The Inside Scoop On Teaching A Super Bubbly Pup To Keep Their Cool Around Strangers

Does your dog get overly excited around strangers or in public places? This is for you.

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• March 17, 2024

Are you a proud pet parent constantly dealing with the chaos of your overly friendly fur ball? Does your pup seem to spot a potential new best friend every time you step out for a stroll? Then fear not, dear reader, for you're not alone in this paw-some adventure.

A curious Quora user recently threw out a lifeline to the digital pet community. They pleaded for tips to help stop their extremely friendly pup from going crazy over every stranger in the street.

Oh, the relatability! Cue the virtual nodding of heads and collective sighs of understanding from pet parents worldwide. Just when you think you've got obedience training down to a T, along comes your four-legged tornado, wreaking havoc on your attempts to maintain order.

So, what's the secret sauce to transforming your sociable pup into a well-mannered canine citizen? One way to do that is by using high-value treats; I'm talking about the canine equivalent of gourmet steak here. 

Use these tasty morsels to capture your pup’s attention with sit/stay commands, then reward them for maintaining composure. And when they finally manage to keep their cool in the presence of a stranger? Well, that's their ticket to a meet and greet.

But remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a perfectly behaved pup. Be patient, my friend, for consistency is key. 

With a bit of practice, your furry friend is sure to master the art of polite social interaction soon. And hey, why not make a day of it? Take your pup to a pet-friendly store like Home Depot, where you can hone their skills in a real-world setting with the help of some friendly bystanders.

This dog goes crazy around people

This user detailed an interesting training plan that OP can follow

OP can practice the training plan at public venues for more effective results

OP can try to distract their dog with treats the moment people start passing by

OP should also consider getting some of their friends to help with the training

According to this user, the breed of the dog also matters. For example, a 10-month-old Lab is happy to meet everyone

OP should also consider training their dog to understand hand signals. Hand signals can be used to get the dog’s attention and reinforce commands when they are distracted

According to this user, OP would benefit from training their puppy to respond immediately, regardless of distractions around. This can be achieved through positive reinforcement, redirection and reward

The puppy will need to learn how to respond to OP while ignoring other people in the house

OP will need to either train the dog themself or get a professional to do the training. Either ways, they have to choose the option that is the most effective and has longer lasting results

So there you have it. With a little patience, perseverance, and a whole lot of treats, you too can teach your over-friendly pup some manners. 

And who knows, their good behavior might even score them an invite to the next neighborhood block party. So, happy training, my friend, and may the treats be ever in your favor! 

We’d love to get your thoughts on this post. Join the conversation in the comments.

Jesse