I have a 7 month old pup , who look's like an adult dog now .. he has had an op and is now ok to go out on lead ... but i find that he is so excitable to walk and has lost all his lead training skills that he did have .. When i walk him now other people are avoiding me as he is so excited to meet other dogs he goes over the top ...Other people accept it from a little pup but seem not to from a large pup... I am now walking him at times when i know there will be no other dog walkers about (ie 5 in the morning and midnight )But i feel i might be doing him wrong , i want to try and get his lead skills back but also think i might be doing it wrong by taking him out when no one is around ...any suggestion's would be greatly appreciated on what you think would be best ....thanks

if i was you i would go back to your normal times of walking and ignore peoples attitudes you need to keep up to the socialisation process or he will never get the idea, there are many diversion tactics to use depending on your dog that should make the experience more of a pleasure for you both, food, coke bottle with rocks many more but it depends on the way he reacts as to what you would use. never use anything he fears or it'll be a negative experience for him and remember to always condition your dog to any new training tactic before going out,
but do try to laugh it off and enjoy it most dog lovers will understand all emotions are read by your dog before you notice your showing them so laugh out loud when your nervous
i had a bitch that was similar, but she sounded like she wanted to eat all other dogs she saw but they are all used to her now!! bless her nutter!!!

Will go back to walking him at a normal hour then ,Most do understand but still keep their distance as he is one big lad ..and bouncing about like a 3 month pup ..Is he too old for puppy classes ?

Hi there,

My lab (who is now 1) is the exact same. She is a very big girl (27kg) and gets very excited to meet other dogs. I have just kept up her training and I am seeing progress. I still take her to training classes and she is still in the novice section with younger pups but she is still learning.
I know exactly how you feel thou about meeting some people who keep their distance. Do you have a friend with dogs who you could walk with or practice socialising with?

Best of luck,

Roxy

Welcome to the world of dogs! :-D  We've all had over exuberant adolescents, it is when the long line comes out as bad recall and over excitment at other dogs and people generally comes into play. It is harder with the larger breeds, as you need the strength to keep them in line, (Is he also on a harness?) but more importantly you need those puppy classes to help you to control him, work with him on recall and commands at home and in the garden constantly. I raised my brothers two GSD's so know how strong and powerful excitable adolescents can be, I've also seen a fair amount of owners being pulled over and dragged by their dogs.

The good thing is your meeting other dog walkers, who all should understand puppyhood, so just simply explain he's a pup, it will slightly relax people, though I agree some dogs can appear quite frightening to those who don't understand, and quite rightly they can hurt smaller dogs with their bounciness and of course people, so get to a good training class who use praise and reward.

Also keep extremely vigilant, as he is coming up to the time when older males will also wish to put him in his place, for the next year you need to protect others and also your own dog from others. Adolescence is a very trying time, infact I think the most difficult in dog ownership.  The good thing is it passes and once your dog understands what is wanted from it and grows up a little more it is all worth the effort. :-)

He is on a collar , used to use a harness but that was when i was hoping to get him accustomed to pulling (for the rig ) So we are back on to a collar . he will walk nicely just is so excited to meet people and dogs he goes banana's .. he never goes off lead now as he is still in the build up period of his recovery , and thats when the accident happened , when he was off lead ...(enclosed area btw )Most people round here that walk dogs have tiddlers , so i am concerned too as he is a big strong dog and would not want him to knock the other dogs and cause injury to them ....And others that are nearly his size and want to meet him , i get too scared incase he hurts himself .... arrgghhh ... i am in such a tiss over him ...

Fully understand, do the puppy classes for help socialising, trainers are so used to dogs behaving like this, to them it's normal and walk him at weekends with someone else if you can to help control him, but a lot of people for many reasons walk their dogs when others aren't around or take them to area's where they will not meet others, so for now I feel that is the right thing for you to do, re his accident recovery and his over enthusiastic behaviour.  I hope that you are not walking him at midnight on your own, your safety is far more important male or female :-) Usually after 8.30pm it should be ok for him.

I say 8.30pm in the winter as it is pitch black now and most dog walkers including myself :-) have finished by then, so you should be ok.