Teach Your Dog Manners: Saying “Please” Matters in 2025 – Vet‑Approved Guide 🐶🙌

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Want a polite pup that says please before demanding attention? In 2025, modern veterinary behaviorists emphasize teaching manners as essential life skills that build safety, respect & harmonious living. In this vet‑approved, in‑depth guide, we explore why manners matter, key polite behaviors—like sitting before greeting, doors, and food—and how to teach them with kindness, clarity, and consistency. Let’s build respectful, joyful manners together! 🐾

✨ Why Dog Manners Matter

• “Manners” = calm, polite behavior appropriate for everyday life—sitting before entering spaces, waiting for petting/food, ignoring distractions.
• Polite dogs are safer, more confident, and more welcome in varied environments—homes, parks, vet clinics, or around visitors.
• Clear communication & predictable outcomes reduce stress for both you and your dog.

📌 Key “Please” Behaviors

Here are the cornerstone manners your dog can learn in 2025:

• Sit to greet people: No jumping, calm acknowledgments only.
• Wait at doors/gates: Earn entry, reduce rushing accidents.
• Pause before being petted: Sit or head down before contact.
• Ask politely for food or toys: No barking, pawing, or demanding.
• Ignore distractions: Stay calm around noises, other animals, or excitement.

🧠 Teaching Polite Greetings

1. Start calm: Prepare treats. Ask your dog to sit before guests enter.
2. Use management: Leash or gate limits jumping until calm.
3. Reward calm: Treat and praise when they stay seated.
4. Repeat with distractions: Gradually add movement, noise, or excited greetings.
5. Make it habitual: Sit = treat/petting. Jump = no attention.

🚪 Manners at Doors & Gates

• Teach “wait” or “sit” before opening any barrier.
• Open slightly; if paws move forward, close quietly and restart.
• Reward when they remain behind the line – they earn entry.
• Build value: open door = calm outcome.

🍽️ Pause for Petting, Meal, or Play

• No automatic petting—ask your dog to sit first.
• Before meals or toys, ask calmly. Bring them patiently, only after sit.
• Ignore excitement or whining; reward politely asking.
• Teaches impulse control and gratitude before access—no take-for-granted attention.

🎯 Training Tips for Success

• Be consistent—every family member follows the rules.
• Reward quickly—calm behavior = fast treat or praise.
• Short, frequent sessions—5–10 mins, often during normal routines.
• Gradually increase distractions—quiet home → arrival of guests → outdoor entrances.
• Use life rewards—sit before the door = access; open the crate; go outside.

🛠️ Troubleshooting Table

🧘♀️ Why This Works

• Teaching “please” behaviors builds self-control through clear cause–and–effect (sit = reward; jump = no attention).
• Reduces chaos, improves safety and enjoyment in daily life—for dog and owner alike.
• Polite dogs experience less stress, and owners experience more confidence and social freedom.

📱 Ask A Vet App 2025 Support

• 📹 Submit videos of your dog greeting or door behavior—get personalized corrections on timing and clarity.
• 🧩 Get custom “please permission” training plans around your routines and lifestyle.
• 💬 Live coaching—troubleshoot inconsistent responses or generalize across settings.

❤️ Final Thoughts

Polite manners aren’t about control—they’re about respect, clarity, and connection. Teaching your dog to say please with calm sits before greetings, meals, doors, or play builds mutual trust and a joyful bond. In 2025, let’s move beyond commands and towards mindful, respectful communication. Every “please” moment deepens your partnership. 🐾✨

Want tailored help teaching your dog manners? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app for expert video feedback, personalized manners training, and live coaching to build calm, respectful routines in your home. 🙌