I have created monsters

[horsegirl]

so here goes , I am thinking I can get some good advise here. sorry so long!
I have two GSD's both are very obedient , except.... When I get ready to take them on thier daily walk/run. As soon as I put my coat on and they see me getting my hat and scarf both go crazy , running, jumping on me, knocking into things ect... It's like they lose thier minds. If I go in the kitchen to get a poop bag its lights on like there is some emergency .
Putting thier leashes on is another thing, my male will actually jump his head into the collar and both get all tangled in the leashes ect....
I have tried changing up my routine , leaving them outside until the last possible minute, but they jump and scratch at my door. I have finally gotten to the point that I have to let them out the front door loose (they are trained to stay in my yard, besides the only focus they have at that time is me) until I can get myself and the leashes together. Once they are leashed they turn into angels , no pulling and walk in front of me next to each other very nicely.
Once I get to the off leash area (not dog park and no other dogs around) I let them off the leashes and they are perfect . Totoal recall from both even when they see another dog. They are excercised daily for 3/4 to 1 hr off leash , playing with balls and general running and walking about 2 miles.
This all happens within 10 minutes of me getting home from work.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by horsegirl

As soon as I put my coat on and they see me getting my hat and scarf both go crazy , running, jumping on me, knocking into things ect... It's like they lose thier minds. If I go in the kitchen to get a poop bag its lights on like there is some emergency.

Do those things a dozen times a day. Put your coat on.....and take it off again and go sit down for a few minutes. Repeat. Get your hat and scarf, wear them around the house for awhile, then take them off. Go into the kitchen to get a poop bag, carry it into another room and set it down. Ignore the dogs entirely while you do these things. After awhile, these things that are signaling to the dog that fun stuff is imminent will lose their relevancy.

When you DO really need to take them out and have to put on your coat, hat, and scarf, freeze until they're calm. It may take awhile the first time, but each day it will get better and better. They stop, you continue. They go nuts, you freeze in place and wait.

[billsharp]

Use their obvious motivation to get what you want.

Take them one at a time. Secure dog 2 out of sight of dog 1. Make dog 1 sit. Do not chase him, or talk to him, or do anything he wants. He will jump around, but he will come back to you when he realizes that the collar/leash is not being put on him and he is not yet walking. Make him sit at your feet and focus on you. Then make him stay. If he breaks the sit or stay do not move or assist or interact with him. FORCE him to give his attention to you by refusing to reward him at all for his shenanigans. Only once the collar is on does he get any interaction.

Secure him away somewhere out of sight of the other dog and then repeat with dog 2.

Don't try to leash both at once until you have control over each separately and they understand that they don't walk until they sit patiently before you.

Try to avoid laughing when they eventually do sit and stay but (being vocal GSDs) let out a big "AAWWWWWWWUF!" as they sit still. Liesl does this every time and it just cracks me up.

[kiya]

My male starts barking if I take the leash out, so I put it on him and leave it on several times. He also barks a lot if someone comes to the door. So what I did was have him in a down stay, go to the door, open the door, pop my head out "Hello, how are you....." It didn't take long for him to catch on that quiet gets a cookie.

[horsegirl]

thanks all , very good advise. I am going to try a few suggestions

[horsegirl]

Originally Posted by billsharp

Use their obvious motivation to get what you want.

Take them one at a time. Secure dog 2 out of sight of dog 1. Make dog 1 sit. Do not chase him, or talk to him, or do anything he wants. He will jump around, but he will come back to you when he realizes that the collar/leash is not being put on him and he is not yet walking. Make him sit at your feet and focus on you. Then make him stay. If he breaks the sit or stay do not move or assist or interact with him. FORCE him to give his attention to you by refusing to reward him at all for his shenanigans. Only once the collar is on does he get any interaction.

Secure him away somewhere out of sight of the other dog and then repeat with dog 2.

Don't try to leash both at once until you have control over each separately and they understand that they don't walk until they sit patiently before you.

Try to avoid laughing when they eventually do sit and stay but (being vocal GSDs) let out a big "AAWWWWWWWUF!" as they sit still. Liesl does this every time and it just cracks me up.

its really hard to get mad at their enthusiasm, I agree they are quite funny with their emotions.