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Your dog may love cuddling up with you and show all the affection at home, but when approached by an unknown person, they may become withdrawn or skittish. If your dog is uncomfortable about meeting new people, you aren’t alone. For some dogs, this is a natural instinct that is appropriate for their breed’s temperament. For others, it can be their individual personality or the result of a traumatic experience they may have had with people in the past.
In This Article
Your dog might not ever learn to love all people or want to greet everyone they meet. But with training, most can learn to be more comfortable around people, which can help you go out in public with your pet.
Practicing Interactions
Many people expect all dogs to naturally engage with other people. But that isn’t always the case. Even dogs who genuinely enjoy engaging with people may be stressed, nervous, or uncomfortable meeting new people. In fact, one of the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test items is the acceptance of a friendly stranger to make sure they’re well equipped for this.
To teach your dog to positively and appropriately engage with a stranger, you’ll want your dog to practice meeting and calmly being petted by a variety of people. But for dogs who are uncomfortable with strangers, it can be a bit more challenging.
Don’t Force Introductions
Many people want their dogs to be friendly and social. One instinct is to push your dog to engage with strangers and force introductions, but this instinct tends to backfire. A dog who feels threatened or uncomfortable is more likely to escalate their behavior, which can result in biting.
If your dog is fearful or uncomfortable around strangers, it’s important to reevaluate the expectations you have for your dog. Instead of forcing your dog to meet people, build their confidence by just being near people without having to interact.
Signs Your Dog Is Uncomfortable
Monitor your dog’s behavior, demeanor, and body language to see their level of comfort. Dogs who are uncomfortable meeting or being near strangers may express their discomfort in a variety of ways, including:
- Overt warnings, such as barking, lunging, growling, or snapping
- Trying to run away or hide to avoid the person
But just because your dog isn’t lunging or trying to escape doesn’t mean they are OK. Subtler signs of discomfort include:
- A stiff body posture
- Yawning
- Lip licking
- Hard, fixed eyes
Building Confidence Around Strangers
For dogs who are uncomfortable around people, it’s helpful to do the training in an area near people but at a distance that makes them feel safe. This may mean being a foot or two away from people or only seeing someone down the block. Expose your dog to the sights and sounds of strangers, but stay at a threshold where they’re comfortable. If people approach you, ask them to ignore your dog.
You should also pair the stranger’s presence with rewards like small pieces of high-value treats. Through desensitization and counterconditioning, you’ll be able to help your dog form positive associations with people.
Real World Training Opportunities
If your dog trains best with a lot of space, you can practice in a park where you can see people in the distance, but you’re still far enough away from them.
Once you’re confident your dog is focused on you and can ignore other people, you can begin bringing your dog to pet-friendly businesses. Start during quieter times of day when your dog is less likely to be bothered.
You can also create real-world training opportunities in your home when you have friends or family visiting or when someone does work in your home. In these instances, have your dog leashed and praise them for any calm behavior. The goal is to reward your dog for being disinterested in visitors, rather than praise them for forced interactions. This helps shift a dog’s emotional perspective and build positive associations with strangers entering your home.
Managing Interactions
As your dog learns to appropriately interact with people, especially if they’re fearful or distrustful, you’ll want to closely manage all interactions. Keep your dog leashed when out or when people are coming into your home. Always give your dog opportunities to opt out of training if they become overwhelmed or overstimulated.
If you know you won’t be able to give your dog your full attention, it’s perfectly fine to leave them at home. If the situation in your home is too stressful, you can crate your dog or secure them in another area with a distraction like a treat-dispensing toy or interactive game.
You are your dog’s advocate. If you have a dog who isn’t excited about meeting new people, it’s always OK to tell strangers your dog doesn’t want to say hello. This can even have a positive impact on training. You can build your dog’s trust in you by not allowing other people to make them uncomfortable.
Don’t Punish Your Dog
Working with your dog through their fear or discomfort around people can be stressful and overwhelming. It’s important not to punish your dog during training or for any of their reactions to people. Punishing behaviors like barking or growling won’t change how your dog feels about the person who triggered the reaction. Instead, it’s just suppressing the behavior. This can be dangerous since suppressing early warning signs of discomfort can lead to an escalation of the unwanted behavior. For example, if you punish a dog for growling, it increases the likelihood that they might bite the next time.
Getting Support
If you’re struggling to support a dog who is shy, anxious, or otherwise uncomfortable around strangers, consider reaching out to a qualified and experienced trainer. If your dog has ever bitten someone, or if you’re concerned your dog could bite someone, start working with a trainer first rather than trying to address these behaviors on your own.
A trainer can help evaluate your dog’s behavior and, if necessary, support you with muzzle training. Make sure to find a trainer who uses positive reinforcement. They can help you support your dog in making those positive connections with strangers.