How do I make my dog more friendly with people?
Rudolph Sipes
2025-07-19 12:38:48
Count answers
: 10
To change your dog's reaction to new people, you want to change the emotion that your dog feels when they see someone new. Try to avoid situations with lots of strangers, this will help to prevent the behaviour from getting worse and hopefully avoid your dog learning that reacting works and makes people move away. When you are out on walks, try to maintain the distance from people that your dog is comfortable with. Consider using a muzzle, a muzzle often acts as a visual aid to indicate to people that they should give your dog extra space. Find your dog's “bubble”, it’s useful to understand the smallest distance from a person that your dog is happy with. Stay calm and try not to pull on the lead, sudden pressure on the lead can increase their anxiety, as they may feel restricted and unable to move. To change your dog's response to people using rewards, find something your dog values very highly, such as a specific tasty treat, and then associate that with strangers. As you walk, watch your dog carefully and as soon as they notice a person, calmly acknowledge that they have seen them with a marker word such as ‘yes’ or ‘good,’ and then reward them with a treat. Gradually over time, and with lots of repetition, this should hopefully start to reduce your dog's fear of strangers and change their perception.