Guard the Door

It’s one of those things that happens in an instant. You open the door to get the mail or check the weather and your dog takes that moment to run right past you … into the great outdoors! Uh oh!

Door-bolting is a common problem almost every dog owner experiences at one time or another. Let’s face it, the outside is soooooo interesting to our dogs! There are leaves and smells and other dogs and so much more to see than inside the house.

What our pets don’t know is that outside can also be dangerous. A car, another dog or even a person can be something your dog doesn’t want to meet. The good news is you can cure a door-bolter, if you put a little work into it!

Management is important in this exercise. Something as simple as a baby gate or a folded out exercise pen to stop the dog from being able to reach the door is definitely an option.

After the safety precautions are in place start working on a solid sit stay at a spot of your choosing. Have the dog sit, ask for a stay and then take a few steps towards the door. If your dog actually stays seated, reward and praise! Keep working on this and get closer and closer to the door. Eventually touch the door handle, then crack open the door more and more. the goal is to have your dog staying seated while the door is open.

You can help the excitement level of the door opening by repeatedly through out the day going over and touching the door knob, opening it a couple of times just an inch and then closing it. Do this twenty plus times a day so that the door opening becomes less of an event and less exciting.

In the end, you always need to stay vigilant. Sometimes, your dog is just going to want to go with you. We are their best friends, so that’s understandable. However, the goal is to protect them too. By keeping them from running outside unleashed, we’re avoiding a potential lost dog or accident. That works out for everyone, even if your dog gives you those sad puppy eyes every time you leave. Don’t worry, they are always happy to see you again!