How to Teach Your Dog an Alternative Greeting

If you've ever watched dogs greet each other you may have noticed that they usually do it with a lot of enthusiasm. They might jump on each other and lick each other around the mouth and faces or growl or bark when they meet. Most humans do not find these type of greeting acceptable. To change the behavior you must teach the dog an alternative acceptable way to greet.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide how you would like your dog to greet visitors. You might choose to have him greet from a sitting or a standing position. If your dog has a trick he likes to perform such as shaking hands you can teach your dog a two-part greeting of sitting and then shaking.

2. Put the dog on a short leash while learning and practicing the new greeting. After she has mastered the skill, the leash will not be necessary every time someone comes to the door.

3. Inform the visitor not to interact with the dog until he is displaying the desired behavior. For example tell the guest to ignore the dog until he is sitting calmly by your side and then to address the dog, put out his hand and ask him to shake. Or tell your visitor to wait until the dog is standing still and then greet him.

4. Give your dog a verbal command when you approach the door or the visitor. Tell her to "sit" or to "stand" depending on which greeting you chose. Acknowledge the dog with a treat or by saying "good girl" when she does what you ask.

5. Walk away from the dog and do not give him any attention if he jumps up and gets overly excited when you pet him or praise him for displaying an appropriate greeting. Giving attention to a dog who is not doing what you asked will only reinforce the inappropriate behavior.

6. Practice the new alternative greeting until the dog does it automatically when greeting a person. Have other members of the family, friends and strangers if possible practice with the dog.