Excited 7-month old: running, jumping, nipping, rough play

Question
My husband and I adopted Kajol, a female 7-month-old German Shepherd/beagle (or some sort of hound dog) mix from a local rescue organization a week ago. Overall, she's a wonderful dog: extremely intelligent, submissive but curious about the world, and very eager to please. However, when she gets excited, she becomes quite wild: running around, jumping on people, nipping (ouch!) and so forth.

This problem typically occurs in two situations: when we let her out of her crate, and when we let her socialize with the 3-year-old female Golden Retriever, Leela, owned by our tenant in the basement. Meeting new people (or someone she hasn't yet seen that day) can also trigger this behavior.

We crate her during the workday for about 9 or 10 hours, but make sure she gets a 30-minute run in the morning (before work), a 20 or 30-minute walk during the day (at lunch), and a longer, 30+ minute walk or run right after work. Plus another one right before bedtime. She's been crate-trained, and is generally okay with the crate, but does bark/whine for about 5 minutes if we leave the room while she's in the crate (so some separation anxiety, but nothing major). Before she's released from the crate we have her sit (she's good at this) and stay (still learning), but after released she gets very excited/nippy.

With Leela, the Golden Retriever - they both like each other, but get too wound up if released in the same room. Last time they were off-leash together our dog, Kajol, jumped clear over the couch and landed on the coffee table during play! We're also afraid that Kajol will hurt Leela(who's extremely easy-going/submissive & has always been the youngest when with other dogs) while playing/wrestling with the nipping & pulling on ears. Plus the humans in the room get nipped at in the excitement too.

Any advice on how to handle Kajol when she get excited like this would be much appreciated. Saying no, or trying to get her to sit & stay doesn't register at all. Turning away and refusing to interact doesn't help either - especially since Leela will keep playing/wrestling if they're in the same room. Ideally, we'd like to let both dogs lounge around the house during the day together. (Kajol is almost ready for no crating, but not quite there with the house-training & chewing).

Answer
Beagles can run for hours, I'm not sure about your mix, but it is still a puppy and full of energy. It needs enough exercise (not just a walk) to make it tired enough to take a nap. I hesitate to suggest dusing a doggy downer, as Ace promozine, but I have used it for a Beagle that has severe fear of thunder. I would avoid any in-house play that creates high excitement. Certainly any thing as tug-of war or other win/lose games. In general these teach aggression. a rolling ball fetch or chew toys are better.  

If you read my other answers I detail how to use lemon juice to prevent nipping.  

Being crated is a convenience for the owner, but not a means to control the puppy. The crate should be its den (home) for sleeping, quiet chewing on toys or rawhides, food, water. At thome we have a couple dogs loose and a couple crated to avoid they playing all night. From your description Kajoi wants to play with the other dog (I would guess nipping its ears, tugging, etc) and the other dog is out of its puppy stage. The other issue is you have a quiet breed and a high energy breed together. You certainly need to begin obedience training to curb the nipping and the puppy does not recognize you as pack leader (or any human) and that has to change. Dogs are opportunistic. If a pack leader is not clearly evident, they will assume the role immediately. The purpose of obedience training is to establish who the pack leader is. We either interact on the dogs
terms or on our terms. Dogs want to work, so give them something to do besides puppy fight, nip and run amok. Certianly it is time for neutering which helps calm most dogs as the hormones are no longer in control.

Regards,
Henry Ruhwiedel
Westwind Kennels LLC