How to train your dog to be nice to people?

Start Young, the sooner you start socializing your dog, the better. Puppies are naturally curious and eager to learn, so it’s a great time to introduce them to new people, places, and things. Be Consistent with your training and socialization efforts, if you aren’t, your dog will be confused and may not learn what you’re trying to teach them. Use Positive Reinforcement, when your dog does something you want them to do, praise them and give them a training treat. This will help them to associate good behavior with positive outcomes. Be a Good Role Model, dogs learn by watching their owners, if you want your dog to be friendly, be sure to be friendly yourself. When you meet new people, introduce your dog and let them sniff them. Add Variety, the more your dog is exposed to different people and animals, the more comfortable they will be around them. Visit various locations, including dog-friendly stores, restaurants, and beaches.

To avoid potential problems, such as rifts in your friendships, fearful guests, and personal injury lawsuits, it’s very beneficial to teach your dog how to be gentle and calm around guests. Teach Your Dog How to Greet You Teaching your dog how to greet you when you get home will help her learn how to greet guests when they come to your home. Place a greeting mat just inside your front door. When you come home, tell your dog to, sit, on the mat. Once she’s sitting, calmly give her a treat and praise her in a calm voice. Invite one Friend Over Once you’ve trained your dog how to greet you when you come home, it’s time to invite a friend or family member over. When your friend or family member knocks on your door or rings the doorbell, get your dog to sit on his, greeting mat. Do not open the door until your dog is sitting calmly on the mat, no matter how long it takes. Praise your dog, and give him a treat when he gets it right. Reward Positive Behavior It’s important to reward your dog when she does something you want her to do. When you have guests over, reward your dog with a treat and praise when she calmly sits by you or your guest on the floor, lays in her bed, or sits calmly nearby. Give your guest the opportunity to reward your dog’s good behavior, too. This will help your dog learn that she will get attention for being gentle and calm with your guests. Teaching your dog to be calm and gentle with guests is important for avoiding potential problems. Following these guidelines, you can train your dog to be well-behaved around guests. Remember that being consistent and patient are important keys to successful training.

To help your dog to settle when new people come to visit it’s a good idea to have a safe space that your dog can happily settle in, away from the excitement. Giving your dog a good walk beforehand will help him/her to relax, since they will have burned off any excess energy. A tired dog will find it easier to switch off and relax in their safe space. Try and get your dog used to spending short periods of time alone in their quiet place so that it’s a normal event. If your dog is super keen to greet your visitor or to ward them off, then tossing some treats away from where you are will encourage your dog to accept some distance. Delicious long-lasting chews and enrichment toys like Kongs and Lickimats can help your dog to calm down and relax. You can do this by practising when nobody is coming to the door to slowly desensitise your dog to the novelty factor of the doorbell. Meet outside first, the novelty of meeting someone new can be easier for your dog to process outside of the home. Use your crate or safety gate and some yummy chews to give everyone some space to calm down.