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Sit to Greet VS Go Say Hi
Hi. Im working with Graham, an 11 month old king Charles cavalier. We are about to have our third private lesson. Im debating how to teach polite greetings to strangers, friends etc indoors and out on walks. He is very good with sit and is building a really good sit-stay especially with his dad.
So, I could teach some version of “sit to greet”. No attention from new person unless Graham is sitting quietly. I’ve never taught this, but I think Dad could ask Graham to sit, then reward as he remains sitting while person approaches. If he breaks, person stops or backs away. Dad can use “eh eh” verbal correction. If he sits, person approaches.
Or dad could ask for a sit and stay. But the there needs to be a release.
So then I wonder about a Go Say Hi cue which Ive never taught either. Im not quite clear on the steps. Is the Go Say Hi cue used as a release from a sit-stay? How do you build in a polite “hi” and not a jumpy “hi”?
How do y’all teach polite dog-to-person greetings?
Thanks for any advice. Ruth
ps. Another issue this brings up is the “sit” with an “auto stay” (or implied “stay”) versus a “sit” cue with an added “stay” verbal cue. I know this is sort of nuanced, but Ive had different mentors like one over the other. Do y’all teach that the “stay” is implied when you give a “sit” cue? Thanks.
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3 Replies
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I think these are all great questions! For me personally I teach both depending on the dog. If a dog loves people approaching I teach sitting politely as person comes into space. I don’t ask for a stay with sit. Just have the person ask the dog for a sit at the side cue. They give treats as person approaches and no treats when I leave. We build excitement and also I pretend I am smaller like a kid. If dog jumps I walk away if I slowly build this always works. Now if I have a dog that is a little cautious, I am talking puppies here. I like the go say hi cue so they have a choice if they really want to see the person. They still ask for a sit at the side first – then cue the dog to go say hi and I recall back with a touch cue to owner. We also go over the script of what owner says to person. For example I will say can I pet your dog? The person reply’s with something like we are in training. Let me set them up for success, please pet them on chest or rump etc. or the go say hi dogs. If the dog comes up to you please pet the rump for 4 sec and I will recall back. If they dont approach they would not like to interact today. This is a real brief description of what I do. I really cater to what the dog likes, and always have the owner go through what they would say so they are prepared. I do have some dogs that don’t want an interaction. We practice saying sorry not today we are in training after they put dog in a. Sit at the side so they can block the person.
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This is such excellent advice and a great talk-through, @pawsup ! I love that you give the dog choices as well as the handler. ☺️ This should empower both of them.
I would like to add…if a very jumpy dog, or one who may sit initially, but jump when someone approaches (adolescent lather dogs, especially) I first have the handler settle the dog into a Down. As I approach, If they get up, I move away. The handler treats the dog consistently as the dog remains in down position. When I’m 4-5’ away, the handler can ask if the dog wants to “go say hi”. Sometimes they do and sometimes, they would rather stay in Down and get treats for an AutoHold (not a Stay). I always laugh when that happens and try not to feel like chopped liver!
When my Berner was in private training years ago, and I simply was a well-intentioned owner who knew nothing, our trainer would only have us move off the sidewalk about 5’ away and cue the dog to “Sit for people”. This was simply to give a person a chance to pass us, not to say hi. And he was SUCH a social boy, but often quite a moose (although he never jumped on anyone). Of course, people DID want to say hi…not as many Berner out there 15 years ago as there are currently…I wish I’d had this thread in my toolbox!
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Thanks for sharing how you teach greetings. I tend to teach the “hand target greeting” which sounds similar to yours: Ask the person approaching to pause. Wait for your dog to show calm. Say, “ok, greet” and send them to the person’s hand. I have folks call their dogs back immediately if they worry about jumping after the target. They repeat a couple of times if necessary.
A pet peeve is when a handler holds the leash low to prevent jumping. I think that adds to overall arousal without teaching anything. I had a CGC class last night where that was happening, so it’s on my mind. 😉
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