Building Greeting Confidence

Whether your dog is too friendly or too cautious, structure fixes the problem:

• Teach an auto-sit for overenthusiastic greeters — sitting earns the interaction, jumping delays it.
• Use distance and treats for fearful dogs — pair stranger proximity with high-value food at sub-threshold distances.
• Let the dog choose to approach — never force contact or allow strangers to reach toward a nervous dog.
• Coach strangers on proper greeting posture: crouch sideways, avoid eye contact, let the dog come to them.
• Protect your dog's space by stepping between them and approaching strangers when needed.