10/01/2025
Scarlet’s mom recently asked me for some tips on helping her super-sweet (but very excitable 💛) Golden greet new people more calmly. Since I know many pups struggle with the same thing, I thought I’d share a few ideas here too:
✨ Ask for a calm sit or stand before letting anyone pet your dog
✨ Reward polite greetings right away with treats or praise
✨ Start with quieter settings and build up to busier places
✨ Keep greetings short and end on a good note
✨ Advocate for your pup—it’s OK to say “we’re training” or ask people to wait before approaching
Another great option is to take a break from greetings altogether for a few weeks. During that time, focus on training skills like general leash manners, an automatic sit while on leash, impulse control, “leave it,” and settle work at home. Once your pup has a stronger foundation, you can reintroduce greetings with much more success.
Scarlet is such a lovebug, and with a little consistency and patience, she’ll be greeting politely in no time! 🐾💖