Some people don’t take too kindly to pooches jumping around, no matter how eager, happy, and full of love they are. So, in order to dodge any uncomfortable situations (like inviting your boss to dinner, only to have Fido rip their coat apart because they’re so happy to see a new face), you might want to learn how to train your dog to greet people properly.

The first thing you need to do is teach your dog to greet you and other family members when you come home. You will first need to master the basic commands like “sit” and “stay.” Oce you get that out of the way, you need to teach your dog that the perfect moment to sit and stay is when you come home. Consider placing a small mat or a pillow near the front door and your dog will soon realize that it is the place where they are supposed to sit when they greet visitors. Once you are certain your dog will sit politely and calmly, you can greet them by gently stroking them and speaking to them in a soothing fashion.

Teaching your dog to greet you and your family will show them how you want them to behave whenever you have somebody visiting. This needs to become a daily practice for your pup to really master the art of greeting other people. Don’t worry if progress is slow at first – they are bound to learn, given the right amount of patience and rewards. Try practicing by repeatedly going out and coming back in the house. This will help your dog understand more clearly what it is exactly you’re asking them to do.

Another cool thing you should teach them is that they should do the same when they enter the house as well, especially if you have a yard and a pooch that likes to spend time outside. It might also be a good idea to place another “greeting mat” near the back door (if you have one), thus teaching them that they should behave appropriately with any door, not just the front one.

What you need to do is teach them that when they come in, they should sit on the mat and wait to be greeted or given the command to come in and make themselves at home. This might prove a more demanding task as your dog knows that they are not guests. However, with enough determination, you will succeed. Note that if you have a dog with higher energy levels, this will become even more of a challenge, but it’s far from impossible.

Once you think that your dog has mastered both tricks, it is time to invite other people over and test it out. Make sure to start small – invite one or two people and see what happens. Tell your friend to knock on the door or ring the bell, then get your dog to sit in the greeting position near the door.

Do not open the front door until your dog is calmly in position – this is the most important step. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, the point is that they get it right. Naturally, the first time is going to be the hardest, but if they do get it right, make sure to give them an abundance of treats and smother them with affection.

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