Who loves to see their dog excited? We talk in high-pitched energetic voices to our dog when it’s time to go for a walk, eat dinner, leave the house, and even go for a car ride. It gives us the warm fuzzies when we think we see our dog excited for these activities.
I’m here to tell you to STOP IT.
There are VERY few dogs who can handle getting ramped up with excitement and then make GOOD choices. Would you ramp your kids up and then expect them to sit still in church for 3 hours? Or promise you are going to Disneyland and then expect them to fall asleep?
This is EXACTLY what we are doing to our dogs.
We encourage our dogs to go out of their MIND with excitement for a walk, and then we have the ability to be surprised when they bark, yank us around, and lunge at people on walks. We encourage our dogs to bark when the doorbell rings, and then wonder why we can’t get them to calm down?
We encourage out-of-control behavior (through ignorance of dogs as a species) and then wonder why they bark, bite, jump and destroy things in our home.
There is a time and place for excitement. You can play chuck-it at a park, run with your dog, go camping, go swimming and have designated toy times.
Help your dog make good choices. Speak calmly, teach them what’s expected in the home…and remember to include designated “fun” days!
More Tips
Check out our other posts
If Grooming Your Dog Feels Like a Wrestle Match, Read This
If grooming your dog feels like a fight every single time, you’re not alone—and it’s not actually about grooming.
Most dogs resist because they’ve never been taught how to stay still, accept handling, or cooperate through the process. The result? Wiggling, pulling away, scratched hands, wasted time, and expensive groomer visits that don’t fix the problem.
The good news is this: you don’t need better tools or more patience—you need a better approach. When you teach your dog calm handling and stillness, everything changes. Grooming becomes faster, easier, and far less stressful for you. In this blog, you’ll learn how to stop the struggle, cut grooming time in half, and finally get through it without the chaos.
Leash Pulling Isn’t the Problem—Your Dog Is Making the Decisions
Leash pulling, ignoring commands, and constant distraction aren’t just bad habits—they’re signs your dog is making the decisions.
If your dog only listens when it benefits them, walks feel exhausting, or you’re getting embarrassed in public, the issue isn’t more commands—it’s clarity in leadership.
In this blog, you’ll learn why dogs take control on walks, how that affects their behavior in real-world situations, and what it actually takes to become the one your dog chooses to follow. Because once that shifts, everything else starts to fall into place.
The Timing Mistake That’s Ruining Your Dog’s Training
Struggling with a dog that only listens sometimes?
The issue might not be your commands—it’s your timing. In this guide, we break down how rewarding too early creates confusion, slows progress, and leads to inconsistent behavior.
Learn how one simple shift can make training clearer, faster, and way more effective for both you and your dog.
The Truth About ‘Random’ Aggression (And Why It’s Ruining Your Life)
Most dog owners think their dog’s aggression comes “out of nowhere”—but what if it’s actually a pattern you’ve been missing the entire time?
From stressful walks to uncomfortable moments with guests, your dog’s behavior isn’t just frustrating… it’s affecting your daily life more than you realize. The good news? It’s predictable—and that means it’s fixable. In this blog, you’ll learn how to spot the hidden triggers, understand the warning signs, and recognize the 30-second pattern that happens before every reaction.
Once you see it, you can step in earlier, prevent the behavior, and finally start enjoying life with your dog again.