[caption id="attachment_48525" align="alignleft" width="200"] Photo: Erin F.[/caption]Very few things excite a dog more than the prospect of an open door, but proper door etiquette is essential for the safety of you, your pet, and your guests.
Many dogs have learned to overreact to the sound of someone at the door, leading to uncomfortable and even dangerous door greetings. Teaching proper door etiquette can prevent your dog from developing incorrect greeting habits, such as jumping up on family members and barking at guests.
According to Tamar Paltin, Head Trainer at Perfect Pooch in King of Prussia, "Rude door behavior, such as barking or lunging at the door when people visit, is an extremely common and a highly reinforced behavior." Even though this behavior is reinforced each time a person knocks or rings the bell, it is possible to retrain your dog.
Just as your dog has associated various words with specific behaviors, it is your job to use the doorbell or knocker as a cue for a different behavior.
Fall is a great time to begin working with your dog on indoor etiquette since more social activities will be held inside. Paltin suggests sending your dog to his crate at the sound of the doorbell. Be sure to take a treat to the crate. Eventually your dog will begin to associate the doorbell with a positive reward. You may even want to close the crate and give the "stay" cue allowing you to answer your door and properly greet your guests.
If you are not up to the task, consider hiring a trainer. Realizing that your dog needs training is the first step to finding a solution. Take the time to find an appropriate trainer and know that it will be money well spent.
For a list of dog trainers in our local area, visit Braxton's website and click the resources tab or click here.
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