ONE of the greatest joys of the holiday season is sharing the time with loved ones, be that friends or family.
But for some, the idea of having relatives or friends dropping by for a libation or two does not bring tidings of joy and Christmas cheer. That's because their fourlegged family member is less than social and snarls when someone offers a Christmas doggie.
If this sounds like your household you have two choices: either banish your hound to another room in the house while holiday festivities ensue or take the next week and teach your furry friend some greeting manners.
A dog that snarls or curls a lip when someone approaches has a bad attitude, no doubt. But that attitude is probably a fear-based behaviour. I don't typically like to dwell on why a dog is the way it is. The past is simply that - the past - and I find the more clients dwell on why their dog behaves the way it does, the more they tend to keep the dog in the past, and allow the bad behaviour, rather than simply letting it go and teaching the dog a new behaviour.
The greeting exercise is always my favourite exercise in teaching a fearful dog a new trick.
For this training exercise you will need a bag of dehydrated liver, or fresh cooked or dehydrated chicken breast. Do not use a handful of kibble; just like people, dogs will work harder if they know they are getting a bigger pay off. Get the Gucci treats! You will need your leash, a cooperative friend or two, and your dog.
Start by giving your helper a handful of your treats then have your dog sit politely at your side, lure with the food treat if you have to. Your helper will stand about a leash length away from you and they will turn their body sideways so they are not making a direct approach (to a fearful dog it is considered a confrontation), then crouch down on one knee.
Place one treat close to your dog's nose and allow him to sniff it, but not eat it. Then give a command such as "Go say hi" and slowly draw your hand away from your dog's nose towards the helper. As soon as your dog breaks the sit and begins to lean or even step towards the helper - while following your hand - give the dog the treat from your hand, at the same time the helper is sticking their arm and treat-filled hand towards your dog. The dog is allowed to eat the treat from your hand and immediately sniff and eat the treat from the helper's hand.
Once both treats are given the helper slowly drops his arm and you will place another treat at your dog's nose to lure it away from the helper back to the original spot of sitting at your side. For the first half dozen tries of this exercise do not let your dog linger in front of the helper. Your dog may know the helper and feel comfortable with him or her, but if this was a stranger, allowing your dog to linger in that moment will only stir up the feelings of fear that we are trying to get rid of. We want to teach the dog a new way of associating with and greeting unfamiliar people.
When you see your dog happily making the first attempt to leave the sit to approach the helper with the treat it is now time to remove the treat from your hand and only have the helper have the treat.
Start as you have been with your dog in a sit and directing your dog toward the helper with your hand and command but this time allow the dog to leave your side and approach the helper while you remain standing still. Once your dog does this and is rewarded by the helper, verbally praise your dog and call it back to your side and immediately reward it. If it does not want to leave your helper calmly approach your dog, place a treat at its nose and lure it back to your side.
Practise this every day, and after a few days try to introduce friendly and cooperative strangers. If you are patient and consistent you will have a dog that happily greets people.
