Tips on how to educate acceptable greetings when your canine meets a stranger

It’s widespread for a lot of canines to be not sure and cautious of recent folks. Educating your canine appropriately greet a stranger permits for conflict-free introductions to new folks and makes the expertise much less aggravating for everybody concerned.  

All the time start in a low-distraction setting the canine is snug in to assist them succeed. 

Right here’s what you’ll want 

• Two folks – one handler and one greeter  

• Deal with pouch, or bag of bite-size treats  

• Excessive worth treats or toys (whichever the canine is most motivated by)  

• Clicker (not essential however can be utilized) 

Steps: 

1. Have one particular person with the canine, leash in hand (the “handler”) and the opposite particular person (the “greeter”) standing no less than 20-25 toes away from the canine (or the place the canine will not be displaying any indicators of worry, anxiousness or stress.)  
2. Each the greeter and the handler ought to have excessive worth treats or toys with them. 
3. Have the greeter stroll parallel to the canine. When the canine sees the greeter, the handler is to mark (click on or say “sure”) and supply high-value rewards. 
4. Have the greeter then stroll out of sight, at which level the handler stops offering the rewards. 
5. Proceed steps 1-4 a number of instances, conserving the canine under their worry, anxiousness and stress threshold.  
6. When the canine is persistently displaying “completely happy” or impartial physique language when the greeter is in view at a far distance, begin to lower the space to the greeter by one to 2 toes at a time. Consistently guarantee that the canine is staying under threshold and in search of the mark and rewards from the handler as a substitute of reacting in the direction of the greeter.  
7. Be sure that to take quick breaks and reset, even when the canine is doing effectively.  
8. If the canine begins to indicate indicators of worry, anxiousness or stress as the space is decreased, transfer again no less than 4 toes or till the canine seems again to the handler for the mark and rewards. Proceed with steps 1–4 at this distance a number of instances earlier than lowering the space once more.  
9. As soon as the canine could be inside 6-8 toes of the greeter with out a rise in worry, anxiousness or stress, the greeter can take over the interplay.  
10. Have the greeter mark (click on or “sure”) after which toss rewards in the direction of the canine, away from themselves. If the canine chooses to maneuver again in the direction of the greeter, proceed to reward then reset.  
11. Take the canine again to the final distance the place they did effectively and begin once more.  
12. Proceed step 9 a number of instances till the canine begins to look in the direction of the greeter for the mark and rewards.  

Keep in mind, canines who expertise “stranger hazard” are not sure of individuals. All the time monitor the canine’s worry, anxiousness and stress. The purpose is to alter their associations from one in all worry to a constructive one in the direction of new folks. We advocate in search of the assistance of an expert coach or behaviour marketing consultant should you need assistance! 

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s Provincial Canine Rehabilitation Program offers individualized coaching methods to assist the animals in our care turn into snug with their environment, determine particular care necessities, and to fulfill their wants.  

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