2 Issues - Please help

[Harley09]

I have a 8 month old female that is pretty good 80% of the time, the thing is when we get company she goes CRAZY, she jumps all over people and runs all over the house. If by chance there are children involved they cant stand, she knocks them over and try's to wrestle them to the floor, when there isnt someone new over she is great. Any suggestions?

Issue 2, how do you teach your dog to eat in the kitchen at the food bowl, Harley carries her food all over the house and deposits it in the living room where it gets mashed into the carpet. While she is eating nobody bothers her at all so it isnt like she is taking it to protect it. I cant understand it, sometimes it is a whole mouth full not just one piece. Anybody ever battle such a silly behavior?

[moondog]

Issue #1 - it's far more stimulating when company is over, and she hasn't been obedience trained through distractions. Has she had any formal obedience?

I certainly wouldn't allow her to run willy nilly when you have guests over, and ESPECIALLY when there are children! PUT A LEASH ON HER AND KEEP IT ON. Teach her to settle in a down before she gets any attention at all. If she's not in classes, get her in classes and keep her there for at least 2-3 years.

Issue #2 - my daughter's dog does this. Feed her in a crate and she won't be able to spread her food around.

[SABELLESMOM]

Oh dear, poor thing... There's a fairly simple answer, but it takes work. There is so much more excitement when "guests" arrive, how can she help herself? First, work on her obedience skills. Formal classes will help. She needs, needs, needs solid sits and stays. Eventually, part of the 'proofing' will be with distractions such as the arrival of guests. That, however is a way off.

One thing you can do, at home, is to select a place for her to lie down while you eat your meal. At first, this can be close enough to the table where you can put your foot on the lead and enforce the down. If you do it for every meal, 7 days a week, then you have 21 complete sessions per week. This will go a l-o-n-g way to understanding what a down is. Gradually, you can move her space to a spot further away from the table.

The way that it translates to guests, is you leave the leash on when guests are there. You can request a down at any time. You can also release her from the downs when she is calm... not just when she gets up. Down means down, until you say different, right?

Everyone needs to ignore her unless you say different. Tell them she is working on her company manners, and leave it at that. If and when contact is allowed, she is to be calm first, AND have your permission to greet someone.

The other problem? Feed her in the crate.

[Harley09]

Thank you Sabellesmom, I am glad to hear someone else is on the same page I am, Harley is now to the point when I say get by the front door she goes, and lays down on the floor in front of the door, so that is a HUGE plus, I have been working on this being her spot for about 4 weeks, she is doing great as I said but all that is put on the back burner when someone new walks in and that command to stay goes right out the window. I will try the leash trick and see if that works, it is a shame cause when it is only the 4 of us she is a doll, gets crazy sometimes but nothing out of the norm. I will keep you posted and thanks for the help.