Few things are more heartwarming than coming home to an excited dog, tail wagging, ready to greet you. But when that excitement turns into jumping, barking, or overwhelming energy, it can become frustrating—not to mention unsafe, especially around children or elderly visitors. That’s where personal dog training for greetings becomes a game-changer.
Teaching your dog to greet politely by sitting calmly when someone enters the home (or even during walks) is one of the most valuable manners they can learn. It encourages self-control, reduces chaos, and makes your dog more welcome in public places and around guests.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you train your dog to sit for “hellos” in a calm, consistent, and rewarding way.
Why Polite Greetings Matter
Polite greetings aren’t just about etiquette—they’re about safety and communication. A dog that jumps up can unintentionally knock someone over, scratch them, or cause stress. For your dog, jumping may seem like a natural way to show affection, but it can create problems if left untrained.
Teaching your dog to sit during greetings provides them with a clear alternative to jumping and helps them understand what’s expected when they’re excited. It creates a win-win situation: your dog still gets to interact with people, but in a calm and controlled manner.
Set the Foundation with the “Sit” Command
Before you start teaching polite greetings, your dog should already understand and respond to the basic “sit” command. If your dog hasn’t mastered this yet, start by practicing in a quiet, distraction-free environment with treats or toys as rewards.
Once your dog reliably sits on cue, you’re ready to move to the next phase: teaching them to sit as part of the greeting ritual.
Step-by-Step Polite Greeting Training
Start with Controlled Setups
Begin in a calm environment—ideally your own home—where your dog is least distracted. Ask a family member or friend to help as a “visitor.” Leash your dog to prevent any lunging or jumping during the initial training stages.
When the person enters the room or approaches, hold your dog’s leash and ask them to “sit.” Only allow the person to greet your dog when they are sitting calmly. If your dog gets up, the visitor should stop moving forward and ignore the dog until they sit again.
Use Rewards for Calm Behavior
As soon as your dog sits and remains seated while the visitor greets them, reward with treats, praise, or gentle petting—whatever motivates your dog. Positive reinforcement will help them associate sitting with receiving attention and affection.
Repeat this exercise several times with different people and gradually increase the level of excitement or distractions.
Be Consistent at Home and on Walks
Polite greeting behavior needs to be reinforced consistently. Whether you’re returning home from work, inviting a friend over, or meeting someone on a walk, use the same “sit before greeting” rule every time. This consistency teaches your dog that sitting is always the right choice when greeting people.
Make sure everyone in your household is on board. If one person allows jumping and another discourages it, your dog will become confused and the training will take longer.
Gradually Remove the Leash
Once your dog reliably sits for greetings while leashed, you can slowly introduce off-leash scenarios—only if your dog is safe and under control. Start with calm situations and work your way up to more energetic visitors or busy environments.
If your dog forgets their manners, don’t punish them. Simply stop the interaction, guide them back to a “sit,” and begin again.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Excitement Overload
If your dog gets overly excited when someone approaches, try having the person pause several feet away and wait for the dog to settle. You may also need to use higher-value treats during the early training stages.
Jumping Habit
For dogs with a long-standing habit of jumping, it can help to redirect their energy with a toy or chew object while reinforcing the sit command. Ignoring jumping behavior and only giving attention when they sit will reinforce the behavior you want.
Inconsistent Responses
If your dog sits sometimes but not always, go back to basics and lower the excitement level of the training situation. Add more repetitions and make sure you’re always rewarding calm behavior.
Benefits Beyond Manners
Polite greetings teach your dog more than just how to behave—they improve your communication, strengthen your bond, and create a dog that’s easier to live with. Dogs that greet calmly are also more welcome in dog-friendly cafes, stores, parks, and public spaces.
Plus, this form of training gives your dog a job: sitting becomes their “work” when people approach. Dogs love structure, and giving them a predictable way to behave helps them feel more confident and secure.
Don’t Hesitate to Get Help
While teaching polite greetings is achievable at home, some dogs may need extra support—especially those with high energy, anxiety, or past behavioral issues. In these cases, consider hiring a certified professional dog trainer who can help in dog training polite greetings.
Final Thoughts
Teaching your dog to sit for hellos is one of the most rewarding behaviors you can train. It creates calm, respectful greetings, reduces unwanted jumping, and improves safety for everyone involved. With consistency, positive reinforcement, and a little patience, your dog will soon be a polite and well-mannered greeter—ready to say “hello” the right way, every time.