How do I train my dog to not go crazy when people come over?

When the doorbell rings, the dog at home rushes to the door like an arrow from a string, barking, jumping, and even trying to pounce on the visitor. I believe that many dog ​​owners are familiar with such scenes. Although the dog's excited reaction stems from their desire to protect their owners and their curiosity about new things, excessive excitement will not only cause trouble to the guests, but may also cause safety problems. From a professional behavioral perspective, this kind of excited behavior of dogs is not unchangeable. As long as the owner masters scientific methods and invests patience and love, he can help the furry child learn to be calm and treat guests, so that every visitor's arrival will become a warm and pleasant social experience. ​

The excitement of dogs when someone visits has complex behavioral roots. In the dog's cognition, home is their territory and the owner is a "group member" who needs to be protected. When a stranger enters the territory, the dog's alert instinct is triggered. They declare sovereignty and warn of potential threats through barking, jumping and other behaviors, and also send a signal to the owner that "something is going on." In addition, dogs are naturally sensitive to environmental changes. The strange smells, sounds and body movements brought by visitors can instantly ignite their excitement, making it difficult for them to suppress their inner excitement. Every time dogs rush to the door excitedly, they are actually expressing their loyalty to their owners and their uneasiness about the unknown in their own way. ​

If you want to change the excited behavior of dogs, you must first establish rules and order in daily life. The behavioral habits of dogs are closely related to the daily guidance of their owners. When no one is visiting, the owner can simulate the scene of the arrival of visitors, let family or friends cooperate, and practice repeatedly. When the "visitor" knocks on the door, the owner first controls the dog, prevents it from rushing to the door, and guides it to sit down or lie down quietly. If the dog can stay quiet, give rewards immediately, such as delicious snacks, enthusiastic caressing and gentle praise. Through repeated simulation training, the dog will gradually understand that quiet waiting is the right behavior. Excitedly rushing to the door will not only not get rewards, but also restrict actions.

Desensitization training is also an important way for dogs to learn to treat visitors calmly. The owner can invite familiar friends to participate in the training in stages. In the first stage, let the friend knock gently at the door. When the dog starts to get excited, the owner gives instructions such as "quiet" and "sit down" in a firm but gentle tone. If the dog obeys the instructions, give rewards immediately; if the dog is still excited, stop knocking temporarily and wait until the dog calms down before continuing. In the second stage, let the friend open the door but do not enter the room, and repeat the above training process. As the training progresses, gradually let the friend walk into the room. During the whole process, as long as the dog remains calm, give rewards in time. Through this step-by-step approach, let the dog gradually adapt to the stimulation of the visitor's arrival and reduce the excited reaction.

In addition to training, the owner's own emotions and behaviors also have an important impact on the dog. Dogs are extremely sensitive to the owner's emotional changes. If the owner shows tension or anxiety when the visitor arrives, the dog will mistakenly think that there is really danger, and thus become more excited. Therefore, the owner should remain calm and confident, and guide the dog with a calm attitude. When the visitor arrives, the owner can first introduce the visitor to the dog, let the dog smell the visitor's smell, and establish initial trust. At the same time, the owner can arrange for visitors to participate in the reward process for the dog, and let the visitor feed the dog snacks by hand, so that the dog can associate the visitor with a pleasant experience and reduce the vigilance and excitement of the visitor. ​

Training a dog not to be excited when someone visits is a "protracted battle" that requires time and patience. In this process, the dog may have repeated behaviors, and sometimes the trained behavior will be "completely forgotten" when a new visitor arrives. At this time, the owner must not be impatient or punish the dog, because punishment will not only fail to solve the problem, but also make the dog fearful and resistant, destroying the trust between each other. The owner must always believe that as long as the correct training method is adhered to and the dog is given enough love and understanding, they will definitely learn to treat guests calmly. When one day, the doorbell rings, the dog will no longer jump wildly, but will sit quietly beside the owner waiting for visitors. The relief and pride will make all the efforts worthwhile. ​

Dogs are the warmest companions in our lives. They guard our homes with all their love and loyalty. Through scientific training, helping them learn to stay calm in front of visitors can not only improve the quality of life, but also allow dogs to better integrate into human society. Let us accompany the dogs' growth with patience and love, and jointly create a warm and harmonious social environment so that every visitor's arrival will become a wonderful time full of love and joy.