Shy Dogs & Guests

Have people over every 3 or 4 days. The purpose here is only to keep the dog from building any guarding tendencies around the home. Guests do not engage with the dog, talk to them, pet them, or have any interaction. You will need to prepare your guest ahead of time that this will not be a snuggle-session. The goal here is to neutralize new people and show the dog they can be around without having the negative experience of people putting pressure on the dog.

Method 1: Start in the crate

  1. Start with the dog in the crate

  2. Invite a calm guest prepping them on the rules ahead of time. 

    • RULES:  No eye contact/ No talking to or addressing the dog/ No walking towards the dog. This also includes trying to give treats, approaching the crate, or even walking toward the crate.

  3. When the guest arrives, use your body as a block between the dog and the new person and guide the person to a seat with their back or side facing the dog (it’s less tempting to glance at the crate and overall is less pressure on the dog). 

  4. Sit and small talk on the couch for 15/20 mins.

  5. Your guest leaves, walk them out the same way they came in with you between them and the dog.

It’s a detailed protocol, but this shouldn’t be a big deal. Breathe and relax your energy so it doesn't feel like a big deal to the guest or dog. Because the dog is in the crate, nothing can really happen aside from a growl, to which you may respond with an EH EH and maybe a spray. Corrections should only come from the familiar handler. Advocate for your dog by directing the engagement.

Method 2: Start with a walk 

Alternative method for when you can prepare for guests (if it’s a surprise, or you don’t have time, continue with the crate process above and skip to Step 7) 

  1. Exit the house with the dog on leash

  2. Ask your friend to stand outside with some space with their back or side to you. Request that they stay still and refrain from any gestures or movements toward you and your dog. 

  3. As you approach them, ask them to start walking ahead of you. This is so the direction of their pressure is always away from you and the dog. Follow them 5~ feet behind and close the gap maintaining your dog on one side, the friend on the other, positioning yourself in the middle. During this exercise, your dog will have the ability to see, sniff, and check out the new person.  As the dog relaxes, close the gap so you are walking beside your friend (you are between the dog and the new person). The two variables to use at your discretion are DISTANCE from the new person and DURATION of the walk. A 3-10 min walk suffices for most and shorten as your dog progresses into a quick circle around a few cars. 

    • When space allows (street vs. sidewalk), and you see looseness in the dog, do a "switch" behind you so the dog ends up between (but slightly behind) you and the new person. A reminder to ignore may be due if they feel the urge to reach or look. Walk like this for a while.

      1. Walking together allows investigation in a low-pressure setting, allows pack bonding, and helps the dog feel like the spotlight isn’t on them. It's a fine line in explaining to not give pressure without making the guest rigid or loose. Most dogs lean into whatever energy is brought, so even though there are many steps, try to keep it relaxed. 

  4. When calm, ask your friend to walk into the home AHEAD of you -- this breaks the barrier of the 'territory' when the person is already inside or you move as a unit inside. Follow them in with your dog behind you. 

  5. As your friend goes to sit on the couch, bring the dog to their crate in an intelligent way (aka give space to the friend, position yourself between the dog and guest during passing, make sure your friend is neutrally seated with eyes averted). 

  6. Crate the dog.

    Option to continue 

  7. If the dog is calm, allow them back out on leash, positioned thoughtfully, with some distance and hang out and chat normally. 

    • Guest rules: No eye contact/touch/reach/lean/walk towards until asked to proceed otherwise. If they need to move forward, reach, go to the bathroom, make space by standing up and moving away first.

    Option to continue or crate the dog

  8. Allow the dog to approach on a loose leash to a neutral friend. Again, no eye contact, movement, reach, talk. Especially no reach. Basically they don’t move and totally ignore the dog.

  9. Once the dog investigates and moves away (or if they don’t investigate after a few minutes), the friend can toss a treat or two towards the dog (gently, still no eye contact). Be mindful to not create a trap where the dog comes in only for the food and then feels spooked or ambushed. Think peace offering, NOT a bribe or transaction for touch. Just because the dog takes the treat, doesn’t mean they want to be pet! Trust takes time, rushing will only set you back.

Repeat these sessions until 1-8 can happen successfully. Remember, shy dogs need a lot of neutral interactions to build confidence. Go slow but keep practicing!