The big mistake you make when you come home to your dog that professionals advise against

One of the most enjoyable times of the day for dog owners is coming home after a long day at work. You know your best friend will wait for you and give you a big welcome as soon as you walk through the door. And of course you’ll return the favor, because you missed them too. This is a ritual in almost every household with dogs, but according to some experts it may not be the best thing for your furry friend.

According to Steve Del Savio, owner of Pack Leader Dogsthis is exactly what you shouldn’t do. In a video on his TikTok account, Del Savio explains that it’s not a good idea to greet your pet with affection and shower him as soon as you walk through the door.

How to greet your dog

The technique explained by Pack Leader Dogs is based on no touching, no conversation, no eye contact. It may seem a bit extreme, but the video explains the reasoning behind it. And honestly, even though it seems almost impossible, it can make a lot of sense not to focus all your attention on your dog when you get home.

According to Del Savio, our dogs have to learn that there’s no need to throw a party every time someone comes in. Teaching them that people who come home are calm and collected can help the dog manage his energy and expectations.

This sounds simple in theory, but putting it into practice can be one of the most difficult parts of training your pet. The level of self-control it takes to come home after a long day and not immediately greet and pet your dog is practically superhuman.

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As a result, the reactions to the message are not too enthusiastic. “I can’t go crazy when I see my dog,” says one TikTok user. “When I get home is the best part of the day for my dog. I wouldn’t take that away from himsays another.

Some users found the Pack Leader Dogs video helpful. “I started it by accident. One day I realized it was much easier to walk through the door with my two 85 pound goldens. Now I have a golden puppy, so I’m glad I realized this,” says one commenter, who is happy with the results of this dog training technique.

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What do other experts say?

Although Del Savio’s advice seems logical, other experts claim that greeting your dog when you come home is actually beneficial for him. A study of Psychology today says: “Upon seeing the return of the familiar person, the dogs became more active, with tails wagging. The sight of that famous person was obviously a positive event (…). When the familiar individual greeted the dog with both voice and touch, the increase in oxytocin rose to much higher levels than when the greeting involved voice alone.”

So what should we do? Some experts say it’s okay to show affection when you get home, while others say it’s better not to arouse them. There are opinions for every taste. One thing is clear: if we choose the no touching, no conversation, no eye contact approach, we will have to fight with all our instincts. Whatever it takes to make our dogs happier.

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*This article was written in Spanish and translated using AI.