How Can I Stop My Dog From Running Out The Door?

One of the most common dangers for your new puppy or dog is their tendency to dart and run through open doors. By teaching your pet to “wait” you are saving their precious lives from dangers such as being hit by a car, coming into contact with an aggressive dog that could be sick or not vaccinated like your dog, or running into a potential environmental hazard. If you haven’t already enrolled your 4 legged friend in obedience training, here is a 5-step plan that will help you to stop your puppy or dog from darting out of open doors. You will definitely want to check out some of these puppy sweaters for your dog today.

We call this procedure the “Wait at the Door” because that is exactly what you want your dog to do. You don’t want to cause a phobia in them about the outdoors, you only want to stop them from running outside without you! You can pick up some of these pet carriers for your new puppy right away.

First Step is While you are inside your home, have your dog sit by your side while you are facing the door to go out. The door should and this is very important, the door should open away from you.You are wanting to send the message to your canine companion that just because a door is open, does not mean it is okay for them to charge on through it.

The second step in this procedure is to use the command “wait” as you approach the actual door. If your dog does not move, say “Good Boy” and give him a treat. However, if he starts to move towards the door, give a cheerful “No No”, and get him to sit down again. Do not scold him, keep it positive. It’s supposed to be fun and productive. Your dog will love some of these small dog clothes.

Next be sure to keep on repeating the process but this time use a shorter distance, such as arms’ length.

If your dog once again does not move, praise your dog and offer a treat. If they do not, don’t feel discouraged and don’t discourage your dog. Just use the friendly, “no,no,no” command and keep trying. When your dog has allowed you to open the door all the way while remaining still after you have opened the door a little further each time, then you have nearly got this skill mastered! If your dog is still having problems, just take a deep breath and keep trying. They will eventually sooner than later catch on!

The last step in this procedure is when you are able to open the door all the way while your dog remains sitting, the next step is to walk through it, turn around and face him. Hold on for about 15 seconds and walk back through to your dog giving them praise and a treat. Do this a few times, and even call your dog to walk through with you and have them sit with you on the porch. Keep practicing and rewarding for good behavior. The final result should be that your dog has learned to sit every time a door is opened instead of bolting. With the repetition and practice of the five steps, your dog’s instincts will be finely tuned so that automatically they will sit and wait for your permission to go through the doorway.

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