Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Guests arriving

Explaining the Behaviour

Embarrassing, even dangerous

Every time the door rings there is a chaos in the house. Max barks wildly and throws himself on the guests. He even urinates once the guests pay attention to him.

If this kind of behaviour was cute when he was a puppy, it can turn out to be quite embarrassing, even dangerous, once your dog is mature. That being said, teaching a dog to greet guests politely without jumping on them is an essential part of his education.

Dog behavior

Whether it is caused by fear or excitement, dogs can act in an unpleasing way when guests arrive. An overly excited dog that jumps on people will usually get what he is looking for: attention. Therefore, he will reproduce the behaviour because it works for him.

How To Train A Dog To Settle Down / Relax?

The goal is to teach the dog that guests are not frightening, and that if he wants to get their attention he should behave properly.

Here are a few methods to try with dogs, some will work better for one dog and some will work for others. It is up to you to choose the approach that works best for your pet:

  • Isolate the dog in a separate room while you greet the guests and let your dog meet them once he calms down.
  • Ask the guests to ignore the dog. This means not touching, talking, or looking at the dog until he calms down.
  • Train the dog to produce an action instead of the unwanted behaviour. For example, teach the dog to go on a designated carpet and stay there calmly when the door rings. This requires some practice without guests arriving. Sometimes achieving this behaviour requires some help from a good trainer. Sometimes achieving this behaviour requires some help from a good trainer.


Conclusion

Teaching your dog to stop jumping on your guests requires patience and perseverance. Be consistent when training your pet and you will be rewarded by having a dog that remains calm when you have guests. Remember that if the behaviour persists or becomes overwhelming you can reach out to your veterinary team.

Have more questions?

Please do not hesitate to contact the Passionimo veterinary clinic near you.