10 ways you could be over-exciting your dog

Below are 10 ways you may be unknowingly training your dog to become excited.

1. Baby talk - Although we humans may enjoy talking to our dogs if they are human babies too much of this can cause confusion. Instinctantly dogs will become curious

2. Giving too much eye contact - Looking down and pointing your feet and body towards dogs is starting a conversation with them. Instead, pay less attention to them, turn to the side, look dull.

3. Talking like a baby or speak in excited tones will get their brain stimulated, if you are using commands, use a deeper male-like tone.

4. Patting your dog when it is exciting, many think stroking will calm the dog down as it does for humans although you are communicating through affection that they are doing the right thing at that time. Where you pat dogs on the body matters, giving affection under the neck or on the chest will make them feel very important, and proud, leading to them deciding to do as they please.

5. Dogs that are manic and have extreme excitement levels may need to be restricted for periods of time instead of having free roam of your house. Asking them to be on their beds (not on your bed) helps them learn to relax. If they will not stay then using a lead or Crate training is necessary assuming they have had daily exercise.

6. Letting your dog take you for a walk will make them feel like they are in charge in other areas, giving them the job of following you walking beside or behind you will calm them as their instincts to run the pack, defend and hunt will not be triggered.

7. Having bed privileges and leaning or standing in your personal space too much will excite your dog, if they block your path when you are walking and forces you to go around, they know it is bad manners in their world. Start taking back your personal space by doing the same to them; remember do not hesitate and keep your chin up.

8. Acting excited yourself - You cannot ask your dog to be calm if you cannot achieve this in your own life. Rushing around the house or being frantic with your movements will trigger their excitement levels. Practice reducing your excitement, worry, and stress to help them.

9. Giving attention to the bad behaviour can make it continue it, turning your back to them and/or turning your head to the side and closing your eyes teaches them that it's is unacceptable. Don't expect instant results; be patient.

10. Greeting them 1st thing when you arrive home or the 1st thing you do after you wake up makes them feel too important. Ignore when you come home for 10-15minutes and only give affection when they are calm, the same applies in the morning.

You will have the best results doing this for a period of time then you can slowly see how much you can turn the dial back the other way, its like tuning a radio to the right frequency.