Doggy Petiquette – Getting Fido to Greet Guests Politely

Does your canine buddy sometimes jump on your visitors? If so, Fido is in good company. This is a fairly common habit among our canine pals. However, it’s actually bad petiquette. And, with larger dogs, this can even be quite dangerous! Read on as a Lakeville, MN vet offers some helpful tips on getting your pooch to greet guests more politely.

Be The Pack Leader

Dogs have a pack mentality ingrained in them. Make sure that Fido knows that you—not he—is the one in charge.

Ignore Your Pet

We don’t want you to ignore Fido all the time. Dogs thrive on affection! However, don’t immediately greet or pet your canine friend when you get home. Ignore your pooch until he is acting calm and quiet. You’ll also want to avoid petting or hugging your dog as you are leaving. Otherwise, you may be inadvertently rewarding your pet for behaving badly. You definitely don’t want that!

Teach Fido To Sit

Make sure that your four-legged pal knows basic doggy obedience commands. The command to Sit is very important. Once your furry companion has this down, enlist a friend or family member to walk in. Tell Fido to Sit, and then have the other person enter. Work on having Fido stay in place. When your pup stays put, reward him with treats and praise.

Be Consistent

When trying to teach your pet good manners, patience and consistency are key. Work with your four-legged friend every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. If you are teaching your canine pal vocal commands, use the same one each time.

Avoid Punishment

Although you may be quite angry if Fido gets paw prints on your aunt’s pants, never punish your pup for misbehaving. Negative reinforcement can easily backfire, leaving your four-legged buddy feeling scared, confused, anxious, and/or angry. Instead, focus on rewarding your furry pal when he behaves properly.

Start Young

If you have a puppy, don’t wait until Fido is fully grown to address the issue. Start working with your furry buddy right away!

Ask For Help

No luck? Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Reach out to your vet or a professional dog behaviorist.

Please feel free to contact us, your local Lakeville, MN vet clinic, for all of your dog’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!