Neutral beats frantic

The first goal is not a perfect greeting. It is helping the dog notice a person and stay organized enough to check back in. Distance and short exposure are your best tools.

Practice setup

  • Use a calm helper who can follow instructions.
  • Start farther away than you think you need.
  • Reward still feet and handler check-ins.
  • Keep greetings brief.
  • End before barking, jumping, or pulling stacks up.

When to get help

If the dog is fearful, lunges hard, snaps, or cannot recover around people, skip casual greeting practice and involve a qualified behavior professional.

Bokedex outputs are best treated as context for owner decisions. For health concerns, safety concerns, panic, biting risk, or sudden behavior change, involve a veterinarian, certified trainer, or qualified behavior professional.