Do you greet your dog?

[M.F.]

I am a member of a local Lab fb group. Very diverse views on training. I often see people say “ignore your dog when you come home” with the expectation this will produce a well-behaved dog. So, I posted the following in that group:

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“Don’t greet your dog when you come home.” I’m curious to know the reasoning behind this. I always greet my dog when I come home. I’m so excited to see him. He’s equally excited to see me! He sometimes chooses his favorite toy to parade around with cos he’s so happy. Why wouldn’t I be happy to see him? And I’d be so disappointed if he’s wasn’t happy to see me, too. Equally so with the others in the house—the humans!

We trained our dog from the beginning to be comfortable being left alone. But that did not include ignoring him on coming home!
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What do you all do? Do you greet or ignore?

 

[kateincornwall]

I have also heard and read this , but do not carry it out . When we first started to leave our dogs, it was with minimal fuss to keep it all normal but we have always greeted them upon return , I would find it very hard indeed not to do so x

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Meh - I've never had a dog who had separation anxiety, so I've never thought this advice pertained to me.

I hardly ever greet Carbon because I hardly ever leave him and come back. But the (literally) handful of times I come home, of course I say 'hi' to him and he usually has to show me one of his babies and has a lovely waggy tail for me. The only other place I leave him and come back is in the car. In that case, I greet him and he gives me the cold shoulder: not a big fan of being left in the car!

 

[SwampDonkey]

I always greet. We're all happy to see each other. It was all part of that hierarchy thing we were encouraged to believe in years ago. I just do what feels right. It's also supposed to reduce anxiety but it wouldn't work with my dogs they love to greet me and me them. Ignoring them would make them anxious and upset. They are also happy to be left and make it very clear that I need to go so they can have a Kong.

 

[snowbunny]

We love our greetings. Squidge will grab a toy and then repeatedly go through our legs (yes, she still does this, @Beanwood ), Willow trots between me and J, wrinkling her nose in greeting before running outside and standing with her front feet on the step in her "I'm ready for dinner" pose. Ginny does a funny little three-legged dance and Shadow... well, he's just Shadow, bimbling about, not quite sure what's going on, just that it's EXCITING.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Rory does the arched body, derpy floppy eared soppy tail wag as he trots over to be hugged. He's so sleepy and happy. I always want them to think that lm happy to see them. I am though they always make me smile

 

[Cath]

Yes of course I greet my two, both bring a toy with them and are wagging their tails. How could I not greet them I love them.
How would you like to be ignored by someone you love.

 

[Joy]

Yes I always greet Molly and did with previous dogs. If I've been out with other dogs Molly does an especially extended sniff-down to check on who I've been feeding her treats to.

 

[Hollysdad]

Greet, every time. I can't imagine coming home and not saying hello to Holly. The full-on waggy welcome s one of the joys of dog ownership. We say hello at the door then she will dash off to fetch a toy. We have a play then she'll go to fetch my slippers (with treats as a reward).

 

[Jacqui-S]

Yup. Always get a greeting, worry if I don't (usually because she has been sound asleep in a sun patch in the upstairs bedrooms)

Just need to work on the 4 paws on the floor greeting from a certain biscuit like dog

 

[Granca]

Yes, always greet mine too. It’s still work in progress getting Wispa not to jump up because she was encouraged to do so by my youngest son when she was a puppy. She still has a very bouncy greeting nine years later . Tuppence has to find a toy to bring and wiggles rather than jumps!

 

[kateincornwall]

Both ours come running to the door to see us , Nelly adores a fuss , Reuben would be hard to ignore ( not that I want to )

 

[Atemas]

When we first started to leave our dogs, it was with minimal fuss to keep it all normal but we have always greeted them upon return , I would find it very hard indeed not to do so

This.

Quiet routine when we leave her but always greet her on return as I am always pleased to see her. She generally just comes out of her room, quietly wagging her tail. It’s a no fuss thing. First thing in the morning is different, we get a boisterous welcome .

 

[Ashley]

I don't rile them up, but always greet, pet and chat!

 

[Jen]

When Stanley was a puppy and used to have seperation anxiety I was told not to let him out of his crate as soon as I got home. Maybe leave him 30 or so seconds so I did that.

But now I always say “hello Stanley” as soon as I get in the house and give him a stroke. And Rory is always so excited to see him he goes charging over.

 

[Candy]

I have always greeted my dogs, how could I not, when I'm always so pleased to see them? Joy comes wagging to me with a toy in her mouth. We also have morning greetings when she comes to my bedside and puts her front paws up. Then it's kisses and cuddles and quite often the Slipper Game. The very best way to start the day!

 

[Sophiedoodle]

I always greet them but do try encourage them not to jump up… to do this, I tend to sit on the floor and get smothered
Oreo just goes absolutely nuts if I’ve left her at home and it is just so nice to be welcomed by her

 

[Selina27]

How could I not greet the sweet sleepy eyed face that greets me on returning home
She always smells so gorgeous too, and does that crab like walk when her back end sort of overtakes her front and her tail goes nineteen to the dozen.
But when she was younger I was very quiet on returning home, I never ignored her, but excitement nipping lasted a long while with her and it was as well not too over excite her.
Not a problem now though.

 

[M.F.]

Thank goodness I joined this little group. I shudder to think what a miserable existence poor Snowie might’ve had had I stuck with the big dog school we spent the first year at. And Cesar Milan. I bought TWO of his books when we got Snowie. He’s also a big ignore-your-dog person. My husband was just saying how sociable Labs are, especially our boy. It would be just plain cruel to ignore him. I love how the woman who cleans our house kisses him on arrival and on leaving—on the lips!

When he was a puppy we did keep him on a leash when visitors arrived. Otherwise he careened down the garden path. We had a few dirty paw prints on white tops! Hilarious!! Now he’s a bit lazier and waits at the top of the stairs wagging madly. The best welcomer!

 

[Stacia]

The only other place I leave him and come back is in the car. In that case, I greet him and he gives me the cold shoulder: not a big fan of being left in the car!

Same with Rourke, he doesn't acknowledge me at all!!!