HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOG NOT TO JUMP ON GUESTS
Many dogs have a terrible habit of jumping on guests to greet them at the door, which isn’t exactly the welcome many guests want or can handle!
Using positive reinforcement dog training, you can train your dog to behave when greeting guests at the door properly.
Give a Verbal Cue
Having a vocal command for greeting guests can let your dog know what behavior is acceptable. Something simple such as, “Go say hi.” is a quick way of letting your dog know when to approach guests.
Practice this on yourself first. Say the command and reward your dog with a treat for being calm and standing still in front of you. You’re trying to let your dog know when it has done well. You can also use a clicker at the same time as giving the treat for additional reinforcement. A clicker simply makes a clicking noise when you push the button.
Training to Sit
This kind of training depends on your dog’s personality. Some dogs may prefer greeting guests quickly and walking away as they become overwhelmed faster, so probably sitting and staying in front of guests isn’t the best option for them. Such dogs can stand in front of guests instead. Let your dog walk away when it needs to.
Other dogs are much more easy-going and will love to sit in front of your guests at the door to get as many head scratches as they can. Say your verbal command to let your dog know the guests have arrived, let them approach, and then tell the dog to sit.
This positive reinforcement training method will have your dog sitting in front of guests quickly. Use a clicker and give a treat when your dog sits in front of you when you give your verbal command to greet guests.
Act Like a Guest
Once your dog understands that it shouldn’t jump up guests when they arrive, then it needs to learn how guests act at the door.
You can act as a guest by standing by your door and using your verbal commands. Some dogs get excited when guests bend over to greet them. You can get your dog used to guests bending over by replicating this behavior yourself and giving treats when your dog is calm.
Talk to Your Guests
It can take time for the dog training to pay off, and patience is needed. Let your guests know if they’re doing something that is making the dog excited or uncomfortable. Let them back off for a moment. Move your dog away from the person or let your dog walk away.
Ask your guests to keep their voices at a calm level. Many dogs are happy when they can tell a guest is excited to see them, and this makes them eager to jump up your guests. Keeping your voices at a calm level can keep your dog calm as well.
At LAdogexperts, we understand that getting guests comfortable with your dog is very important. Dog training should be a fun time for you and your dog. Our positive reinforcement methods will help your dog understand how to behave around guests. That’s why we offer behavior correction training sessions. Contact us for more information!