Holiday Training: Teaching Calm During Guest Visits

The holidays bring joy, celebration, and often a parade of guests through your home. While you're excited to see family and friends, your dog might be overwhelmed, overexcited, or anxious about all the visitors. Teaching your dog to remain calm during guest visits is one of the most valuable skills you can develop—and it's never too late to start!

Why Dogs Get Excited or Anxious Around Guests

Excitement Triggers:

• New people mean new attention and potential playtime
• Different smells and sounds create stimulation
• Your own excitement transfers to your dog
• Lack of impulse control training
• Reinforcement of excited behavior in the past

Anxiety Triggers:

• Unfamiliar people in their territory
• Loud voices and sudden movements
• Disruption of normal routine
• Past negative experiences with strangers
• Lack of socialization

Foundation Skills: Start Before Guests Arrive

1. The "Place" Command

Teach your dog to go to a designated spot (bed, mat, or crate) and stay there calmly.

Training Steps:

• Choose a specific mat or bed as the "place"
• Lure your dog onto it with a treat
• Say "place" and reward immediately
• Gradually increase duration before rewarding
• Add distractions slowly (you walking away, doorbell sounds)
• Practice 5-10 minutes daily

2. The "Settle" Command

This teaches your dog to lie down and relax on command, even when excited.

Training Steps:

• Wait for a naturally calm moment
• Say "settle" in a calm, low voice
• Reward calm behavior with gentle praise and treats
• Practice during gradually more exciting situations
• Use a calm hand signal (palm down, lowering motion)

3. Impulse Control Exercises

These build your dog's ability to control excitement:

Wait at Doors: Dog must sit and wait before going through doorways

Leave It: Dog must ignore treats or toys on command

Stay: Dog holds position despite distractions

Pre-Guest Preparation

Exercise is Essential

A tired dog is a calm dog! Before guests arrive:

• Take a long walk (30-60 minutes)
• Play fetch or tug-of-war
• Engage in mental stimulation (puzzle toys, training)
• Allow time to decompress after exercise (30 minutes)

Set Up for Success

• Place your dog's "place" mat in a visible but out-of-the-way spot
• Prepare high-value treats in advance
• Have a leash handy for management if needed
• Set up a quiet room as a retreat option
• Remove tempting items (shoes, bags) that guests might bring

Manage Your Own Energy

Dogs mirror our emotions. Stay calm and confident, even if you're stressed about hosting. Take deep breaths and maintain a relaxed demeanor.

When Guests Arrive: Step-by-Step Protocol

Step 1: The Doorbell (5 minutes before)

When you know guests are arriving soon:

• Put your dog on leash or send them to "place"
• Practice calm behavior with treats
• Keep energy low and movements slow

Step 2: The Greeting

Option A - Controlled Introduction:

• Keep dog on leash
• Ask guests to ignore the dog initially
• Reward calm behavior
• Once calm, allow brief, controlled greeting
• If dog gets excited, create distance and reset

Option B - Place Command:

• Send dog to "place" before opening door
• Greet guests while dog remains on mat
• Reward dog for staying calm
• Release only when truly settled

Step 3: During the Visit

• Periodically reward calm behavior
• Redirect attention if dog gets excited
• Provide a stuffed Kong or chew toy
• Allow breaks in a quiet room if needed
• Don't allow guests to rile up your dog

Guest Education: What to Tell Visitors

Before They Arrive:

"We're working on teaching [Dog's Name] to stay calm around guests. Please help by ignoring them when you first arrive. Once they're calm, you can say hello!"

Rules for Guests:

• No greeting until the dog is calm
• No high-pitched voices or excited movements
• Don't feed treats without permission
• Respect the dog's space if they retreat
• Ask before petting

For Kids:

• Teach them to be "tree" (stand still, arms at sides)
• No running or screaming around the dog
• Gentle petting only, with adult supervision
• Never disturb the dog while eating or in their safe space

Training Techniques for Different Behaviors

For Jumping:

• Turn away and ignore when dog jumps
• Reward four paws on floor
• Ask guests to do the same
• Practice "sit to greet" - dog must sit for attention
• Use a leash to prevent jumping if needed

For Barking:

• Teach "quiet" command in low-distraction environments first
• Reward silence, not barking
• Redirect to a task (go to place, get a toy)
• Don't yell (adds to the noise)
• Consider white noise to muffle doorbell sounds

For Anxiety:

• Create a safe retreat space
• Use calming aids (pheromone diffuser, anxiety wrap)
• Don't force interactions
• Reward brave, calm behavior
• Consider professional help for severe cases

Progressive Training Plan

Week 1: Foundation

• Practice "place" and "settle" daily
• Work on impulse control exercises
• Desensitize to doorbell sounds

Week 2: Low-Level Distractions

• Practice with one familiar person
• Have them ring doorbell and enter
• Reward calm behavior throughout
• Repeat 3-4 times per session

Week 3: Increase Difficulty

• Invite 2-3 people
• Practice during different times of day
• Add variables (people carrying items, wearing hats)

Week 4: Real-World Practice

• Host actual gatherings
• Maintain training protocols
• Celebrate successes, learn from setbacks

Tools and Equipment

Essential:

• Comfortable mat or bed for "place"
• High-value treats (small, soft, smelly)
• 6-foot leash for management
• Treat pouch for easy access

Helpful:

• Baby gate to create boundaries
• Long-lasting chews (bully sticks, Kongs)
• Calming music or white noise
• Clicker for precise marking

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Inconsistency

Allowing excited greetings sometimes but not others confuses your dog. Be consistent every single time.

2. Expecting Too Much Too Soon

If your dog has always jumped on guests, they won't be perfect after one training session. Progress takes time.

3. Punishing Excitement

Yelling or physical corrections increase anxiety. Focus on rewarding calm behavior instead.

4. Letting Guests Undermine Training

One person encouraging jumping can undo weeks of work. Educate all visitors.

5. Skipping Exercise

No amount of training can overcome pent-up energy. Exercise is non-negotiable.

Age-Specific Considerations

Puppies (Under 1 Year):

• Shorter attention spans - keep sessions brief
• More easily excitable - lower expectations
• Critical socialization period - expose to many people positively
• Redirect to appropriate behaviors (sit instead of jump)

Adult Dogs (1-7 Years):

• May have established bad habits - be patient
• Better impulse control capacity - expect more
• Can handle longer training sessions
• Consistency is key to changing behavior

Senior Dogs (7+ Years):

• May be less energetic naturally - easier to manage
• Could have anxiety from cognitive decline - be gentle
• Might prefer quiet room to socializing - respect that
• Can still learn new behaviors!

Success Stories

"Our Lab, Max, used to knock over every guest who walked through the door. After six weeks of consistent training, he now goes to his mat when the doorbell rings and waits calmly for permission to greet. It's transformed our holiday gatherings!" - Jennifer M.

"Bella was terrified of strangers. We created a safe space for her and never forced interactions. Now she chooses to come out and say hello on her own terms. Patience and respect made all the difference." - David K.

When to Seek Professional Help

Consider hiring a certified dog trainer if:

• Your dog shows aggression toward guests
• Anxiety is severe and not improving
• You're not seeing progress after 4-6 weeks
• You feel overwhelmed or unsafe
• Your dog has bitten or attempted to bite

Final Thoughts

Teaching calm behavior during guest visits is a gift to both your dog and your visitors. It reduces stress, prevents accidents, and allows everyone to enjoy the holidays together. Remember: consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement are your best tools. Start training now, and by next holiday season, you'll have a calm, confident greeter!

Set your dog up for training success! Browse our collection of training treats, pouches, and comfort items perfect for teaching calm behavior during the busy holiday season.