Can training a dog prevent them from wanting to greet everyone?

[Bluebeeee]

We are hopefully getting a dog soon. Probably a Labrador. As a non dog owner I always find it frustrating when “friendly” dogs enthusiastically greet me or my kids when out for walks. Unless they are super polite dogs who don’t jump up on us. I like to think it’s the owners responsibility to have the dog under control. But I am now feeling a little worried I could become that exact dog owner who can’t get their dog under control. Does any experienced dog owners have any advice? I would like to instil good habits early if possible!

Socialisation with the right people is key - i.e. people who won't misguidedly make a fuss of your dog when he jumps up, or panic (if they don't like dogs) because any kind of attention/reaction rewards your dog.

Puppy/dog obedience classes are ideal for training this kind of thing - not sure when they will start again but it might be worth waiting until they do.

Otherwise you could engage friends/family who will be meeting the dog for the first time to do nothing if he jumps up and turn calmly away, while you reinforce with a 'no'. Similarly, reward your dog if he doesn't jump up with praise and a treat. He needs to get the message that the attention he wants can only be got by waiting for the person to greet him.

Thank you for you advice. What sort of age do you think best for starting classes? Do they say as soon as 2nd vaccinations done? So about 12 weeks? I think I will find it frustrating if people encourage jumping up when a puppy so will be keen to not allow this from very young.

Yes, you can start as soon as your pup is fully vaccinated - the class organiser should give you guidelines. The noticeboard at your vet is a good place to look for local classes, as well as online.

We found them excellent as you meet people of all ages including children, and dogs of all shapes and sizes who are all 'on the same page' with regard to which behaviours to reinforce and which to discourage. It's important for your dog to get used to all sorts of people and other dogs so he grows up taking them in his stride rather than getting excited, and a puppy class is an ideal safe environment for this to happen.

Thank you

... and obviously (when we can mingle indoors again!) tell any visitors in advance not to reinforce jumping up. Stand still and turn calmly away so the dog gets no benefit from what he has done.

What about other dogs when we are out? There seems to be a fashion for people allowing their dogs to approach and play with random dogs when out. But is this a good idea? I know socialisation is important but is this the way to do it? My only experience of dog ownership is from when I was a child and I remember our dog almost never approached strange dogs but I don’t think this was something my parents trained her to do, it was just her nature.

the Facebook advice group 'Dog Training Advice and Support' has some specific advice on this in their 'frustrated greeter' guide. The whole page is really useful, actually, and I've been reading through all their guides and their advice posts in anticipation of our rescue dog's arrival.

Choose your puppy training classes very carefully.

Many are good. Many are rubbish - and a rubbish one leaves consequences you'll spend months (years) trying to correct again.

There are still loads that allow free play between the puppies, for example.

What you are looking to achieve is a dog that doesn't think other people and dogs are anything to worry about, but also nothing to get excited about. If your dog sees them as boring wallpaper to his/her walk then you'll get what you're after.

Sirsniffsalot yes that is exactly what I want. I think other owners maybe think their dog need to be well socialised and almost encourage them to approach to other animals and people. But in reality you kind of want the opposite

@Bluebeeee

What about other dogs when we are out? There seems to be a fashion for people allowing their dogs to approach and play with random dogs when out. But is this a good idea? I know socialisation is important but is this the way to do it? My only experience of dog ownership is from when I was a child and I remember our dog almost never approached strange dogs but I don’t think this was something my parents trained her to do, it was just her nature.

It's normal for dogs to become less fussed about greeting strange dogs as they become older, which may be the years you're remembering.

If both dogs are friendly there's nothing wrong with them playing with each other. I tend to pick the parks (&areas within parks) which I know will be busy with other dogs. If you've got a dog that hates other dogs you'd be mad to take them there, so it's usually a fairly safe bet.

The rule of thumb is not to allow your dog to approach other dogs that are on a lead. That said, if they're on a long line in a busy park, I'll assume shit recall rather than being unfriendly, and likewise if the owner keeps walking towards me and DDog I'll assume they're happy for the two to meet. I'm more conservative in quiet / rural areas, and always go out of my way to avoid anyone who looks like they're trying to avoid me!

@Bluebeeee

Sirsniffsalot yes that is exactly what I want. I think other owners maybe think their dog need to be well socialised and almost encourage them to approach to other animals and people. But in reality you kind of want the opposite

You are absolutely on the right page here @Bluebeeee.

Many dogs naturally want to mix with other dogs (not all dogs but they will not be the ones that run up to dogs anyway!) so you really do not need to do masses of socialisation on this for most of them - some yes but not loads.

So what you need to socialise your dog too is ignoring other dogs and people and focussing on you. Yep you are right it is really antisocialisation .

Of course you will let your dog interact with other dogs but of your choosing and in mutual agreement with dogs, owners and if a right mix for your dog.

Spend lots of time on focus on you and rewarding for focus on you, get your dog happy to be with you and ignore all other distractions. then you will not be that annoying "he only wants to play" or "he wont hurt you" owner.

Thank you for the advice. I am all with good intentions now, but hopefully I won’t be on here looking for advice when it all goes wrong !!

@Bluebeeee

Thank you for the advice. I am all with good intentions now, but hopefully I won’t be on here looking for advice when it all goes wrong !!

You'll mess up some of it, we all do at some point or another!

As Philip Larkin said, "they fuck you up, your mum and dad / they may not mean to, but they do"