Jumping, barking, snarling—it’s never pleasant to meet a loud dog who knows no boundaries. It’s even more embarrassing for owners. So dogs get locked up in bedrooms, sent outside or scolded. The problem is that nothing’s done to correct the bad behavior.
It doesn’t have to be that way. You can teach your dog to greet people respectively. It might take some work, patience and positive attitude, but you can do it!
Here are three steps toward creating a respectful pooch:
1. Don’t lock up your dog. He won’t learn anything. The best way to teach your dog not to behave disrespectfully is to present him with opportunities to learn. Locking your dog up in his kennel or a room removes him from the situation, which can create anxiety and aggression. It doesn’t stop the barking, whining or growling, does it? Probably not. So, decide to use these opportunities of bad behavior as training sessions instead.
2. Use a leash to correct bad behavior in the moment. Just because you don’t keep Fido locked away doesn’t mean you should let him run free—not at first, anyway. To begin, keep your dog leashed, so you can quickly correct any whining, barking or jumping. It’s important to make your dog sit, then let your guests inside. Then, calmly and assertively use the leash to remind your dog to behave. That means a quiet, calm pooch. That’s the goal.
3. Tell your guests no touch, no talk, no eye contact. Ignoring an excited dog is the best way to discourage bad behavior. While you talk to your guests, make sure they talk to you, not the dog. Have them avoid baby talk, which creates excitability, and have them avoid looking at your dog, which also creates a wiggly, excited pooch. After your dog is calm and quiet, then you can let your dog sniff your guests. Don’t praise or pet him just yet, though. Wait until he’s completely calm and, better yet, not even interested anymore, then let your guests interact with him. If your dog gets excited when your guests give him affection, be sure to correct with the leash.
The goal is for your dog to realize that calm behavior will get him attention and love and that anything else is completely unacceptable. That excited, jumping anxiousness? Not in your house. Make it your goal to ignore the bad behavior and correct it every time.
Just remember, training always takes time, repetition and a calm energy from you. Don’t get discouraged! And if you need help, Fluffs of Luv now offers dog training classes. For more information, call 704-421-3492.
By Deanna Morono