How To Train A Dog

Question: Does anyone have any suggestions on how to train a dog not to dart out the front door?

(Posted by: Tx Gal on 2009-08-24 08:08:22)

She's a 2 year old terrier mix that we rescued. She 's a great dog but will escape every chance she gets. We've done the spray bottle thing but does anyone else have any ideas without costing a fortune? Thanks to all for the great suggestions!

Posted by: Louise on 2009-08-24, 16:32:51

Teach the stay teachingpuppies.com/ training-your-puppy-to-stay-on-command

Posted by: Jon on 2009-08-24, 08:17:27

I have an inside Pit bull and he was doing the same thing...The best thing that i fould to work is to sit down right outside the door to where he cant see you. Get an empty paper towel roll and open the door just enough to let him put his nose out. When he does just tap him on the nose. You dont have to hit him( then he would be scared to go outside) and you dont want that. Just tap him. But make sure that he cant see thats its you doing it. Its supposed to be suprising him and catching him off guard. Then go in and offer him to go outside. Then walk out with him. He will associate you offering with not getting taped on the nose. Try this and see if it helps you out.

Posted by: RIP MJ on 2009-08-24, 08:18:47

Does she now how to sit and stay on command if so when you open the door tell her to sit and stay, make eye contact while sayin stay hope this helps:)

Posted by: Greek God AKA Greekman on 2009-08-24, 08:21:58

Yeah, keep the door closed while she is off leash. Look at koehler dog training, he has a solution to this exact same problem that I have used with TREMENDOUS success many times before and has worked each and every time. Hope I helped.

Posted by: suki_ukw on 2009-08-24, 08:22:45

Hi just a suggestion but have you tried putting a baby gate over a door that over looks the front door so the dog can see that when you open the door there is no danger and no need to escape. Do you know the dogs history as maybe she was left out by previous owners and maybe she thinks this is where she belongs....locked out.

Posted by: Jessie on 2009-08-24, 08:23:09

I taught my dog by making sure that a door never, ever, ever opens unless she is sitting and staying. No darting, no bouncing around like she's on a pogo stick, etc. You can start on or off leash.* Work with an interior door first. Tell the dog to sit and stay(far enough behind the door that you can open it without asking her or forcing her to move). Then move to open the door. If she's like most dogs, the second you reach for the handle, her butt will begin to come off the floor. You don't have to even say anything. Just let go of the door handle until her but is on the floor again. You are going to be there a long time while she figures out that her butt has to be glued to the floor if she expects the door to open, and that it has to stay there until you give her a release word even when the door is open. If she tries to go through the door before you release her, block with your body. Put her back into the sit/ stay. Once she's got it figured out, move to an outside door and have her on a leash. Go through the whole thing again. *Note that when you add the leash, she will be even more excitable because she will associate it with leaving the house. You don't need any sort of rewards for this--getting through the door is plenty of reward. It takes time but it does work. ETA: Do you walk your dog? Dogs who are not walked are much more motivated to try to rush through the door to get out. They are DYING for stimulation and will take the opportunity to get some by darting out the door. Also. dogs who are let out into the fenced yard, without being made to sit and stay first at the door and then released, think they can go through ANY open door. They don't understand that dashing into the fenced back yard is safe but that dashing through the front door is dangerous. So train at ALL your doors. Dog I see with this problem are usually dogs who are walked very little and regularly allowed to dash out the back door into their fenced yards. Young dogs are also prone to it as they have not yet developed much impulse control. If impulse control is your problem, work on teaching Stays in general and Wait, in addition to door training.

Posted by: Mandy on 2009-08-27, 12:38:31

Maybe you should get a invisable fence?