How Do I Keep My Dog Calm Around Guests?
I know how frustrating this can be and actually embarrassing when your dog starts jumping on your guests. I will cover exactly what to do whether your dog is small, large, or older. I use to put my in the bedroom till I figured this out. For the quickest solution is some kind of barrier or gate that will separate your dog from the front door. This won’t replace training, but it will make life easier while you’re working on this behavior.
If a gate doesn’t work in your space, put your dog on a leash before guests arrive, and keep them close to you. Keep reading because I go into great detail on how to keep your dog calm when guests arrive and keep your dog from jumping on your guests.
Do you have a dog that gets hyperactive and excited whenever they hear the bell rings? Much of this problem is a trait learned by the dogs owners. What do you do when the doorbell rings? You immediately run to the door. When you are expecting someone you have different behavior when the doorbell rings unexpectedly you have a more nervous behavior. Your dog will pick up on these behaviors.
There are hypotheses that have been made regarding this behavior. They would say that these dogs see themselves as equal with the dog owners, or even above them. Why? Because they have no accepted authority figures. What owners should do is to set up some restrictions or rules that could guide their dog the way to good behavior.
1. Stay Calm
When you yell, commands and/or gets physical with their dog when a guest arrives, it makes their pup think “YES! You’re in on the party! Let’s go crazy!” Typically you yell to your wife or kids to get the door.
It’s a challenge for an excited dog to recognize the difference between frustration and joy when their parent is intensely vocalizing and interacting with them.
To keep a dog calm around guests, the first order of business is to stay calm yourself.
Ultra-friendly dogs will find the arrival of a guest to be the ultimate reward. Attempting to restrain your dog or to use cues that have not been bomb-proofed in distracting situations is like trying to swim upstream.
Scolding your dog for their behavior around guests won’t get you very far—remember that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. In other words, if your dog is rewarded for the two things you want—politely greeting your guest and staying calm while they are over—then everyone, dog included, will be happier.
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2. Work Greeting and Answering the Door
Ring the doorbell, stay calm. To start this training place a collar and leash until he understands whats going on. This part of the training will take longer. You are now going to start to establish authority by making your dog follow your lead instead of letting him rush first. All you have to do is to show the intention that you are going to go outside.
Open the door slowly for your guest and ask them not to acknowledge your dog. You may want to have your pup on a leash prior to their arrival.
- If your dog is too excited, then immediately, calmly inform her that hyper dogs don’t get to say hello by saying “Too bad!”
- Reach for the door. If your pup rushes in front of you even if you are there, then do not open the door. Sit down and do another thing again. if your dog calms down, then you can try again. But if your dog reaches out to you and plead, do not pet him. This will just reinforce the behavior that he did near the door.
- Repeat this time-out sequence until she is able to exit the room calmly.
Also, reward every time they calm down. That way, he can still make himself calm even if the things that are exciting for him is still present. You are also recreating methodical steps of good behavior that you want for your dog.
Follow the detailed steps above to make your dog obey you. Additional knowledge pays a lot. Thus, below are some tips that you could remember.
Now that your dog is calm, they get the wonderful reward of saying hello to your guest!
3. Leash Training
As mentioned during training you can use a leash. This training involves the use of a medium-length leash for dogs. Attach the leash to your dog. Then put pressure on the leash and put something exciting for him to see. If he rushes to it, he will realize that he is restricted by the leash. Although this behavior can be somewhat brutal, it works.
If he calms down, lighten the pressure on the leash until he is near the reward. Do not let him drag the leash. Remove the pressure on the leash completely if he manages to stay calm for a long time even while the reward is near him. Repeat this step until he can easily calm himself even when he is excited about something.
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4. Staying Calm After Guest Arrive
Your best defense for long-term relaxation from your dog is establishing a portable, comfortable place that your dog associates with wonderful things. This can be simply a dog bed, rug, or towel.
Start this work at less exciting times. Feed your dog on the bed and give them chew toys. If they get up and take the item elsewhere, gently return it(and them) to the bed.
With a little work, you’ll have a mobile location where your dog wants to be calm. Why? Because it pays.
Pay your dog for good, calm behavior on their bed while your guest is present, first by moving their mobile calm spot near to you. Give them a long-lasting goodie to keep them occupied. Here are some great options.
5. The Switch Up – Distract Them
A KONG filled with extra-special, high-value treats like chicken, hot dogs or peanut butter is a great long-lasting option. Freeze first for an even longer-lasting delicious distraction.
6. Recreate That Excitment
Although this step could somehow make them more excited, what this will do is help keep them calm during exciting events. The more they are exposed to these things, the more common it becomes.
Also, reward every time they calm down. That way, he can still make himself calm even if the things that are exciting for him is still present. You are also recreating methodical steps of good behavior that you want for your dog.
Follow the detailed steps above to make your dog obey you. Additional knowledge pays a lot. Thus, below are some tips that you could remember.
7. Establish Authority To Reinforce Great Behavior
It was already mentioned that your dog doesn’t treat you as an authority figure. So, what you have to do is to establish yourself as one. You can do this by establishing some ground rules that your dog has to follow.
One example is with regards to your sofa. If your dog loves to stay with you on the sofa but then he barks wildly and excitedly whenever a bird can be seen at the window, then he has to get off the couch. Do not make her return.
The next rule can be applied to the door exercises step. Approach the door and let your dog near it. If he is wagging excitedly, then do not open it. Wait until he sits down for a while before opening the door. On that way, he gets to follow your lead more often.
Another rule that you can establish is to let them wait for permission before eating. Do not give food if they are excited. Wait until they sit down before you put their bowl in front of them. The last rule that can easily be applied is not to pet them if they are showing hyperactivity. Wait for them to settle down before you pet them.
Dog Training Tips to remember:
· Dogs Pick Up Human Behavior
Ceasar Millan will tell you he is not training the dog, he is training the human. Whatever time you spent with your dog makes them learn. This is how we unknowingly train them in many ways, even while feeding, waking up, etc. Consistency is the key, and if you don’t want your dog to immediately have bad behavior, then you should’ve established a routine from the start.
Now that you know this common mistake among dog owners, you should now modify your interaction with your dog especially if you are planning for a new one.
· Pet your dog when only necessary
This petting without any reinforcement of good behavior slightly adds to the problem. This is the case when dogs that do bad behavior begs for your petting but then you still pet them. As a result, the bad behavior is reinforced plus your authority figure is slowly being pushed away. Why? Because when they beg for petting, you give it to them.
