Is there something I can give my dogs that will calm them down?

I agree that drugs are probably not the answer, but there are a couple of products that can make your life a bit easier when you have company and that should facilitate training. Rescue Remedy is an herbal mixture that is quite helpful for anxiety and arousal. Comfort Zone uses a Dog Appeasing Pheromone to calm dogs in excitable situations. Both are available online. Comfort Zone is also sold in most pet stores.

Using crates is a good idea to control their behavior. Giving them something fun like Kong toys stuffed with food should prevent them from being overly excited while in their crates.

Behavior modification training should also help. This will require that you have friends come over to help, though. It will be easier if you work with only one dog at a time. Have the dog on leash. Let your visitor in and have him/her sit and ignore your dog. You should sit and hold the leash. Ignore your dog until she does something that shows she's relaxing - sitting, lying down, even a big yawn. When this happens, give her a small treat and softly praise her. Have your friend leave. Repeat this until your dog quickly calms herself when a guest enters. When this happens, she can greet your friend. You should walk her to your friend. Stop if she starts to get frantic again and only let her say hello once she is calm. When each dog can be calm when you have company, practice with both together.

Yes, this is a somewhat time-consuming process. But, if you don't want to have to be embarassed or crate them when you have visitors for the rest of their lives, it's the way to go.

Drugging your dogs is not the answer. Not only is it dangerous, it doesn't correct the problem.

First, get your dogs in a training class. They will enjoy the activity. It will get them out with other dogs so they can socialize. And the discipline will do them good.

Second, exercise the daylights out of them. Dogs this size need a good walk (45-60 mins) at least twice a day. A tired dog is a good dog! Playing in the back yard doesn't count.

Third, get crates. When visitors come over, place the dogs in their respective crates before answering the door. Once the dogs are calm, they can be with you and your company. Praise and treat them for being calm. Gently correct them for being rambunctious.

Training and exercise are the key.

Cindi G.

Pet Trainer

The best thing to do would be training- not drug your dog. Make sure they are getting plenty of exercise- Cocker spaniels are very active dogs and being cooped up in the house all the time with no mental stimulation or being able to stretch their legs is torture. You mention that when it is time to go out they get hyper as well- they are bored and any change of scenery (outside, people coming over, etc) makes them jump for joy.

My suggestion: let them out more to get that energy out. Before your girlfriend comes over, wear them out by going for a long walk. When they are hyper however- completely ignore them. Walk right through them if you have to. Once they calm down, you can pet them. They will soon realize that jumping will get them no where.

Calm down - no, but having another dog to play with would take the pressure off of you certainly. Moot point if mom and dad say no. Why not put some time into the dog you have now? Take her for more, or longer walks/runs and some structured play time would burn off a lot of that energy

Drugging your dogs ARE NOT the answer. The issue is training, exercise and their manners. You may need to take them for obedience training. Do you exercise them everyday? Are they exposed to other people everyday, outside of the house? You need to expose them to as many new things as possible, and reward them when they respond properly.

DO NOT, and I am very serious about this, drug your dogs to ge the desired behavior from them. The drugs may work in the short term, but you are risking serious damage to their little bodies, i.e. mostly the liver, if you get on a program of drugging them.

Think of them as 3 year old children, would you drug a child???

You do not need drugs to calm them down just some exercise and training.

sounds like a beginner doggie obedience class is needed to me, and maybe MORE exercise, when your girlfriend comes over, I would take them for a run, so they are tired when you both want to sit and relax, they will be tired for you and want to go rest somewhere else

drugs are a poor excuse for a lousy trainer