Do you dread when visitors come over because you know your dog will start barking and jumping up on them and when you tell them to stop they don’t listen? You’re not alone – many dog parents have trouble getting their pup to listen when they have visitors.
I was one of those dog parents!
But there’s hope, and having guests over doesn’t have to be a stressful experience!
However, with a little bit of training, you can strengthen your bond with your dog and ensure they pay attention to you when you have visitors over your house.
Today, I’ll share 5 expert tips to help you grab your dog’s attention, including establishing a routine, providing treats and rewards, and avoiding scolding or punishing. Plus, I’ll offer practical advice on practicing with different visitors. By implementing these tips, you’ll be armed with the tools you need to create a positive and enjoyable environment for both you, your dog, and your guests.
So, let’s get started and have your dog behaving like a perfect gentleman (or lady!) in no time.
Establish a routine
An effective tip and one I strongly suggest you use to get your dog pay attention during visits is by establishing a routine. Dogs thrive on structure and predictability, so creating a consistent routine for when visitors come can help ease their anxiety and help them feel more comfortable.
Establish a routine for when guests arrive, such as having your dog sit and stay while you greet the visitor, then rewarding them with a treat for good behavior.
Or you can do like me and have your dog place before your visitors even come in the door. Keep your dog placed until they are calm, then you can allow your dog to greet your guests by sitting in front of them, waiting for a pet command from your guest.
In this post, I delve deeper into this including the exact routine I use- Why Does my Dog Ignore me When I Have Visitors? (Answered and Solved!)
By consistently following the same routine, your dog will associate certain behaviors with positive outcomes, making it easier for them to focus and behave during visits.
Provide treats and rewards
Providing treats and rewards is another way to capture your dog’s attention during visits.
Dogs love positive reinforcement and will usually work hard to receive a treat or reward. When you have a visitor, keep some healthy dog treats on hand and reward your dog for good behavior, such as sitting or staying calmly. This positive association will help your dog remain focused and attentive during the visit.
This tip works best for highly food driven dogs.
Use positive reinforcement training
Using treats and rewards is a form of positive reinforcement training, which can be a game-changer for getting your dog to pay attention during visits.
It involves rewarding your dog for doing something you want them to do, rather than punishing them for something you don’t want them to do. This helps create a positive and loving bond between you and your pet.
To use positive reinforcement training, start by identifying the behaviors you want your dog to exhibit during visits. For example, you might want your dog to sit quietly while you talk to guests.
Once you’ve identified these behaviors, reward your dog when they exhibit them. Use treats, toys, or praise to reinforce good behavior.
Over time, your dog will learn which behaviors earn them rewards and will begin to exhibit those behaviors more frequently.
Positive reinforcement training is a powerful tool for building new habits and behaviors in your dog.
Using positive reinforcement training can also help prevent unwanted behavior. If your dog jumps on visitors or barks excessively, don’t scold or punish them. Instead, redirect their attention to a more appropriate behavior, such as sitting or lying down. Reward them when they exhibit the desired behavior, and over time, they will learn that good behavior is rewarded, while bad behavior is not.
By using positive reinforcement training, you can help your dog become a well-behaved and attentive companion during visits.
Avoid scolding or punishing
I know how frustrating it can be when you dog doesn’t listen in front of your guests, especially when you have bragged about how good of a dog you’ve got. But it is important to avoid scolding or punishing your dog during visits, as this will only make them fear or resent visitors.
Punishment-based training can also lead to aggression and other behavioral issues. Instead, focus on positive reinforcement and redirecting their attention to appropriate behaviors.
Practice with Different Visitors
As with any training practice makes perfect, it won’t happen the first time.
One of the best ways to prepare your dog for visits is to expose them to different people and situations. This will help your dog become familiar with new faces, smells, sounds, and environments, and learn how to behave appropriately in each situation.
Start with close friends and family members your dog is familiar with, and gradually increase the number of visitors and complexity of situations. Tell your guests that you are training your dog and how they should act as well to help your dog be more successful with his training session.
You can also try practicing in different locations like parks, cafes, or other public places, to help your dog learn how to behave in different environments.
During these practice sessions, make sure to reward your dog for positive behaviors, and redirect their attention if they start to behave inappropriately. By reinforcing the desired behaviors and gradually exposing your dog to new situations, you can help them become more confident and disciplined.
Conclusion
Getting your dog to pay attention to you during visits requires patience, dedication, training and a positive attitude.
By establishing a routine, providing rewards, using positive reinforcement training, avoiding punishment, and practicing with different visitors, you can strengthen your bond with your fur baby and create a positive and enjoyable environment during visits.
Remember, with a little effort and a lot of love, your dog will soon learn that paying attention to you during visits is rewarding and fun.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. If you found this post helpful, let me know and give it a share.
My dogs and I agree we love your site. However they still do not like when I put up the dog gate cause guest they have never met come by. They have to stay in the living room until the guest feel safe as well as my dogs are comfortable. We have a Saint Bermastiff, and he is quite intimidating until you get to know him. He is such a lover. It is more about my guest then the dogs. They will just say hi, then go lay down. But since we have such a big dog it makes people nervous until they get to know them.
Thanks again!
Often times they don’t like it because they want to investigate and get their smells in and all. Or sometimes they just want to say hello.
It takes time and consistency for your dog to learn how to properly great guests. I think many times our dog doesn’t like when we make them do something (just like a kid) but as with kids, it is necessary to learn good manners and how to obey commands even when they are highly distracted and don’t want or like to.
I totally understand that, we have a German Shepherd and big dogs can definitely be intimidating especially when they don’t know how to properly great strangers.
Your fur baby sounds so sweet!
Lisa Marie