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[Georgie25]

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Hello, can anyone help me please with my 26 month old maltipoo. He is fabulous but gets so over excited when we go to agility and hoopers shows.He can do all the tasks easily but when we go to a show he goes into a frenzy, zooming around the ring, not listening, won’t be caught etc. He has very good obedience and in other environments will do what is asked of him, it’s just when we enter the arena. At training he will sometimes run off but nothing like he does in the ring and he will come back to me. He gets lots of walks, socialising with other dogs and has playtime with toys etc.
he absolutely loves going to events but I don’t think we can progress until he starts to listen and calms down.
I understand he’s still young but he is very intelligent and he does know how to do the tasks.
Thanking you in advance for any tips and help.
Georgie

 

[Flobo]

Hi and welcome I'm afraid I haven't any advice as such, it sounds like the arena environment is just over whelming/over stimulating for him maybe? You're are doing a lot with him that he is doing well, maybe hold back on the arena step for a while if possible?
I'm sure others will be along with more constructive advice soon!

 

[Georgie25]

Thank you for your reply. We are only doing 1 show a month at the moment so he gets used to the environment but train twice a week which is going well and he clearly loves it. Just hope he settles soon as he could be really good. Thanks again.

 

[JoanneF]

Hello and welcome from me too.

I agree, it sounds like the environment is just totally overwhelming and overstimulating for him.

I think what I'd do, is ask the event organisers if you can do the course before people start to arrive, so not actually competing. From there, do it as a very small number of people begin to filter in. And build up slowly.

I'd also try to limit the socialising with other dogs. You don't want him to think that every dog is available as a playmate, and you also want him to see YOU as the source of all fun and good things. As an additional benefit, that's another distraction eliminated when you are trying to compete.

 

[Georgie25]

Thank you so much for your advice. I will see what options are available at shows for us. Thank you.

 

[JudyN]

My lurcher was similar, leading to some very embarrassing performances at dog shows (and some spectacularly bad advice from others there). I also tried agility in the garden but though he was fine with general training in the garden, after just one, maybe two jumps, he turned into a flipping kangaroo.

The solution for us was to accept that these activities weren't right for him. Maybe with the advice above your dog will be happy with these events, but if not, remember that it's only us who hanker after those rosettes, they mean nothing to your dog!