Welcome Walks
A Greeting Pattern for Dogs Worried about Strangers
Building Trust from the First Hello: Welcome Walks at Wiggle Butt Academy
Meeting new people can be overwhelming for some dogs—especially those who are fearful, anxious, or reactive. That’s why at Wiggle Butt Academy, we don’t rush the first impression. Instead, we use a gentle, evidence-based approach that we call a Welcome Walk.
What Is a Welcome Walk?
A Welcome Walk is a carefully crafted greeting pattern designed to help dogs feel safe and in control when meeting one of our trainers, and eventually a stranger, for the first time. We meet your dog right in their comfort zone—your front yard—on a long leash that gives them the freedom to choose how close they’d like to get.
There’s no pressure to say hello. Your job is simple: stand still and let your dog lead the interaction. As our trainer casually walks by, they toss tasty treats behind your dog—a low-pressure invitation that communicates our presence means great things.
Letting Body Language Lead the Way
We don’t force interaction or use coercion. Instead, we read your dog’s body language carefully to determine their comfort level. Once we see signs of curiosity or affiliative behavior—like soft eyes, relaxed posture, or choosing to approach—we know it’s time to take the next step.
From the Yard to the Heart
After your dog warms up, we move to the backyard for more relaxed time together. When your pup is ready, we transition indoors and begin a similar process we call Comfort Tosses—our way of helping dogs feel at ease inside the home, too.