I'm so glad you brought up this problem. I haven't had actual nipping (yet) but Einstein gets more rambunctious all the time and we walk for 30-60 minutes every day. I needed to be reminded to do obedience, too! He seems to be oblivious to my "hush" when he's barking -- I am going to get a can ready tonight. I'd like to know more about teaching him to lay down and stay -- and also to come. He's USUALLY good about it, but I don't feel like I'm really in control -- it's just that he's ready to go so he'll come. At first treats did the trick, but he doesn't have any interest in them anymore. He KNOWS when we're going for a walk and he gets so excited! I make him sit and stay before we go out the door and if he runs for it when the door opens, I bring him back inside and make him do it right.
In the past when I've tried rolling him over, he thinks I'm playing and he jumps up and runs around. How strenuously should I force him to lay down? And using my best "boss" voice, and mean look, doesn't have ANY impact when he's excited.