Help Your Dog Adjust to Visitors

Even the most well-trained and obedient dog can get overly excited when company comes to visit. While here at Outland K9, we emphasize building a solid “place” with your dog, you can take some other steps to help your pup adjust.

1.) Talk to your guests in advance

Have a dog lover coming to visit? Ask them to wait to greet your pup until they are calm. An overly excited voice can hype your pet up and make it difficult for them to follow instructions. 
Alternatively, if you have someone fearful of dogs coming over, you can reassure them that you have a plan in place so everyone is taken care of. 

2.) Prepare your dog 

Always make sure your dog has a safe, private spot they can retreat to. We prefer to crate-train all of our dogs. They know that if they need somewhere to go and be undisturbed, they can go to their
crate. A room or other location in your home can work as well. Be consistent with not allowing anyone to disturb your dog if they’re in their spot. 
Additionally, a tired dog is a happy dog. But physical exercise isn’t all they need. Play games, use enrichment toys, or do a short training session prior to company coming over to help your dog's brain relax.

3.) Give your pup something to do

Long-lasting chews, frozen licking mats with high-value rewards, or using an enrichment feeder, like a bob-a-lot, can help keep your dog distracted while company is over. 

4.) Doorbell training

Oh, the doorbell. Such an amazing invention that is the catalyst for excitement for dogs all around the world. 
Teaching your dog that the doorbell isn’t all that exciting isn’t as hard as it sounds. Think of it as a verbal command and teach them to go to a place when it goes off. Alternatively, you can teach them that it doesn’t mean anything is happening. 
Practice frequently when no one is coming to the door to desensitize them.