Most of my readers know that I am based in New Zealand, where the Māori people are the indigenous culture. The hongi is a traditional greeting which is done by pressing your nose and forehead to the other person.
Well, I have a client who has used the hongi as a training cue for her dog, Dixie. This is uniquely New Zealand cue!
And just so I am not accused of being culturally insensitive, here’s what a human hongi looks like:
A hongi performed at a welcoming ceremony (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)
And here’s an instructional video on how to participate in a hongi correctly so as to not offend your host:
What unique dog training cues does your country have?
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