Polite Greetings

Teach a dog how to do “Polite Greetings” using Positive reinforcement methods. Start by focusing on reinforcing desired behaviors such as sitting or staying calm when meeting a new person/people. If they greet by jumping up on people, as much as possible ignore the jumping and the puppy and redirect to the floor with treats. Ideally, watch your puppy and start treating to/at the floor before they do any jumping so they don’t have a chance to learn a bad habit. Consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement are key to success. Here’s a breakdown of how to teach your puppy “Polite Greetings”:

• • Establish the desired behavior:
    • “Four on the floor”: This means the dog should have all four paws on the ground when greeting someone, according to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. 
    • Sitting: Encourage your dog to sit as a greeting, which can help prevent jumping.
  • Use positive reinforcement:
    • Reward calm behavior: When your dog greets politely, offer praise, treats, or petting to reinforce the desired behavior.
    • Ignore jumping: If your dog jumps, turn away, avoid eye contact, and don’t give attention, says Livingston Veterinary Hospital.
    • Redirect excited behavior: If your dog gets too excited, try using a hand target (where they touch their nose to your hand) to redirect their focus and calm them down, according to Karen Pryor Academy.
  • Practice in various situations:
    • Practice with yourself: Start by practicing greetings with yourself, rewarding calm behavior at the door.
    • Gradually introduce guests: Have trusted friends or family members practice greetings with your dog, starting with controlled introductions and positive reinforcement.
    • Use a leash: Keep your dog on a leash during greetings to help manage their behavior and prevent jumping. Be aware that leashes can change dog body language so practice loose leash handling to help them meet with less added stress. 
  • Be patient and consistent:
    • Training takes time: It takes repetition and consistency for your dog to understand and consistently perform polite greetings.
    • Manage the environment: Until your dog learns polite greetings, manage situations to prevent jumping or other unwanted behaviors.
    • Be your dog’s advocate: Don’t be afraid to ask people to give your dog space or to interrupt greetings if they become too overwhelming for your dog.

• • Manage overly friendly strangers: If a stranger looks like they are going to be insistent about meeting your puppy. Ask them to help you do some training with your puppy. Explain what you are trying to teach your dog and ask them to approach when you are ready and to back up, if needed, to help reinforce the correct behaviors. Strangers tend to be more compliant with your rules when they think it gets them free time with your cute pup and because you didn’t tell them “no”.