There’s a ring at the doorbell.
While you make your way to the door your dog is running rings around you, barking, jumping, grabbing at toys.
You yell “Stop! Get down! Be quiet!” Now you’re both barking!
You open the door and your dog launches himself at your visitor, striking her amidships, sending her reeling.
You yell “Stop! Get down! Be quiet!”
Your visitor staggers through the door with your dog dancing in front of her on hind legs, grabbing at her sleeve and leaving drooly smears on her bag.
You yell “Stop! Get down! Be quiet!”
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Your panting dog stands still for a moment.
You yell at him for being a bad dog.
Your visitor says “I won’t stay,” and starts to make her escape.
As she leaves you grab at your dog’s collar to stop him running out after her.
You close the door and shake your head in exasperation at your happy dog.
Look familiar?
Here are my 5 Surefire Tips to ensure that this happens every time:
Make sure dog is super-excited and racing around loose, barking
Shout “Get off! Stop! NO!”, wave arms, dance, add to the excitement
Give dog lots of attention for jumping on people and no attention whatever when his feet are on the floor
Make sure dog knows that wherever he goes and whatever he does, it’s WRONG
Don’t bother to train your dog. After all your old dog didn’t do it (though he was 12, come to think of it)
WAIT! You don’t want this to happen?
You really want to change things? Ok - have a look at these:
To contain the flying excitement, clip a lead onto your dog’s collar and put your foot on the lead so that he’s still free to sit, stand or lie down, but can’t jump up
Greet your guest and ask them to ignore dog
When your dog is sitting or standing patiently, ask guest to hold their palm out for the dog to sniff
Reward your dog with a treat and gushing praise as you draw him gently back to your side
Cleverclogs stuff: teach him to go to his bed near the door when the doorbell rings, and stay till invited off
Practice makes Perfect - so try this out with a friend who is prepared to wait outside the door while you take your time and calmly lead up your dog without having to worry about someone waiting for you.
You could practice each stage with your friend, so that if your dog tries to leap up when the door opens to reveal the visitor, you can simply close the door gently and open it again when he’s calmed down a bit.
Your dog will soon understand that it’s his good choices that enable you to open the door and admit the visitor! Such empowerment will have him making those good decisions over and over again.
Your regular visitors will be astonished and amazed, and glad that they’re able to wear ordinary clothes to visit you instead of disposable overalls.
And they won’t need the ear-defenders any more either!
Maybe your dog’s been doing this since forever - but you can change it! It’ll take a bit of time and application, but you’ll be so glad when you can welcome a visitor to your home without them getting mobbed! You’ll be proud of what you’ve achieved, proud of your dog, and relieved that you’re no longer the big bad shouting joy-killer.
