where he's repeatedly sunk his teeth into my stomach. Granted, he seemed to be aiming for my shirt and my fat just got in the way, but still, that's not cool. I reckon he'd be good learning recall, but at the moment I can't get anywhere with it because he just decides to mess with the lead or myself instead. Is there any way to stop this madness before he takes a chomp on my colon?

Does he have a good long walk before you start with the training, as this may get rid of some of the energy so he is calming during the training. When he goes to jump up turn your back and ignore him, try get him to sit then start again.

I agree with Kathy I go for a walk with the short lead first to burn off some of the energy.

I'll try that, but I don't think it's about energy. He's brilliant walking on the lead, on the way there and back he was absolutely fine. Just as soon as he's on the grass, he's wild. Turning my back doesn't really help because he'll get a hold of my shirt and start tugging it, trying to play. It takes like a minute to get him off it. I mean, the obvious thing would be to avoid the grass, but that's not gonna solve the problem, so I was wondering if there were any techniques to get him to stop being so hyperactive and over-excited on the grass? I'll definitely try the long walks beforehand though in case it does help, so thanks

Are you having him sit and wait before feeding? This helps with focus. You could also do some training sessions where there are lots of distractions.

jstaff wrote:Are you having him sit and wait before feeding? This helps with focus. You could also do some training sessions where there are lots of distractions.

Yeah, I always make him sit and stay before feeding him. It's just the grass, he sees it as an excuse to go wild and then decides to play with me by, you know, taking chunks out of my flesh. Maybe he'll calm down when he gets more used to it? Or maybe I can try taking him off the grass whenever he gets too exciteable so he knows he can't get too crazy or we'll leave. Does that sound like something that might work, or no?

Those could also work. Part of the issue is he is likely entering the teenage phase as well. They do eventually calm down a little.

I took Loki to the field today when he seemed calm, and he was brilliant. No lead-biting or people-biting at all. I had the extension lead or whatever it's called, and when he did run, I'd call him back and he'd come back even without treats in my hand, so that's really cool. I think I will only take him when he seems calm. That said, he perked right up when we ran into two new dogs and a dog he already loves playing with. Anyway, thanks a lot for that suggestion, I didn't think it'd make such a difference but it did

Our pup is a day younger than yours....... and yours seems so much better behaved lol (although we let him off the lead so i suppose its our own fault)
vinnie is great with dogs/people when we're walking hes not biting much anymore more nibbling/snogging things But if we're out on the field and try to call him back if there is anyone else around or any dog he COMPLETELY ignores us we have to literally walk over and drag him away he does not listen to anything.. i suppose i should get a long lead and start doing what youre doing but i feel mean having him on a lead i like letting him run free lol x

Blue used to rag his lead about when he got excited. He used to shake it like he was killing it. I used to just hold the lead near his mouth and hold it until he calmed down but he never tried to bite me. Then let go and keep stopping him and saying no when he did it. He doesn't do it know but he may have more to do with just growing up a bit.

Well, the good news is I took him to the park and he was excited by all the new smells, people and dogs, but he was very well-behaved; no biting, messing with the lead, and he came back every single time I called him so hopefully with a bit of consistency, he'll learn.

x0gawjus0x wrote:Our pup is a day younger than yours....... and yours seems so much better behaved lol (although we let him off the lead so i suppose its our own fault)
vinnie is great with dogs/people when we're walking hes not biting much anymore more nibbling/snogging things But if we're out on the field and try to call him back if there is anyone else around or any dog he COMPLETELY ignores us we have to literally walk over and drag him away he does not listen to anything.. i suppose i should get a long lead and start doing what youre doing but i feel mean having him on a lead i like letting him run free lol x

Oh no, no, I'd say your dog is better behaved if his only real problem is lack of paying attention. Loki's still a little devil just...slightly less of a devil than he used to be, thankfully. But yeah, I'm too paranoid to let him off the lead until I know he'll come back to me. If he saw another dog he'd just dive straight at it and want to play, and not all dogs are in the mood for a hyperactive puppy.