🐾 Teaching Calm Door Greetings: No More Jumping or Rushing

The good news?
👉 Calm door greetings are teachable.

At Alan’s K9 Academy, we help dogs learn that doors aren’t chaos triggers — they’re moments that require patience, self-control, and leadership.

Let’s break down why dogs rush doors — and how to fix it for good.

🧠 Why Dogs Jump or Rush the Door

Door reactivity usually comes from one (or more) of these causes:

Excitement overload
Doors predict big things: people, walks, smells, fun. Many dogs explode with energy because they’ve never been taught how to regulate it.

Lack of boundaries
If a dog has always been allowed to rush the door, they assume it’s their job to manage it.

Inconsistent rules
If rushing is allowed “sometimes,” it becomes allowed all the time in the dog’s mind.

Reinforced behavior
Jumping works. Rushing works. The door opens anyway — so the behavior repeats.

Dogs don’t understand social manners unless we teach them. Door behavior is learned, not automatic.

🚪 Why Door Manners Matter More Than You Think

Poor door behavior isn’t just annoying — it can be dangerous.

Uncontrolled door greetings can lead to:
• dogs escaping
• guests being knocked over
• fear-based reactions
• increased reactivity
• anxiety and overstimulation

Teaching calm at the door builds impulse control that carries into walks, greetings, and everyday life.

🛠 How to Teach Calm Door Greetings

1️⃣ Calm Starts Before the Door Opens

If your dog is already jumping or barking, the door should not open.

At Alan’s K9 Academy, we teach:
• sit or place before the door
• leash control when needed
• waiting for release

The door opening is a reward — not a guarantee.

2️⃣ Use “Place” as Your Anchor

The Place command gives your dog a job during excitement.

When guests arrive, your dog should:
✔ go to place
✔ stay calm
✔ remain until released

This removes confusion and gives the dog structure instead of chaos.

3️⃣ Interrupt Jumping Immediately and Fairly

Jumping is not ignored — it’s interrupted.

A fair correction tells your dog:
“That behavior doesn’t work.”

Follow the correction with direction so your dog knows what to do instead.

4️⃣ Reward Calm Behavior Only

Attention is a powerful reward.

If your dog jumps and gets touched, talked to, or laughed at — jumping is reinforced.

Calm behavior gets attention.
Jumping gets nothing.

Consistency here is critical.

5️⃣ Practice Without Guests

Don’t wait for company to train door manners.

Practice door drills daily:
• open the door
• close it if the dog breaks position
• repeat until calm

This builds muscle memory and confidence.

🧘 Why Calm Door Greetings Change Everything

When dogs learn patience at doors, they also learn:
✔ impulse control
✔ emotional regulation
✔ respect for boundaries
✔ trust in leadership

Calm door greetings are about more than manners — they’re about teaching your dog how to handle excitement properly.

💛 The Alan’s K9 Academy Approach

We don’t rely on yelling, bribing, or hoping your dog “grows out of it.”
We teach structure, consistency, and leadership so calm behavior becomes your dog’s default.

Once dogs understand the rules, they relax.
And relaxed dogs make better choices.

Let’s be honest.

If your dog rushes the door, jumps on guests, or bolts outside — it’s not because they’re stubborn. It’s because no one showed them what calm looks like in those moments.

Imagine opening the door without stress.
Imagine guests walking in safely.
Imagine your dog staying grounded instead of exploding.

That’s not luck.
That’s training done right.

👉 If you’re ready to replace chaos with calm, we’re ready to help.

📞 Call Alan’s K9 Academy at (470) 648-6512
🌐 Visit www.alansk9academy.com

Calm greetings don’t happen by accident — they’re taught. 🐾🔥

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