How to Introduce Your Dog to New People
In this article, we explore major tips to help you safely and successfully introduce your dog to new people.
Tips on Introducing Your Dog to New People
Here are the best ways to arrange a successful meeting between your pooch and strangers with no hiccups:
Leash your pooch
Secure your dog with a leash to control their movements and prevent accidents if the introduction or meeting goes south for any reason. To prevent the strain or pull caused by traditional leashes, use a Personalised Dog Harness instead. This is especially for naturally aggressive, sensitive, or hyperactive breeds that can snap when uncomfortable.
Have treats ready
One way to encourage your dog to be social and enjoy meeting a new friend is by rewarding it soon after. Have your pooch’s favourite treat as positive reinforcement and reward it every time it puts up good behaviour in the presence of the new face. You may also have the new person feed your dog the new treat. This will present the new person as harmless and non-threatening to your pooch. To be safe, however, you may have the new person pour the treat into your dog’s feeding bowl instead of eating directly off their hand until there is a certainty that your dog feels comfortable eating off the stranger’s hand.
Go at your dog’s pace
Some dog breeds are naturally friendly and ecstatic to meet new people. Others are shy and more cautious. Do not force, threaten, or yell at your dog to approach strangers. Allow your dog to move at its own pace with you calmly and gently, encouraging it. It might take a few days or less of the visitor consistently showing up, but soon, your pooch will feel confident enough to approach the newcomer.
Start early
Many dog lovers will say there are no bad dogs, just badly trained and socialised dogs. A poorly trained and socialised dog may be a menace to strangers who come by your home and just about any new face. To fix this, you must start the socialisation process early, preferably when your pooch is still a pup or in its formative years. This way, subsequent introductions to new people will go smoothly without any hassle.
In conclusion, your pooch will have to meet a new person once in a while, especially friends, other family members, and strangers like the delivery person. It is, therefore, important that you create space for such an introduction to foster future cordial and peaceful relations between your mutt and the new mate. With these tips, you are promised a smooth introduction between the new bloke and your dog.