Dog owners often need to help their dogs meet new people. Visitors to your home, encounters with people when out walking, vets waiting rooms can all present challenges for a nervous dog
Today’s guest post from Jordan of FOMO Bones suggests 4 steps for dog owners to help your dog be comfortable in these situations.
Stranger Danger! Here are Tips to Help Your Dog Deal with New People
Introducing your precious pup to new people can be a daunting experience for both of you, which is why it is imperative to make sure that all new introductions are done slowly and gently. Someone they don’t recognize can freak out even the most well-mannered and calm pooch, and this is when accidents can happen.
Forcing a dog too far out of their comfort zone in order to make them accept a newcomer will result in fearful behaviour that could potentially escalate into aggression if you aren’t vigilant.
Have you ever laid eyes on someone and felt uneasy even if they were being super friendly? Or how about that person that all your friends and family seem to adore, yet you sense something is just not right about them? If these scenarios sound even a little familiar to you, then you will be able to relate to the fear and apprehension your pooch experiences when a stranger comes on the scene.
Fortunately, with a little encouragement and coercion your dog will be able to deal with new people effortlessly if you follow the tips below on introduction day!
Create a Sense of Calm
The very first thing you need to do when encountering someone new with your pooch is to make sure that both of you remain completely calm. That means no jumping up, no straining at the leash and no vocalizing any excitement. If your pup has a nervous demeanour in general, then you should try to do any new introductions on neutral turf outside of your home and always make your pup sit and stay as you allow a stranger to get closer.
Many people find that their dogs are especially reactive to new people when they are at home; in which case you can use calming dog treats like these to reward positive behaviour each time a stranger comes around.
Let Your Dog Take His Time
Just as you wouldn’t want to be forced into the arms of a stranger who was eager to stroke your hair and kiss your face, neither does your dog. When encountering new people let your pup take all the time he needs to get used to the sight and smell of a new person and if possible, encourage both parties to remain indifferent to each other. This works to remove any sensation of threat that your dog might be feeling and he won’t be inclined to behave in a defensive way.
Don’t Project Your Own Fears
If your dog doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to dealing with new people, it’s perfectly normal to feel apprehensive or nervous each time you encounter a stranger. The issue here is that dogs pick up on our energy and respond to it accordingly, so if Fido senses that you are uneasy or nervous, he is going to jump into action to protect you!
Try to make sure that you take deep breaths and remain as calm as possible when introducing your dog to a new friend as this will help diffuse the situation and eliminate any need for protective behaviour.
Plan Ahead
While it’s true that there is little you can do to control someone ringing your doorbell unannounced, there are certain steps you can take as a preventative measure if you suspect your dog could react badly to strangers either at home or whilst out walking.
Ensuring that your pup has had sufficient exercise works wonders for draining him of nervous energy prior to a potential meet and greet and you could also consider adding a natural supplement like CBD infused dog treats to his daily routine. This will not only calm him down, but it will also act as a type of behavioural exposure therapy whereby he will learn that strangers aren’t that scary after all!
Final Thoughts
A fearful and nervous temperament in dogs can quickly evolve into behavioural issues like separation anxiety and sometimes aggression if you don’t take the appropriate measures to help your dog overcome his phobias as early as possible.
Consistency is key when it comes to teaching your dog acceptable behaviour, so be sure to take your time with new introductions as and when they arise.
Jordan
I work as a part of the Content Team at FOMO Bones. We all work together to curate the best articles to share with our readers and help them be the best parents to their dog babies.Thank you for sharing this post with us Jordan, I am sure it will help dog owners feel more comfortable introducing their dogs to strangers.
On July 15, we published one of Jordan’s posts about dogs being a baby boomer’s best friend. For more articles on caring for your dog, check out the FOMO Bones blog.
Clicking on some links on this site will let you buy products and services which may result in us receiving a commission, however, it will not affect the price you pay.