How to Train Your Dog to Greet Visitors Calmly

How to Train Your Dog to Greet Visitors Calmly
Medium difficulty iconMedium
Time icon3-8 Weeks
Behavior training category iconBehavior

Introduction

No one enjoys walking into a house where a dog is going to jump all over them. You want your dog to know when visitors come and go, and you would like him to keep your house protected. But you also want your friends and family to be able to come and see you while wearing nice clothing or carrying gifts without your dog jumping all over them. Teaching your dog to greet guests calmly is not only beneficial within your own home but also beneficial when your dog is out and about such as at your veterinarian's office. An excited dog can cause damage to clothing, other animals, or even your house. We may all know a house that has scratches all over the doors and windows because the dog jumps each time the doorbell rings. You don't want to be the one family member or friend no one wants to visit because your dog will not stop jumping on anyone who enters your home.

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Defining Tasks

Teaching your dog to greet guests in a calm manner can be done in a few different ways. You can give your dog a special place to sit or lie calmly while he waits for visitors to come to him. You can teach your dog to shake hands with visitors before they walk in the door. This gives your dog attention and acknowledgment without your dog jumping all over your guests. While teaching your dog to greet your guests calmly demonstrates good behavior, it also builds on your dog's manners. A well-mannered dog will be a dog who gets more attention when you have company. Teaching your dog to greet guests calmly goes both ways as well. If your overall goal is to teach your dog manners, be sure to let anyone who comes into your house know the rules, so they do not encourage your dog to jump or greet them in wild fashion.

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Getting Started

To teach your dog to calmly greet guests, you will need lots of delicious treats, a leash for at least one method, and a special place for your dog to be greeted once your guests are ready to say hello. This could be a spot on the floor near the door or a mat or a bed you teach your dog to go to when the doorbell rings. Dogs are excited when the opportunity arises to meet new people. Each time the doorbell rings your dog probably thinks it is a visitor for him. So have time and patience to teach these manners to your dog. You may want to recruit a friend to ring your doorbell now and then and assist with the training process.

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The Ignore Your Dog Method

Most Recommended

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Most Recommended

2 Votes

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1

No attention

Do not give your dog any attention from anyone if he is jumping to greet your guests.

2

Communicate

Teach the people who come to your home not to touch, pet, or acknowledge your dog unless he is sitting or lying down and is calm.

3

Praise and pet

Once your dog has calmed, pet him and praise him for being a good dog.

4

Sit command

Ask your dog to sit before he is allowed affection and a greeting. Once he sits, give him the attention he deserves for obeying. Remember your dog just wants to be noticed. Once he is a good listener and obeys, notice him.

5

Practice

Practice this with everyone who comes into your home. Set your expectations with your guests, so your dog begins to understand he will not get affection or attention until he is calm.

6

Reward

Always offer your dog a reward. While training, you can have treats nearby to offer once he is calm or you can give him praise for being a good boy.

The Wait on Mat Method

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Effective

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1

Sit

As soon as the doorbell rings or guests arrive, ask your dog to sit on a mat or bed and offer him a treat for obeying.

2

Command

Using a treat for a lure, hold it out near your dog and ask him to wait. Do not give him the treat. You can use a hand signal as well to keep your dog in place. The typical 'stay' hand signal is your hand up palm facing out toward your dog.

3

Treat

Open the door and give your dog the treat on his mat as soon as the door is open.

4

Another treat

Repeat the step above with another treat. Hold the treat so your dog can see it and use the command 'wait.' Do not give your dog the treat unless he stays still and waits.

5

Count

As you are greeting your guest, count to three and then reward your dog with the treat for waiting.

6

Repeat

Continue to use these steps as your guest is coming into your home to entice your dog to stay on the mat away from your guest. Each time, use the command 'wait,' and reward after a few seconds have passed. You can increase the time to make your dog wait.

7

Practice

You can practice these steps without the doorbell or guests in your home. Teaching the command 'Wait' can help your dog stay calm when company visits.

The On a Leash Method

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Effective

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1

Keep leash by door

Keep a leash by your door, so when the bell rings, you can attach the leash to your dog.

2

Tight leash

Answer the door, keeping your dog on a tight leash.

3

Command

With your palm facing out facing, put your up hand in front of your dog’s face and say the command “wait” while holding his leash close to your body

4

Open door

Open the door for your guests and use the command wait.

5

Keep dog away

While holding the leash tight, continue to use the command ‘wait’ and greet your guests.

6

Reward

Reward your dog with affection once he's calm and ready to greet your guests.

7

Practice

Continue to practice asking your dog to wait until he no longer needs the leash.

Written by Stephanie Plummer

Veterinary reviewed by:

Published: 10/10/2017, edited: 01/08/2021

Training Questions

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Training Questions and Answers

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Shortie

Dog breed icon

Lab/bassett

Dog age icon

5 Years

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Question

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Amy dog loves people. She talks to them bad she she’s them Coming in the street. By the time we reach the neighbors , she is screaming. Once she greets them She loans and frowns and gets belly rubs. The same behavior is repeated in our house when guests come also. I’ve tried distracting with food, ques, turning around prior to escalation but doesn’t consistently work. She’s very sweet and this is on no way aggression. But she’s loud, anxiety level is not healthy at this point . I’ve tried clickers to keep attention on me with rewards . Help??

Sept. 10, 2020

Shortie's Owner

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Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer

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1133 Dog owners recommended

Hello Karyn, It sounds like pup is becoming overly aroused before reaching people and when pup forst anticipates people coming to your home. I suggest desensitizing pup to the things involved in each situation, like sounds and events the proceed a guest even before one arrives, and things leading up to a close encounter on a walk, like spotting a person far away or even starting the walk over excited. Check out the video below and the video series below. Guests: https://youtu.be/bpzvqN9JNUA Barking series - for outside desensitizing: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAA4pob0Wl0W2agO7frSjia1hG85IyA6a I also suggest working on a structured heel and requiring pup to sit or calm down and wait patiently before opening the door to even begin a walk, to help start things off calm. Heel - Turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Best or luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Sept. 10, 2020

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Nala

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lab

Dog age icon

Four Years

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Question

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Our dog is calm when home with family as soon as guests come over she is out of control jumping and wanting to play. Have tried putting her on a leash, making her sit, nothing seems to work she gets overly excited and happy to see everyone.

Aug. 10, 2019

Nala's Owner

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Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer

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1133 Dog owners recommended

Hello Amy, Check out the video linked below. Start with just you and him, and recruit friends or hire trainers who are willing to practice being guests while you work on implementing the same type of training but around other people too - which will probably look like greetings on leash at first with the right attitude, calmness and tools to teach more respect to you and your guests. When he is totally calm, he can calmly greet guests or have guests ignore him for a bit after they get there, and you can reward with a treat for being in a calm state of mind and polite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcwvUOf5oOg Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Aug. 11, 2019


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