3 Methods to Calm Your Dog Around Other Dogs

It is natural for a dog to be excited being around other dogs, especially if it is their own kind.

Dogs are naturally pack animals which means they are used to being in groups, this also means that they are highly social animals and they constantly long for attention and the presence of others.

But what do you think will happen if your canine buddy gets too excited being around others and he gets completely out of hand? It may be possible that your dog’s barking, whining, and jumping may not be pleasing for other dogs.

Your dog can put himself in danger of being attacked or bitten if other dogs do not like being invaded of their personal space.

One issue that is concerned when your canine buddy is excited is that his excitement may develop into aggressive behavior. Hyperactive dogs can be related to a dog that is developing fears and anxieties.

If you restrain your dog from reaching from other dogs, it may just create further tension that may result in negative energy.

Also, if you punish your dog for his behavior it may just lead to a negative association when being around other dogs.

When your canine buddy crosses paths with other dogs, of course you want him to not only be friendly but also calm and confident.

It is important for your dog to know how to be calm around other fur babies so he wouldn’t invade their space and not cause any threat.

Teach your canine buddy to be calm when around other dogs and instill in him that meeting other dogs is a pleasant experience.

There are many methods that you can use and practice to gain control towards your dog’s behavior and be able to socialize them.

These methods will be worth investing your time upon for the welfare of your dog, so that he can interact safely and confidently around other dogs regardless of the situation.

Once you start training your dog, you need to be able to restrain him from unwanted behavior and redirect his attention during training.

In case of the presence of another dog, you may use a clip harness that helps protect your dog’s neck during training once he becomes excited.

You may also need to find other dogs to help calm down your dog, find a dog that is mature and calm to help your dog during training.

Provide treats to make positive reinforcements to your dog when he behaves calmly and positively. Avoid letting your dog have access to other dogs when he is not training so that he won’t get too excited.

Here are some easy methods that you can consider when training your dog:

1. The Calm Reaches the Goal Method

Step 1: Meet with a friend

Talk to a friend of yours that has a calm canine buddy. Organize to meet your friend with her calm dog while you are out for a walk. Put a leash on your dog and go for a walk to your arranged meeting place.

Step 2: Stop while calm

Once you see your friend and her dog from a good distance, ask them to stop as long as your dog is still calm. Then, ask your dog to sit and stay.

Step 3: Retreat when needed

Ask your friend and her dog to approach you. Once your dog gets up and starts to be excited, ask your friend to stop and walk away.

Step 4: Continue with the plan

Wait until your dog becomes calm. Once he is calm and sitting, ask your friend to come close again. As long as your dog remains calm and is sitting, they can come closer. If your dog gets excited again, repeat the previous step.

Step 5: Repeat, repeat, repeat

Repeat several times until your dog gets the hang of it and he can incorporate that as long as he is sitting calmly, the other dog will come over, and if he is not, the other dog will leave.

2. The Sit and Stay Method

Step 1: Sit and Stay or Down and Stay

Teach your dog to sit and stay or teach him how to lay down and stay. Practice these while he is on or even without his leash.

Step 2: Trigger your dog

Ask your friend to take her calm dog over to your house, your yard, or to meet you on a walk. Put your own dog on a leash before your friend’s calm dog enters your house or your yard.

Step 3: Command your dog

Once your friend’s calm dog enters, command your dog to lay down and stay. You may use his leash to pull him to one side, but not backwards, if it is necessary to direct him.

Step 4: Reward your dog’s calmness

When your dog obeys your sit and stay or your lay down and stay command and he is calm even with the presence of another dog, give him a treat. Repeat this in multiple sessions with the help of other dogs for several weeks.

This way your dog will learn that he needs to calmly sit and stay or lay down and stay once a dog enters his home or even when he encounters another dog while he is on the streets.

Step 5:  Reward your dog’s calmness with your goal

Once your dog is calm and all set, let him meet with another dog.

3. The “Get It” method

Step 1: Provide treats for the command

Place your dog’s treats on the ground right in front of his nose and say the words “get it”.

Step 2: Move the reward treat

Begin dropping treats beside you, then behind you, while commanding your dog to “get it”, this way your dog will learn to look for his treat and get it on his own. You put him on a leash, but make sure to make it loose and do not direct him unto where his treats are.

Repeat this step a multiple number of times until it becomes your dog’s instinct to look for treats behind you when you say “get it”.

Step 3: Expand your game

Try doing the “get it” game with your dog in a more distracting environment like the park or anywhere outside your home.

Step 4: Introduce another dog

Have your friend with the calm dog approach you. Once the calm dog is in a good distance, give treats to your dog and command him to “get it”. This way it will distract him from the presence of the other dog and it will teach him to not get excited.

Step 5: Increase stimulus

After some time move your “get it” game closer to the other dog while still providing treats to your dog.

He should remain focused on the treats and not to the calm dog. Repeat this step until your dog starts looking for treats whenever he sees another dog around.

Is your dog out of control and unable to calm down? CLICK HERE to watch this FREE Step-by-Step Video from Doggy Dan’s Program!

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