polite door greetings
Greeting people at the door is one of the most popular topics during my private lessons. We all want a dog with good manners, but it’s hard when we don’t have people coming to ring our doorbell on a regular basis! Of course everyone is different (and this handout in no way goes through all of the details that we talk about during a one-on-one private lesson), but here are some tips you may find helpful in teaching good greeting manners at home…
1. I love this one - Put a note on the door that says “Just a minute, I’m training my dog”. This will allow you the time to get yourself all ready, and not rush around. When the doorbell rings, we jump out of our chairs and rush around! Our dogs understand that this is a very exciting time, and quickly reach their threshold (or, the scientific term “out of their brains”). Once they reach their threshold it is difficult to gain their attention. So, putting a note on the door is helpful because you can stay calm, you can take all of the steps you need to take to make sure you have your dogs attention *before* you tell the person it’s alright to enter.
2. Make sure your dog is on leash, and your treats are ready. If you’ve been working on mat work, go ahead and get out your mat. Stand right next to your dog with the treats. As soon as the person enters the house is when the treat should start flowing out of your hand like a Pez dispenser! Remember, the first few minutes are the most exciting! If you can get your dog into the habit of sitting and paying really good attention to you during this time, everything after the first few minutes is much-much easier.
3. Have “it’s so stinky I can’t possibly resist” treats for your dog. Hard biscuits or their kibble is fine when you are training them in your kitchen with no distractions. But, when you are working on a new behavior (something so distracting, like someone at the door), or in a new environment (going to dog class), having really good treats are a must. If you think about it, dogs learn by motivation. If your dog is more motivated for a treat, they are going to learn that much faster. My Mom always said “I probably wouldn’t go to work if I didn’t get paid!”… Make training fun and worthwhile for your dog!
4. Work on a good “Look” (or “Look At That”). Creating a positive association – Your dog looks at the new person in the room, they look back at you and get a treat! You can stand and chit-chat with the new person for a few minutes. Once your dog is calm and seemingly uninterested in the new person is when I would release them to go say Hi. If your dog is a jumper, you’ll probably want to keep them on leash for a little while longer though!
5. There is no rule that says dogs have to greet everyone that comes in the door either! Sometimes you may not feel like wearing your dog trainer hat! It’s a-okay to put your dog away in a different room, or in a crate. Removing your dog from a situation is always a good step to take if you’re feeling frustrated or if it’s simply not the right time to train. I would much rather have you do that, then not follow-through on your training. If you only train *some* of the time, your dog doesn’t understand the new game and you’ll never be able to truly progress in his training...
Wondering about Mat Work, Look at That, Marking Behaviors, Specifics on door greetings or other behaviors? Contact me for a private lesson – Your dog can be great, I can show you how!
Giene Keyes
Giene Keyes is the owner of Moon Dog Training, LLC, providing positive in-home training, behavior consultations and group classes. After receiving “Best of Madison'' multiple years in a row, Giene sold her dog daycare to focus on her dog behavior work. Giene has been working with pets and their owners for over 30 years. She is a professional animal trainer and behavior specialist in Southern Wisconsin. Giene divides her time between teaching group classes and private lessons – Specializing in manners and aggression cases. Giene works with vets, rescue groups and shelters, evaluating dogs for adoption, developing Canine Aggression Management Programs, and educating staff on dog language and behaviors. She consults for dog daycares and training companies by educating staff on dog body language, cues, managing a pack, difficult dogs and much more. She provides behavior consultations for service dog organizations and rescue groups in the Midwest. She has been an Instructor with the American Red Cross in Pet CPR and First Aid, a Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator with the American Kennel Club, and a Licensed Judge with the WI Dept of Ag, Trade & Consumer Protection. Giene is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She routinely presents seminars on dog behavior and training, as well as chicken training seminars to promote team building. Giene has been a regular guest on popular Madison radio shows and evening newscasts. Giene has also been featured in numerous local magazines, including the cover for Wisconsin Woman. Giene is a published author (see her Chicken Training Book!) and loves demonstrating to people how clever dogs, chickens and pigs can be.
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