Luvk9s Dog Training
Plan and prepare to meet and greet
Families are planning holiday gatherings this year after the pandemic put the kibosh on festivities last year.
Has quarantining made you nervous about making safe human and canine introductions, especially with young grandchildren? Never fear; here are a few helpful hints to make those introductions go smoothly.
Prepare your dog to be around visitors
Before your guests arrive, think about what activities might involve a change of routine for your dog. Implement these changes before guests arrive so your dog does not associate the changes with the visitors.
+ If you live in a home with stairs, teach your dog to wait or go up or down the stairs ahead of you. This will prevent your dog from accidentally knocking over a child or senior who is navigating the steps.
+ Be sure your dog is comfortable being touched and hugged. Practice touching his feet, ears and tail while verbally praising and rewarding with a high-value treat.
+ Teach your dog to take treats nicely. The safest way to give your dog a treat is with the treat in the palm of your hand, palm facing up, below the dog’s mouth (so he doesn’t jump up to get the treat).
+ Set up a safe place for your dog to go (crate or room) if he guards his food bowl or needs a break from all the activity.
Prepare young children to be around dogs
Children should never touch or approach a dog they do not know and should always ask permission to pet a dog that they do know.
+ Children should never stare down a dog or put their faces close to a dog’s face.
+ Teasing, pinching, poking, wrestling, straddling, riding or laying on top of the dog should be discouraged.
+ Many dogs do not like being hugged or patted on top of their heads. Teach your children to hold their arm, palm out, near their body and allow the dog to approach them and sniff. If the dog happily approaches to sniff, it is then safe to scratch the dog’s chin or the side of his head.
+ Be cautious approaching a dog from behind so you don’t startle him.
+ Children should not be allowed to touch the dog while he is eating, drinking or sleeping.
+ Running and screaming can trigger arousal behavior in dogs. Playing chase should be discouraged; it’s simply too easy for your child to fall or for your dog to accidentally knock your child over.
+ Set your dog up for success by not allowing young children to wander through the house while carrying food.
+ Under no circumstances should a young child take a bone or toy from a dog. The supervising adult should do so.
Young children should never be left unsupervised with a dog. While the majority of dogs will tolerate the behaviors mentioned above, it is important to remember that any dog is capable of biting. It is better to err on the side of caution.
Introducing children and dogs
Even if your dog has been around children, or the children have been around other dogs, take the time to carefully plan the introduction.
+ Exercise your dog before visitors arrive. A tired dog is a good dog!
+ If your dog is a jumper or if the children are nervous around dogs, leash your dog to prevent him from accidentally knocking over a little one.
+ Don’t crowd the dog – have visitors approach calmly and greet one at a time.
+ Have treats handy and have your visitors ask your dog to sit. If your visitor is young, you should be the one to reward your dog with the treat. If the visitor is older, he can give the dog a treat, palm up, or toss it on the floor in front of the dog.
If your dog is nervous or fearful, put your dog in another room until your guests are settled in. Ask your visitors to sit. (This makes them appear smaller and less scary.) Your guests should not make eye contact and ignore the dog. Allow the dog to approach as he feels comfortable. If a visitor wants to treat a shy dog, encourage your visitor to toss a treat on the floor instead and give the dog the choice to approach if he feels comfortable.
Introducing resident and visiting dogs
Many of the rules listed above apply when introducing dogs.
+ Plan the introduction in a neutral location, preferably outside so the dogs don’t feel trapped.
+ Tire the dogs out before attempting an introduction.
+ If possible, do some parallel walking with the dogs before allowing them to meet and sniff. Keep the dogs on the outside and the humans on the inside and walk briskly, keeping the dogs focused on you and not each other.
+ If the dogs are comfortable, go into an enclosed area and drop the leashes. Stay close by so you can quickly grab the leash if necessary. Watch the dogs body language. Keep the initial introduction short; call the dogs back to you and praise/reward. Repeat several times, allowing longer interactions each time.
If you need a refresher on how to read dog body language, go to YouTube and search on “understanding dog body language kristin crestejo.”
Not everyone is a social animal
Dogs are no different than we are; just like there are people we love to hang out with, there may be other’s that we prefer not to interact with. Respect what your dog is trying to tell you and never force an introduction, especially if your dog is shy or fearful. Keeping your dog safe in another room or boarding your dog may be the kindest and least stressful option.
Happy holidays and happy training!