How to Teach Your Dog to Greet Guests Politely
Although some guests to your home will say they don't mind your dog jumping up at them or licking them, that is often not true. When you arrive at someone's home, you like to be greeted warmly -- but not so warmly you are knocked over backwards from an onslaught of bouncing, happy, slobbering dog. That is why it is important to teach your dog to greet guests politely. A dog can still be happy to meet a potential new friend, without being overbearing and annoying.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Start your dog's training young. You may think a puppy jumping around every time someone comes to visit is cute. When that puppy grows up and weighs 60 pounds, it's really not cute anymore. Remember, a fully grown dog that is not trained to greet guests politely is dangerous to children or an elderly person, as it can knock them over or hurt them otherwise.
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Be consistent. Do not train your dog not to jump up but then allow the bad behavior when certain people arrive. Once you have begun the training, stick with it. If a family member or guest arrives and allows your dog to jump up, let them know immediately your dog is in the middle of training and unruly behavior is not allowed.
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Decide whether your dog should greet guests standing up or sitting down.The method you choose will likely be based on your dog's natural tendency -- some dogs prefer to sit, some to stand -- but each method requires different training techniques.
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Train your dog to keep all four paws on the floor, if it will be greeting guests while standing. Get a friend to help you. Take your dog inside the front door and give the command "Stand." When all four paws are on the floor, praise him. Ask your friend to ring the doorbell and enter your home.
When your dog jumps up, your friend must turn around and walk back out the door, closing it behind her. Place all four of your dog's paws back on the floor, repeat the command "Stand" and praise the dog. Ask your friend to return. As soon as even one of your dog's paws leaves the floor, the person must turn around and leave again. Keep repeating this until your dog understands that if all four paws are not on the floor, your friend will leave. If they are, your friend will stay and the dog will receive praise.
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Teach your dog to remain sitting when a guest arrives. Tell it to "Sit" and then "Stay." Walk away. The first time, do this for just a few seconds. Return. Praise your dog and give it a treat. Repeat this several times, but stay away longer each additional time. By the time you have finished training, your dog should be able to remain in a sitting position for at least five minutes.
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Stop your dog from licking guests. When it begins to lick, gently push its head away and say "No." Every time it licks, repeat the head push and the "No." When it eventually greets you or a guest without licking, praise it and reward it with a treat.
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Train your dog in short sessions. Twelve sessions of five minutes each are more beneficial than one session of an hour. Dogs have short attention spans. If forced to endure long training sessions, they become bored and rarely learn.
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Never allow your dog to jump up, even after a training session. If it jumps up on you, while playing or begging for food, immediately stand straight up. Say "No" and refuse to look at or pay attention to your dog until it gets down. As soon as it gets down, give lots of attention and praise.
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Tips & Warnings
When you think your dog is trained, ask a few friends to stop by and test it out. Make sure each of them has a treat and knows when and when not to offer it.
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