When our dogs have Big Feelings about strangers, we want to make sure they are able to regulate their intensity to stay calm and comfortable. First impressions are so important, and for our nervous dogs we want to make sure people are putting their best foot forward!
When dogs are unsure of a person, they may want to approach to sniff and gather more information about that person. This first approach is not social and not an invitation to pet.
Sniff & Dismiss is a pattern game for greetings that teaches our dogs several things about approaching strangers:
- Greetings are optional, and I don’t have to say hi if I don’t want to.
- Greetings are safe, and I don’t have to be touched if I don’t want to.
- Greetings are brief, and I don’t need to stick around very long.
- Greetings are calm, and all the exciting parts happen when I’m next to my person.
When your dog knows this game, they stick with you calmly when strangers approach. When you say “Do you want to go see?” they either approach the person and sniff them before returning to you, or they choose not to approach.
Teaching The Cue
What you’ll need: your dog, a leash, a few low-value treats, and a person your dog knows.
- Put your dog on leash and stand 8-10ft from your helper. Your helper should not have any treats.
- Give your dog a few participation cookies to help warm them up.
- Making sure there aren’t any treats in your hands, say “Do you want to go see?” and walk towards your helper.
- If necessary, your helper can assist by calling your dog after you cue for a few reps!
- As soon as your dog approaches and sniffs your helper for 2 seconds, say “Yes!” and recall them to you. Give them a few treats for coming back.
- Practice this until your dog is easily responding to each cue.
Using Sniff & Dismiss with New People
We use familiar people to teach this skill so that our dog understands that the words “Do you want to go see?” are a question, and an opportunity to greet if they would like to! When we ask the question with new people, we do things a little differently:
- Stop several feet away from the new person. If they try to come closer, instruct them not to approach.
- Assess your dog’s body language for likelihood of good choices, desire to greet, and current mindset. If you think they might have trouble staying successful, do not proceed.
- “Sorry, I don’t think she wants to say hi today!”
- Set expectations to help them stay successful! Instruct them to stay there, ignore your dog, and not try to touch or pet.
- “When she approaches, just stay still and let her sniff you! Don’t stare at her or try to touch her – she is pretty shy! After she sniffs you, I’ll call her back and give her some treats for being brave.”
- Ask your dog: “Do you want to go see?” and walk towards the new person until your dog is close enough to greet them.
- If your dog chooses to stick next to your side or chooses not to approach, say “Okay, not today!” and give them a treat. Make some distance until they are comfortable.
- After your dog sniffs the new person a few times, say “Yes!” and call them back to you for some treats.
- If everything went well, repeat a few times!
Tips for Success
- Never have strangers give your dog treats, especially during Sniff & Dismiss.
- Phrase the cue as a question! This helps strangers understand that your dog might choose not to greet them.
- Make sure all the humans know the rules! Sniff & Dismiss works well because it is consistent, predictable, and clear for our dogs.
- Advocate for your dog. If you think the humans involved might break the rules, avoid letting your dog greet them.
- When someone makes an incorrect choice and crosses a boundary – petting, staring, talking to your dog, crouching down, etc – recall your dog and let them know that you’ve got their back when people do “weird” or unpredictable things!
