Tag Archives: Dixie

The Hongi (dog style)

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)

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?