Does your dog jump all over guests when they arrive at your house? Establish sitting as the status quo for greeting people. Make sure each family member or visitor has the dog sit before they say “hello”, pat or offer a food reward.
To teach this to your dog, each time there is someone at the door put your dog on its leash and tell it to sit before you open the door. (This way you have full control of the dog as the visitor comes in the door). Tell the visitor to completely ignore the dog (no talking, no touching, no eye contact) until the dog is sitting nicely. You could make up a sign to put on your door so people know that the dog is in training and are more willing to comply.
When the dog is sitting nicely then you give the dog a treat and say ‘good dog’ then let your visitor pat the dog and also give it a nice treat. In no time at all your dog will learn to sit automatically when people arrive. Eventually there will be no need for the leash as the dog will sit for visitors. From the dog’s viewpoint, sitting for attention, affection or treats certainly beats getting punished and shouted at for jumping up. The same rule applies when out walking, when people approach you to say hello to the dog, get the dog to sit and give it a treat as they approach.
Thanks Susie for another great tip!
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