Pet Etiquette | Teaching Tricks | West Coast Pet Care Centre

Pet Etiquettes – Teaching your best friend how to introduce themselves

Whether your dog greets a stranger or someone who has been in the home several times, you want to ensure that your best friend is making an introduction that is polite while still being protective of the family. There are a few things that you don’t want the dog to do:

Jump on guests

Bite

Running at high speeds toward the door

With a little effort from both of you, your dog can greet visitors to the home in a manner that is friendly. At times, there might be instances when the dog needs to alert you of odd sounds or people, but you can work on this after he’s trained on how to go to the door. When puppys are introduced to the home, you need to begin working on basic commands to prevent erratic behavior that you might not be able to control later.

Sit Still

When you hear a knock at the door or the doorbell ring, take your dog to the door. Teach the dog to sit still until you see who is there. This will get the dog into the mindset that you will alert him if there is someone you don’t know or if it’s a person you want to welcome into the home. Your dog will sense your actions as to who the person is and usually follow suit, but he should remain sitting until you give further directions.

Practice Mode

Find a friend who would be willing to help with training the dog. Your friend should be one who doesn’t mind being barked at or jumped on until the dog learns the proper way to greet someone. This person can perform several approaches to the home so that the dog understands how to greet someone. While the friend is approaching the home, you want to teach the dog one thing at a time that is the appropriate reaction to a doorbell, knocking or someone talking. Your friend should also tell the dog to sit with the pet being trained that you’re not the only one he needs to listen to with this command. Dogs often understand concepts better when they are practiced on a regular basis.

No Jumping

When your dog starts to jump on someone who comes inside the home, the person needs to turn around so that the back is facing the dog. It’s also a good idea to step away from the dog as a way to indicate that jumping is not an action that is appropriate. When all four feet are on the ground again, then the dog should be rewarded. The person coming inside can also offer words of praise as a way for the dog to see that there are other people who love him as well. Dog training classes can also help with teaching your furry friend not to jump.

Professional Help

Our dog training facilities can give you professional assistance with your dog greeting people who come to the home.Our trainer will go over ways to calmly teach the dog through treats, praise and gentle maneuvers that keep the animal away from the door. This is often the best solution for a puppy or an older dog that you introduce to the home.

Tip: Make sure you friends, family & guests are on board with your dog’s training, even if they don’t mind the jumping up to say hello. It is important that everyone is on board to help your best friend learn some doggy manners! Chat to our Dog Trainers for help and advice.