Hello

One of our labs (1 and a half years old) gets extremely excitable when we return or when visitors arrive, he barks and also emits a very weird noise which is pretty load and quite alarming to people who do not know him (mix between a howl and god knows what else).

He has always been a little "barky" when people have been outside but stops when we tell him. He is generally very quite and lovable but this behaviour effect how people percieve him + we would also like to not have to experience his manic happiness. With a few people how know him who trust him we are happy to leave him in the room, they ignore him and after a few minutes he is silent and either lying down with them or doing whatever he normal does around the house, including just go to sleep.

We have tried a number of things, mainly ignoring him but it has not worked at all, he just does the noise/behaviour for a few minutes regardless what we do.

He is such a lovely young man and we would love to sort this out so he can be easily included when people come around.

Many Thanks

You must be absolutely consistent about ignoring him until he is quiet (as you have already found he does this after a while).  If the behaviour is never rewarded hw will eventualy stop it as he gains more self control.

My two used to do this,(jumping and barking when I returned)  I wasn't really concerned when I just had the one but having 2 jumping at me when I had arms full of shopping was a nightmare. I ignore them, the bitch took it really bad but now they are brilliant, they know I'm not going to acknowledge them till I'm ready. I usually do what I have to do (put shopping away then call them to me and make a fuss of them for a couple of minutes.

My 1 year old GSD pup is exactly the same. She does not do it with me as the ignoring worked in my case but she still does it with visitors to the house and my husband who is only home at weekends.

It can take some time for my husband to get into the house as he is carrying into the house stuff out of the car. We have a baby gate half way up the hall so she can't get to him whilst he is doing this and he can't resist saying hello. Guess what the pup is doing her nut to get to him. When he eventually comes in she is so hyped up she leaps all over him and he is trying to get 4 paws on the ground this lasts for at least 15 mins before peace resumes.

Other half needs to see a behavourist LOL 

As Brainless says, you must stick with ignoring.  This is the mistake a lot of people make - they don't think that ignoring is working, often because the dog appears to be getting worse, but this is quite normal.  Look at it this way - if your car ALWAYS started in the morning, you wouldn't give up after one or two tries would you?  But if you had an old banger, that was known for being unreliable, and this morning you went out to start it and it wouldn't start, you'd soon give up........  Your dog has learnt that you are pretty reliable for giving attention when you get in - his nutty behaviour is being rewarded, so when you start to ignore him, he can't believe it's happening, but has learnt that MORE nutty behaviour eventually gives him what he wants.  It's called an extinction burst, and because trainers don't remind owners about it, the owners often give up saying 'it's not working' - but it WILL work, so long as the dog doesn't perceive he is getting any kind of reward for his behaviour, he won't continue it.......

All very helpful - thanks.

We will continue to ignore him, it can be hard sometimes but I do realise it works.

When you say you have tried ignoring do you mean really ignoring?  This involves entering and not acknowledging the dog even exists no eye contact, words, touches or anything at all until you are ready to greet your dog.  The lack of eye contact is probably the most important as this is very important to dogs.

This is the one thing that I had a hard time getting the hubby to agree with me on!
He said he felt too mean ignoring a cute little pup when all he wanted was a fuss, he's learnt his lesson now though! My baby just follows me around quietly when I come in, but goes all out at him - especially in the morning when he has bare feet(ouch!) -lol!
Needless to say he listens to me a lot more now (& I'm the first time doggy mum), he's had a few dogs before & I think he was a bit complacent whereas I studied furiously for months before we got our ickle Reggie!
I'm now asking all visitors (whoever they are- i have no shame!) to act in the same way & hopefully he'll realise cheeky pup at the door = no fussies!
Dee.xxx