How can I introduce my dog to new people or other animals safely?
Introducing new people to your dog can present a unique set of difficulties. Certain dogs may feel anxious or fearful around unfamiliar people, while others may become overly excited and start jumping or behaving rowdily.
Knowing the proper way for your dog to interact with new people can be challenging, but with patience, training, and good management, there is no reason why your dog can’t excel at politely greeting strangers.
1. Keep your dog away from unfamiliar people
Preventing your dog from interacting with unfamiliar people you want them to get to know may appear to go against common sense. But it can be effective, especially for overly enthusiastic dogs. When you are in your house, restrict your dog to a different room or behind a barrier while interacting with visitors. This enables your dog to experience the sounds and scents of the new individuals, all while watching them from a safe distance to prevent any negative behavior.
If your dog is overly excited when meeting someone new outside the house, carefully monitor their behavior and guide them in the opposite direction until they relax before bringing them back. You may have to repeat this process multiple times, however, your dog will eventually learn that they will only interact with people when they are calm and relaxed.
2. Display the snacks
When your dog is sufficiently calm to follow orders, you can instruct a stranger to command your dog to sit, and then give them treats as a reward. This is a great way to boost the confidence of anxious dogs, as they will discover that meeting new people can be fun.
3. Avoid reinforcing undesired actions
A common mistake of so many dog owners is that they unconsciously shape their pets’ bad behavior by giving them attention and patting them when provoked. Do not touch your dog or praise it if it demonstrates aggression or timidity towards people. It will strengthen the undesirable behavior that you wish to terminate.
4. Set a good example
Don’t forget to set a good example for your dog if they lack confidence and get nervous around strangers. Dogs excel in watching humans, especially their owners, and detecting the subtle cues we emit. You behave in a tense manner and your dog will become stressed. Behave in a relaxed manner and your dog will become calmer. Therefore, maintain a positive and satisfied body language, and speak with a cheerful voice.
5. Meet On neutral ground
When you are outside with your charming dog, others will certainly want to touch and engage with them. You must direct the curious person to halt, kneel, and allow the dog to come to them. Although it might be uncomfortable initially. You must handle these interactions in the same way you would in your own home.
Your dog could be experiencing heightened stress levels due to the unfamiliar scents and noises in their new environment; encountering a stranger may overwhelm them, leading to a defensive response that you want to avoid.
6. Advice for individuals
People should follow the owner’s instructions all the time for the care of or get into the space of the animals, rather than thinking of this situation as a friendly and good animal. Even the most friendly pet could still bite or scratch if surprised by someone invading their space. Many pet owners are familiar enough with their pets to be able to inform you about how their pet behaves around strangers.
Pets can make wonderful companions, but it’s important to keep in mind that nearly all animals possess their own personalities and backgrounds. Just because one dog shows affection towards you, it doesn’t mean all dogs will respond in the same way. Certain animals possess unique challenges that make them difficult to approach, so it is important to be mindful and strive to minimize stress for animals whenever feasible.