How do I train a bowling ball with a tongue?
 

Hi everyone, my almost 15 week old puppy is pretty good when I'm talking to people or sitting at an outdoor cafe with him. He minds his own business...until...someone starts talking to me about him or wants to pet him. Then he turns in to a bowling ball with a tongue. He wants to jump in to anyones lap or flop on them and lick them to death. I love that he's so infatuated with people, but I want to teach him how to be polite. No one minds the bad manners yet, but he's going to be a big boy and I don't feel I have much control over him when he's meeting strangers. Any suggestions?

clicker, treats/focus on you. Your post describes a rottie, not a gsd!

He IS still a baby so you can cut him a little slack.

What you can do is tell the people he's trying to tackle, I mean meet, that you are working on his manners and ask them not to pet or talk to him unless he's sitting (or laying down - whichever skill he's better at).

Me? I'm one of those BAAAAD people that encourage such behavior even with adult dogs. :)

I try to tell everyone he's still a baby but I haven't been able to get him to sit or lay down without force until he has made sure everyone has a squeaky clean face. I'm just worried because there are a ton of toddlers in our apartment complex who often stray too far away from their moms, run up to my pup and throw their arms around him. He LOVES this, but I basically have to hog tie him to make sure he doesn't knock them over.

I don't think his food drive is anywhere as strong as his new people drive. I've tried treats and get no response. The only thing he goes gaga over is cheese, which I haven't tried yet. Its hard to walk around with chunks of cheese in your pocket. :)

LOL sorry, but I love your description :)

He will come around with lots of training. Nita took the longest time to learn off when she got excited.