22/01/2026
When coming home, greet your dog in a calm manner, quickly asking them to do something for you such as find their favorite toy, go to their bed for a cuddle or treat, or lie down for a belly rub—avoid overly enthusiastic returns, be as calm as you can. Be clear, consistent, and timely with this request. Through repetition, they will start to anticipate what to do when you get home. Sometimes we can be so excited to see our dog, and want to return their love and enthusiasm but this can cause over excitement from our dog.
Role modeling, calmness and consistency helps prevent them from associating your return with heightened excitement, which can lead to anticipatory stress.
What's your routine when you get home to your dog?