Dog owner seeks way to help calm her ‘excited’ pet

Dear Cathy: I have a 3-year-old dog and I love her dearly. But she runs around, jumps up and nips at any object when she gets excited.

If she is near the window, she jumps and bites the vertical blinds. I had to order a new set. If she’s near the couch, she bites it and has already torn it.

This happens whenever people or trucks pass by the house. What can I do to stop her from doing this before she destroys my house? I’ve tried giving her chew toys and bully sticks, which she loves, but it has not stopped the bad behavior. — Anne,

Massapequa, New York

Dear Anne: It sounds like your dog is exhibiting anxiety. I recommend getting a pheromone collar, over-the-counter calming chews and teaching your dog the “leave it” command.

Ask your dog to sit. Then put a treat on the floor in front of her and tell her to “leave it.” When she does, say a reward word, or click a clicker, to mark the desired behavior. Give her a treat from your hand. Then pick up the treat off the floor.

Never let your dog eat the treat off the floor.

Repeat this several times a day for a few weeks. Then, when your dog gets excited and starts biting something, tell her to “leave it.”

Also, close the blinds to reduce her triggers, introduce puzzle toys and play some calming music or white noise to reduce her auditory triggers. With consistent training, she should show improvement in a few weeks.

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