Calgary dog life
Holiday visitors and the dog: a December plan
December is the busiest month of the year for the front door: couriers, carollers, in-laws with suitcases, friends stamping snow off their boots. For many dogs that adds up to a doorbell that never stops ringing. This page gives you a visitor protocol, a retreat plan for the long evenings, and the practice that makes both easier, started well before the first party.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
The visitor protocol
Set the door rules before the doorbell rings.
Decide in advance who handles the dog when guests arrive, and make it an adult. Before opening the door, clip on the leash or put your dog behind a baby gate with a familiar chew. Open the door only once your dog is secured. Ask guests to ignore the dog for the first few minutes while coats, boots and gifts come off, since that flurry is when jumping and bolting tend to peak.
Once things settle, bring your dog out on leash and allow greetings only while all four paws stay on the floor. If your dog seems worried, skip greetings entirely; never coax a nervous dog toward a guest. During long visits, offer breaks: a quiet room with a bed, water and a chew, with a gate across the doorway, lets your dog rest without being shut away from the household.
- Adult in charge at the door
- Leash or gate before opening
- Four-on-the-floor greetings only
- Gated retreat room ready
Training before December
Practise the doorbell in November, not on the night.
Start with place. Teach your dog to go to a bed and stay there while you walk around, then while you touch the door handle, then while another adult knocks. Record your doorbell and play it quietly while rewarding calm on the bed, raising the volume only as your dog stays relaxed. Keep the leash on or a gate up during all door practice, and keep children out of these sessions.
If the doorbell still sends your dog into barking, jumping or guarding the entry, Private Training at $150 + GST works on a door routine built for your household, with a written weekly plan. Growling at guests or any bite history calls for a full assessment, and Behaviour Rehab accepts dogs with bite histories after one. Never punish a growl; it is useful information. A consultation recommends a program, and says so when something lighter will cover it.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
How do I stop my dog jumping on guests at Christmas?
Manage first: leash or gate before the door opens, and guests ignore the dog until it is calm. Then reward four paws on the floor and practise place in the weeks before.
Should I put my dog away when guests come over?
For many dogs, a gated quiet room with a chew is a kindness, not a punishment, especially during loud dinners. Check on them, and let them rejoin once the house calms down.
Why does my dog bark at the door every time?
Doorbells and knocks often predict exciting or worrying arrivals, so many dogs react before they even see who it is. Practising with a recorded doorbell can help change what the sound means.
What if my dog growls at a visitor?
Give your dog space, move them calmly to their retreat area, and do not punish the growl. Book a professional assessment before the next visit.
Keep reading
Calm doors by December
Book a consultation and we will look at your dog's door manners and recommend a plan before the holiday visitors arrive.
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