Arnold Dog Training: Holiday Readiness—Guests, Doorways & Calm

Doorbells, deliveries, and full houses can push even great dogs over threshold. This Arnold dog training tune-up installs simple patterns for calm doorways, polite greetings, and reliable settles so your holidays stay peaceful.

The Three Holiday Behaviors That Change Everything

• Doorway Control: Pause → eye contact → release before crossing thresholds.

• Guest Greeting Routine: “Place” for the first 2–3 minutes, then a calm release to say hello.

• House Settle: A default down on bed while life happens around them.

A Simple Weekly Plan (10–15 Minutes a Day)

• Mon–Tue: Install “place” + release (short, frequent reps).

• Wed: Add the door cue—knock/doorbell sounds at low volume → reward staying.

• Thu: Add guest rehearsal with a family member (coat/keys/door open/close).

• Fri–Sat: Combine: doorbell → “place” hold → calm release to greet → back to place.

• Sun: Quiet walk on wider sidewalks for decompression and generalization.

Polite Greeting Protocol (No Jumping, No Chaos)

1. Guest text on the way; you stage the bed.

2. Doorbell → handler cues place → reward calm.

3. After 2 minutes, release for a short sniff hello (four paws on floor).

4. Back to place with a chew while coats come off.

Leash Skills for Busy Driveways & Sidewalks

• Pre-walk ritual: Sit → eye contact → release (frames the whole walk).

• Straight-line starts: 30–60 seconds before any turns or sniff breaks.

• Calm passes: Widen distance and soften angles around strollers, guests, and delivery trucks.

When the House Gets Loud

• Move the bed to a quieter corner (visual barrier helps).

• Use patterned reinforcement: 5 calm treats spaced over 90 seconds.

• Offer a long-lasting chew after the greeting window closes.

Arnold Routes That Help Skills Stick

Pick low-stim residential loops off Ritchie Hwy and quiet connectors toward Arnold/Severna Park edges. Save busier stretches for after the holiday when your dog’s off-switch is rock solid.

Level Up with Pup Scouts

• Maryland Training Tune-Up: Short program focused on doorways, greetings, and settles

• Maryland Private Walks: Same walker, same route—keeps arousal down during busy weeks

What You Can Expect

• Clear, repeatable steps the whole family can run

• Visible progress in a week when reps are consistent

• Calm, confident behavior that carries beyond the holidays

Ready to make “calm” the holiday vibe?

Book your Arnold holiday training tune-up and get a plan that sticks.