Teaching Your Groodle Calm Behaviour Around Guests

Groodles are friendly, people-loving dogs—but that doesn’t always translate to calm behaviour around guests. Jumping, barking, overexcited pacing—it’s common. But it can be stressful, especially when visitors aren’t used to dogs.

The good news? With consistent Groodle social training, you can reduce that chaos and help your dog show better manners at the door, in the lounge room, or around the barbecue. You don’t need harsh corrections or high-level commands—just structure and timing.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through practical dog behaviour management strategies to help your Groodle stay calm when people come over. At Gramayre Groodles and Poodles, our puppies start early with gentle social exposure so they can grow into calm, well-adjusted adults.

Why Groodles Get So Excited Around Guests

It starts with temperament. Groodles are social. They like people, and they get energy from interaction. That’s a great trait, but without structure, it can lead to:

• Jumping on guests at the door
  
  

• Barking or whining for attention
  
  

• Circling or pacing during visits
  
  

• Following guests too closely
  
  

• Ignoring your commands
  
  

Your dog isn’t being rude—they just haven’t learned how to manage their own energy yet.

Step 1: Teach Calm as a Default, Not a Reaction

Many owners wait for the doorbell to train their dog. That’s too late. You need to build calm behaviour in neutral settings before you can expect it during excitement.

Key Calm Dog Techniques:

• Mat work: Teach your Groodle to lie calmly on a mat for short periods. Reward quiet behaviour—not just commands.
  
  

• Settle cue: Introduce a word like “relax” or “settle” while your dog is lying down and relaxed. Repeat daily until they associate the word with calm.
  
  

• Calm greetings at home: When arriving home, don’t engage if your dog is jumping or spinning. Wait for four paws on the floor before giving attention.
  
  

These are foundations. If your Groodle knows how to calm down with you, it’ll be easier for them to generalise that to guests.

Step 2: Create a Guest Arrival Routine

If you don’t have a plan, your Groodle won’t either. Build a routine around how guests enter your home, and repeat it the same way every time.

Sample Arrival Routine:

1. Mat before door: Send your Groodle to their mat before you open the door.
   
   

2. Use leash if needed: If your dog breaks position, use a lead to guide them back without excitement.
   
   

3. Ask guests to ignore your dog at first. No eye contact, no talking, no pats.
   
   

4. Release with permission: Once your Groodle is calm, use a release word like “okay” to allow them to approach.
   
   

This gives your dog a job and prevents them from learning that chaos = reward.

Tip: Revisit our blog on Groodle temperament for insights into why your dog may react differently to different people.

Step 3: Manage the First 5 Minutes

The first few minutes after a guest arrives are usually the most intense. That’s when adrenaline and excitement peak. Use this window to reinforce calm—not to try and teach something new.

What Helps:

• Lead control: Use a light leash to guide without pulling.
  
  

• Verbal cues only: Avoid touching, correcting or over-talking. Let your dog focus.
  
  

• Slow introductions: Wait until your dog sits or lies down before letting them approach.
  
  

Keep your voice neutral. High-pitched greetings can raise your dog’s energy and undo progress.

Step 4: Use Positive Interruptions, Not Corrections

Shouting “no” rarely works—it just adds more noise to an already excited situation. Instead, use structured cues your dog already knows.

Try:

• “Go to mat”
  
  

• “Touch” (to get their nose to your hand)
  
  

• “Look” (for eye contact)
  
  

• “Sit and stay” with quiet praise
  
  

These redirect focus and create structure without increasing stress. They also reinforce that calm = reward.

Step 5: Adjust Based on Guest Type

Not all guests are the same. Your Groodle may act differently depending on who visits.

Common Triggers and Adjustments:

• Kids: Use a leash and limit movement until the dog is calm
  
  

• Elderly visitors: Keep the dog on lead or behind a barrier until settled
  
  

• Large groups: Use crate or mat breaks to give your dog space
  
  

Groodle social training should be flexible. The goal isn’t to suppress excitement—it’s to guide it into appropriate responses.

Bonus Tip: Reward Calm Without a Command

Most owners only reward calm behaviour after a cue. But dogs learn faster when you reward calmness even when it happens naturally.

Do This:

• If your Groodle lies down quietly while guests are chatting, toss a treat calmly
  
  

• If they remove themselves from stimulation, acknowledge with praise
  
  

• If they offer a sit instead of jumping—reward that choice
  
  

This builds self-regulation, which is the long-term goal of any good dog behaviour management plan.

What to Do If Your Groodle Struggles

If your Groodle still struggles with guests, they may be overwhelmed—not disobedient. Here are signs your dog is over threshold:

• Barking that doesn’t stop
  
  

• Jumping despite leash or redirection
  
  

• Avoidance, hiding, or freezing
  
  

• Ignoring all known cues
  
  

In That Case:

• Use a baby gate or crate to separate during high-energy times
  
  

• Let your dog watch from a distance until calm
  
  

• Reduce guest interaction to one person at a time
  
  

• Revisit basics during quiet moments
  
  

Need help reading your dog’s signals? Our Groodle life stages blog can help you spot if your dog is reacting based on age, energy, or emotional state.

Social Training Should Start Early—But It’s Never Too Late

At Gramayre Groodles and Poodles, we introduce gentle social training from the start. Puppies learn to respond to voice, settle near people, and manage new experiences calmly. This foundation makes home life easier.

Even adult Groodles can learn to behave well around guests. It just takes consistency and a plan. If you're struggling to manage behaviour, we can guide you based on your dog’s age and temperament.

Contact us to talk about calm dog strategies, or find out more about our pups raised with social training built in.

FAQs

• When should I start Groodle social training?

  As early as 8–10 weeks. Focus on gentle exposure to people, handling, and noise before introducing big social settings.

• What if my Groodle barks constantly at guests?

  Barking is often overstimulation. Create space, reward calm, and keep greetings structured and slow.

• Should I crate my dog when people visit?

  Yes, if they can relax in the crate. It gives your Groodle space to reset and prevents unwanted behaviour.

• What’s the best way to stop jumping?

  Prevent the jump from happening by managing space, using the leash, and rewarding calm four-paw behaviour before the jump starts.

• Can I teach my Groodle to greet guests calmly?

  Yes. Teach sit + stay on a mat before the door opens. Once your dog holds position, let them greet with permission.