Sit to greet, Stand to greet
Puppies and dogs who are calm during a greeting are a real pleasure to meet.
Puppies should sit for greetings, that’s a very good start to being a happy dog.
You might like your older dog to stand to greet or sit to greet. Either way, the front feet have to be on the floor before they get any attention. It’s up to you whether you want your older dog to sit or stand. I like both and ask for both of my dogs. Older dogs can’t sit easily if their hips are wearing out or hurting, standing still happily is just fine.
Dogs do love to be close to our faces. You have to tell them how to get to your face with your body language. Do not look at the dog until the feet are on the floor. (Okay, you do have to look to see but you know what I mean, don’t acknowledge the dog by looking at his face and eyes.) Front feet have to be on the floor before you squat or kneel down to pet him. Control the dog from jumping back up with a thumb through the collar. Praise quietly and rub his chest or neck.
How do you keep a dog’s feet on the floor when you’re greeting him in a sit? You don’t greet or pet, no attention at all, until the butt is on the floor. Those front feet have to be on the floor, too. If he gets up, your attention goes away.
Do not push the dog with your hands and arms, that is doggie invitation to play. Turn your back or simply cross your arms and turn your head away.
Have your friends and family help. Lots and lots of them, over and over and over again. No petting or attention, don’t even look at him if the dog jumps up but as quickly as that butt and front feet are on the floor, greet the dog quietly.
A big no no unless you want the dog to go away: Don’t pat him on top of the head. Dogs don’t like that. To understand why, have someone you know pat you on on top of your head several times. Now have a stranger do it. That really doesn’t feel good no matter who does it, does it? Now have them scratch you gently behind your ear. Ah, that’s the ticket. It even feels good when the stranger does it unless you get the feeling that he’s liking it waaaayyy too much. Ooo, creepy.
Train your dog to sit on verbal command and with a sit gesture. At my house the gesture is a simple closed fist with tops of fingernails facing the ground, thumb tucked onto fingers.
The best thing you can do for your dogs and your guests is to get a good and immediate sit before greeting.
Clicker training is the fast way I know to train dogs. Train the trick, fade the treats and the clicker away. It won’t take you more than seven minutes to train anything with a clicker. Then be consistent and practice for a solid performance every time.
(Some would have you believe that clicker training means that your dog is training you to feed him. They don’t know how clicker training works, they’re full of hot air. Don’t listen to them. Try it for yourself, you and your dog will be happy that you did.)
