Excitable Holly

[miss holly]

Holly is  now 15 months and around the house is really great (so I'm counting my blessings...) but outside the house she is incredibly excitable and I just don't know what to do.

From the moment she sees me getting ready to take her out she goes mad - sort of squeeling and wimpering. It doesn't stop until she is off lead and running - her favourite occupation. I have tried clicker training - making her sit by the open front door and waiting until she is calm and quiet. It takes ages but we persist and make her do it every time: the moment we move away from the house she starts again though - non stop high pitch crying noise as if she is really frustrated and just can't keep it all in.  It would be funny if it wasn't so irritating!

We had to take her to the vets today and I felt sorry for the other people in the waiting room - she just didn't stop squeeling and crying. Even a baby in a pram alongside her shut up to listen!

She wasn't always like this but it seems to be getting worse....

Help! Please!!

[karenl]

yes i know what you mean, my Amber is the same and also 15 months, quiet in the house usually, but as soon as she knows shes going to the park she goes on two back legs  although the screaming has stopped, until she is let off lead and then looks like a maniac! i think all the neighbours think its hilarious.

[ollie nathan's mum]

I have the same problem with seven month old Ollie, getting his lead on is a nightmare. Look forward to advice.

[Black Red + Yellow]

My Alfie is vocal when we return home or it is feeding time ........we have taken the hard line and now ignore him until he is quiet.....he has cottoned on to the fact that quiet = cuddles  - whingy dingbat= ignore.

Sorry can't offer any other advice - my Alf is an adult dog and therefore has calmed down considerably so am not sure how well would work with a poopie

[mooching]

From the moment she sees me getting ready to take her out she goes mad - sort of squeeling and wimpering.

I'd suggest that you start getting ready a bit (a lot?) earlier than usual  - but STOP as soon as she starts making a noise, and go back to doing some menial household task instead. As soon as she is quiet and settled, get ready again, but then STOP as soon as she makes a noise. Repeat as many times as necessary for her to get bored and just go and lay down.

[Sarah1985]

My Alfie is vocal when we return home or it is feeding time ........we have taken the hard line and now ignore him until he is quiet.....he has cottoned on to the fact that quiet = cuddles  - whingy dingbat= ignore.

Sorry can't offer any other advice - my Alf is an adult dog and therefore has calmed down considerably so am not sure how well would work with a poopie

Id have thought a puppy would pick up the idea fairly quickly

Im of the opinion that if somethings difficult the only cure is doing alot of it till you can do it well. In this case have you thought about doing lots of mini walks. Some really dull and just round the block so that leads coming out doesnt always lead to an exciting adventure and it becomes a none exciting part of every day life

[EmmaA]

If the ritual of getting ready makes Holly really excited try performing parts of the ritual and not going anywhere e.g. putting your coat on and then doing the hoovering, picking up your phone and keys but then just putting them down elsewhere etc. Hopefully Holly will learn that the ritual of getting ready doesn't always result in going for a walk and therefore aren't always exciting, if that makes sense 
Sorry I can't help with the outside excitement

[miss holly]

What great ideas - thank you.

We have never owned a cocker before are they often this vocal?? We call her 'Marge' (from the Simpsons) because she makes a wittering noise a lot of the time - it really does sound like speech and as if she's telling us off!

It's when she gets outside that the noise becomes impossible - high pitch screaming. It started when she first saw squirrels, then cats now just about everthing!

[mooching]

It's when she gets outside that the noise becomes impossible - high pitch screaming.

Suggest you go outside with her then bring her back inside as soon as she starts and take her lead etc off and try again when she is quiet, and repeat as many times as necessary until she does not do this. You may well need to allow quite a lot of time for this at the beginning!

[tritonx]

Can a calming band be used in that situation? Fraser is very good around the house, but there are a couple of situations where he's very vocal: outside in the garden where he barks if he smells deer (I think) or especially bear and if he hears people's voices outside the fence. Inside if someone comes to the door and I put him behind a baby gate, he screams and whimpers. I've ordered a calming band online as it was mentioned on another thread. It hasn't arrived yet and I don't know whether it will work, but it's a thought. I don't know much about calming bands and I'm not sure which circumstances they are used in. Here's some info on a site I looked at. http://www.mekuti.co.uk/calm_bands.htm