How to Prep Your Dog For House Guests

It’s a natural instinct for dogs: protecting their owners and guarding their homes. But it’s not always warranted. From a plumber entering your home to fix your pipes to your friends coming to stay for a long weekend, most people have a wide range of guests coming to their homes from time to time.

But those with particularly hyper or protective dogs, house guests can be a stressful time. Not only are the owners stressed from trying to calm their dog and prevent them from biting their guests, but the dog also gets stressed out as well. And while putting the dog in their crate can be a great short-term solution, proper training is important to making visitors a positive experience for both homeowners and their pups.

Exercise such as fetch, a long walk or dog park trip can help your dog get out some of that nervous energy and have a calmer interaction with house guests. If they are getting plenty of exercise and still having trouble lunging at others, there are a few options available to get them under control. House Call Pro put together this great guide to dogs and new house guests, with plenty of tips for pet owners and new visitors alike.

For instance, did you know you can tell how your dog is affected by house guests simply by observing their body language? While a tucked tail and panting means they are scared, leaning forward with a wrinkled muzzled means they are feeling aggressive and might attack. Understanding your dog’s triggers and how they typically react will alter how you train and reward them, which leads to a deeper bond between you and your pet (not to mention a safer experience as well).

Check out House Call Pros infographic below and try out their tips next time you have someone swing by the house!