Training a Dog to Stay Calm When Meeting People

Few things can be more unpleasant---or more dangerous---than having a dog jump on you when you're trying to greet him. Children, elderly adults, and people with health issues can be seriously injured if they are knocked to the ground by a dog. It is therefore necessary for your dog to have good manners when meeting people; he should sit or stand patiently at their approach. This kind of training requires ample time and patience.

Things You'll Need

  • Leash
  • Collar
  • Training treats (or other reward)
  • Clicker (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Basic Obedience: Learning Manners

    • 1

      Introduce your dog to his name. Many dogs do not know their own names simply because they were never taught to recognize their names. However, your dog's knowledge of his name is the foundation of all of his training. Attach your dog's leash to his collar and let him wander and sniff at will. Call out his name "in a happy and interesting voice. [Puppies] love to hear the sound of your voice and will naturally look towards you when they hear you speak. What you do is reinforce that behavior by giving him a treat and praise," advises dog trainer Clare Bristow. If he does not lift his head or look toward you, then wait several seconds and repeat his name. When he responds to his name, offer him a treat, praise, or another reward. Repeat this process several times over several training sessions until your dog responds to his name every time. Eventually phase out the use of treats.

    • 2

      Once your dog understands her name, introduce her to the basic obedience command "Sit." With your dog on a leash, guide or place her in a sitting position. Once her rear is in contact with the floor or ground, give her a treat or praise. After guiding her into a sitting position several times, use the command "Sit" just before her rear makes contact. Repeat this process several times over several brief training sessions. As training progresses, stop putting her into the sitting position. If the dog does not respond on the first "Sit" command, then place her immediately in the sitting position. Continue teaching the "Sit" command using repetition and reward until your dog responds immediately on the first command.

    • 3

      Although the "Stay" command can be taught with a separate command, it can also be introduced as an extension of the "Sit" command. Gradually lengthen the period that your dog is supposed to sit before giving him the praise or reward that would release him from the sitting position. Once he is able to sit on leash for about thirty seconds without breaking position, you can introduce him to the approach of a friendly stranger.

    Advanced Training: Accepting a Friendly Stranger

    • 4

      Introduce the concept of sitting at stranger's approach in a controlled setting, such as in your home or at a training class. Command your dog to sit at your side. Have a relative, friend, or classmate approach you at a normal pace, until he is within a few steps of you. Make certain that he does not pay any attention to your dog for at least a few seconds. If your dog sits quietly, reward her with a treat or quiet praise. Ask your helper to gently touch your dog on her head. If she remains sitting patiently, then your helper can give her a small treat or praise.

    • 5

      Once your dog behaves reliably with people he knows, he can be similarly trained with strangers. The AKC Canine Good Citizen Program Participant's Handbook suggests that initial contact with strangers be brief, with the "length of time of petting [being] very gradually increased over time."

    • 6

      As your dog becomes more reliable with strangers, introduce unfamiliar objects and events. Familiarize your dog with people using or wearing objects that might be unfamiliar: canes, fans, clanking jewelry, and broad-brimmed hats are often objects of mistrust. Some dogs are uncomfortable with people of different races, while others don't like men in particular, particularly those with beards or loud voices. Be aware of what your dog considers unfamiliar, and teach him that those things are not a threat to him or you.