Is Your Dog Overly Excited When Guests Arrive? A Not-So-Friendly Welcome
You’re expecting guests. The doorbell rings. The dog barks. Wagging its tail…he is ready to welcome your guests. You open the door to greet them, but your beloved pet is now overly excited and jumping on your guests.
Things could be worse, right? No harm, no foul. What’s a little doggy slobber from a friendly pooch?
Animal Behavior Specialist and Owner of Pro-Train Innovative Dog Institute, Mark Castillero warns against allowing this behavior. “Lots of people take that attitude and they let their dog’s behavior continue. They even let their guests encourage the behavior by giving the dog attention when he’s so excited,” he said. “These are behaviors you don’t want to see your dog doing no matter what the circumstances are.”
DogMan Mark, as he’s known by his clients, suggests that you are consistent and behave as the pack leader in your home. DogMan Mark shares his wisdom on tried-and-true ways to break the bad behavior.
First, Know Why Your Dog Is Excited
In the first place, you should know that what you think is excitement in your dog isn’t always excitement. Your beloved Fido may be jumping around trying to let your guests know that he’s the boss. If your dog is jumping on your visitors he is telling them that he’s in charge…and letting them know it.
Dogman Mark warns of attention seekers. “A dog may be trying to get attention and the dog knows that if it bounces around the room in front of people it will get some attention,” adding “It gets your attention, doesn’t it?”
Five Proven Strategies to Stop the Behavior
You Need to Be the Leader of the Pack at All Times. You should take charge of your home. Your dog won’t try to take over the role of leader or be dominant if you are already clearly the leader of the pack in your home. You can do this by being adamant and not giving in to your dog. You should make your dog earn the things you give him. Don’t falter or change your mind when you give a command, and watch carefully how your dog interacts with other animals and people in the house so you can stay in charge.
When You Come Home You Should Ignore Your Dog. If your dog gets excited or anxious when you come home you need to change your dog’s expectations. He probably expects attention as soon as anyone comes in the door. Start ignoring your dog when you come home every day and you will change what your dog expects. If your dog learns that you won’t walk him or pet him as soon as you come home each day, then he will stop looking for that same attention from your visitors when they come through the door.
Require Correct Behavior. If your dog engages in behavior like jumping on your visitors or licking them, you need to correct your dog’s behavior. You shouldn’t hit your dog or yell at him. That will only confuse him and lead to aggression. However, you need to “reset” your dog or make him start over. Have your dog sit and don’t allow him to have any attention until he becomes submissive and calm.
Have Your Dog Sit with Your Visitors. Before you allow people to come in the house, have your dog sit and wait for them to enter from a slight distance. You can have an imaginary line that your dog isn’t allowed to cross. You should “own” your door and take control of it. If your dog starts to leave his sitting position you shouldn’t open the door.
Explain to Your Visitors. You should talk to your visitors so they understand they shouldn’t give your dog any attention right away. Tell them they shouldn’t make eye contact with your dog or interact with him. You may need to be just about as strict with your visitors as you are with your dog.
Take charge and show your dog how he should behave. If you are consistent with your dog and your visitors then this kind of bad behavior should disappear very quickly. If you are concerned with an ongoing behavioral issue or your beloved pet needs further training, contact Mark at protraindog@gmail.com For a limited time, he is offering $100 credit valid towards your consultation or your dog’s specific custom-tailored program. Summer training sessions book quickly. Don’t delay.
