To prepare your dog for visitors in a positive way, using reward-based training can help them associate guests with good things and reduce anxiety or over-excitement. Here’s how you can do it step-by-step:
Before guests arrive, ensure your dog is calm. You can take them for a walk or engage them in a mentally stimulating game. A tired dog will be less likely to be overly excitable when visitors arrive.
Practice rewarding your dog for calm behaviours, like sitting or lying down, when you go to the door without any visitors. Gradually, your dog will learn to remain calm near the door.
Start by having a friend or family member your dog knows come over. Before the visitor enters, reward your dog for being calm. If your dog becomes too excited, give them some space and ask the visitor to approach more slowly.
Treat and praise your dog every time they remain calm around the visitor. Gradually increase the excitement level by introducing more people or unfamiliar guests over time.
Teach your dog a consistent greeting routine. This could be sitting when someone arrives. Each time they sit calmly for a greeting, reward them immediately with treats and praise.
You can also practice the “place”, “station” cue when visitors arrive. Reward your dog when they go to their bed and stay there calmly.
Practice and reward with impulse control games. We will go through some of these in class.
Knock on the door or ring the bell at random times without a real visitor and reward calm behaviour. This desensitizes your dog to the initial excitement of hearing a knock or doorbell.
If your dog is too excitable, you can use a leash or baby gate to manage how close they get to guests. Keep interactions short initially and allow your dog breaks to avoid overwhelming them.
For particularly nervous dogs, allow them to approach visitors at their own pace. Don’t force interactions.
Continue to reward your dog for appropriate behaviours during the visit, such as sitting calmly, lying down, or quietly observing the guests.
By consistently rewarding calm and polite behaviour around visitors, your dog will learn that visitors are not a cause for excitement or anxiety but an opportunity for positive reinforcement!
