Knock, Knock! Who's there? Door Manners!

We’ve all been there – we invite people to our home, only for them to be welcomed by our dog jumping all over them and us apologising profusely. But did you know it’s fixable? Better yet, not just fixable, preventable?

Teaching your dog door manners is something you can start doing right from the get-go in puppyhood, remembering that preventing a problem is generally easier than curing it. But if you missed that step with your dog, fear not, you can still put these practices into place to have a well-mannered pooch. It just may take a little more practice is all!

The steps to teaching door manners

1.     Communicate

If you’re expecting guests, it’s a good idea to advise them prior to arrival not to acknowledge your dog until you give them the green light to do so. This means no eye contact, no talking to or petting. Keep reading to find out when you can give the green light!

2.     Be Prepared

When your guests are just about to arrive, have your dog’s favourite treats ready in hand and your dog on leash. If there is two humans available, have one of you stand a few feet away from the door with your dog, and to guide your dog into a sit whilst the other human answers the door and welcomes in the guests. If there is only one human available, still have your dog on leash and guided into a sit position, you’ll just have to have them closer to the door whilst you answer it so they may just be slightly more distracted/excited. Remember to reward your dog with a treat for performing their sit.

3.     Rewards

As your guests walk into your home, reward your dog with verbal praise for keeping all four of their paws on the floor and reward them with treats for keeping their bottom on the floor and politely sitting. If there is any jumping, barking or unruly behaviour, don’t acknowledge it and simply guide them back into a sit. Remember that we are rewarding the behaviour we want to see.

4.     Settling In

As you and your guests move away from the front door and settle into your home, allow them to walk in first, allow a few steps of space, then follow behind with your dog still on leash. Continue to request and reward calm behaviour as above when you’re in the room in which you choose to settle in with your guests.

5.     The Green Light

Once everyone is settled in and your dog has remained consistently calm, you can then give your guests the green light to acknowledge your dog. We want them to learn that only polite/calm behaviour receives acknowledgement, not over excited/unruly behaviour.

You can even put these steps into practice when you don’t have guests to further help your dog in getting it right. You can do this by recording your doorbell on your phone, playing it, then following the steps above as if there were guests there. OR if you have two humans available, have one stand outside and knock as if they’re a guest arriving, then again follow the steps above.

Consistency is key with door manners. Follow these 5 steps each and every time you have guests arrive and you will have a polite, well-mannered pooch who understands the rules of the roost in no time!