A Great Tip For Stopping Your Dog From Running Out the Door
Do you have one of those irrepressible dogs who is so excited to get outside that he runs out the door before you want him to? If so, you will be glad to learn how to stop this problem. The good news is that is is not all that hard a problem to correct. I am sure you have known dogs like this-I had one myself until I taught my dog better manners. I could understand why he was so excited to get out. In his mind the door opening means playtime (can’t blame him for that). Of course he is excited to go outside and have a bunch of fun, but he still must learn to wait for your permission o go out through he door. A dog can very easily get in trouble that way-perhaps getting into a dog fight with the that one dog he really hates, or worse, hit by a car or chasing a neighbor’s child.
Not only are there danger issues with your dog running out the door, but another real problem is that your dog is not showing the respect you need to earn to be the pack’s leader.You are the leader of your family pack, so you must be the Alpha Dog. Part of being the boss is making sure he knows that you are the one who decides if and when he gets to go out that door. Don’t let your dog think he is the boss instead of you-your success in training him depends on this. Using the positive training tips I’ve listed below, you’ll be able to remind your dog who is boss, and stop the problem of your dog running through the doorway ahead of you.
Using some basic obedience tricks he has hopefully already been taught before, just follow these tips. If your dog is not already obedience trained, it is time to do something about it, so you can apply these tips.
1. You will want to start this type of training with one of the house’s inner doors-not the front door. Since the front door is too tempting, it is a lot easier to being the training with an inner door. As you approach a door within your house you’ll probably notice how your dog will position himself to get through it before you do. You shouldn’t let this happen-instead command his with a firm tone of voice to sit and stay. Praise him when he assumes the correct position. It might take a minute for him to really relax and settle down, so wait a little before beginning to open the door again. After his has relaxed enough, you can open the door. As he sees the door open, he most likely will quickly leave the sit and stay position, and be well on his way to going through that door. Don’t get upset when this happens, as it will take some work to correct this behavior problem. This training is simple, but it will require lots of repetition before your dog stops running through the door to get out.
The fact that this happens tells you that your dog is not as well obedience trained as he needs to be. If your dog does try to pass you and go out the door, try to block him using your legs. Return your dog immediately to his sit and stay position-using your firm command voice and also your hand signal to reinforce your command. Once he has resumed the sit praise him for sitting and staying. You’ll have to repeat this exercise for perhaps 15 or so minutes per session several times a day. In fact, you should practice it each time you go through a door together until the dog stops trying to run through the door. Don’t forget to stay calm-don’t get upset with your pet-and reinforce the correct behavior lavishly.
2. Once you have retrained him to stay in the sit position when you open the door, try to open it just wide enough for you to pass through. You don’t want the dog to leaving the sit and stay position until you invite him to. Opening the door only partway is a little less temptation for him to try to follow. If he again leaves his sit and stay position, just return him to his spot again and repeat the command him to sit and stay. Until he shows you he can stay in his sit position even after you have gone through the door, you will just keep repeating this stage of the training. Be patient, he will learn if you keep at it.
3. Now you are ready to try out the results at the front door-this is the ultimate test. He knows this is the door that leads to the great outdoors and fun, so he may be more anxious to leave position and run out the front door than a bedroom door. Be sure you are ready by placing his leash on him before you go to the front door. For a larger breed, it is a smart idea to put one end of the leash around the front doorknob, so that if he does charge out, he won’t get very far. Not only will the doorknob trick stop him in his tracks, he’ll have some food for thought before trying that again. {The good thing is you won’t have to worry about him pulling your arm out of the socket}. If your dog has really learned his sit and stay lesson well from the previous indoor exercises, he might behave just fine. However, if he does run through, just go back a step and keep working on that some more. go back and continue to repeat the exercises at other doorways, giving him lots of affection, praise and treats when he does show you he is learning. He’ll learn that he still gets to go out, but he has to respect you as the Alpha dog, and wait for you to invite him through the doorway.
4. Your dog will be well on his way to boundary training from learning to really only pass when you say it is OK. Putting your dog on his leash and commanding him to assume the sit and stay position, stand on the edge of the boundary you have designated (or the curb to the street). Next, step past the boundary, leaving your dog at the sit and stay position. If you’ve done a great job of training him already, he will remain where he is. If your dog stays, be sure to positively reinforce his good behavior with plenty of praise and a reward.so you positively reinforce that good behavior. If he hasn’t truly learned his lessons he will try to cross the boundary or step into the street-just put him back in place, and keep repeating the exercise. Make sure you repeat this training daily several times, for perhaps 15 minutes per session. Each time you reach a curb, pass through a doorway or leave his boundaries, you can reinforce his training.If you like to know more about boundary training, read my article on Boundary Training for more tips about how to keep your dog inside his yard.
Well, now you know that it is a simple process to train your dog not to run through the doors ahead of you. If your dog hasn’t already been obedience trained, you really should take the time to do so, and get the most out of your relationship with your best friend.
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