Dogs And Doorways - Who goes first?

When it comes to leaving your home, your dog may be taking the lead. Or pulling you through the doorway one way or another! The idea of you going through first to establish you are the leader is a great idea.  When you control the departure from your home, this calm exit may predispose the rest of your walk!  Making that happen is the challenge. Here are some tips to help you be the first one through the door.

Ask your dog to sit and stay while you clip the leash onto them is the first step.

• Ask your dog to sit and stay while clipping their leash onto their collar or harness.
• Releasing them from their sit stay position is the next step - making sure they are listening to you when they get up, rather than they release themselves when they feel like it.
• A release word is three parts - you say the word  - an example is OK or Release or All done, then you move, then your dog moves out of their position.  
• When you create structure around a doorway, your dog will be more attentive to you, rather than being excited or anxious about what is on the other side, and can't be bothered in waiting for you to get your shoes on before finding out whats there!

Getting your dog to sit and stay while you open the door is the next step

• Open the door and praise your dog for remaining in their sitting position.
• Have them sit and stay until you are ready to release them.
• If they get up before your release word is given - start over and slow down the action of either going to the door to open it or opening the door.
• Release your dog with your special word to allow them to go through.

Getting your dog to sit and stay while you open the door and go through first is the final step

• Open the door and praise your dog for remaining in their sitting position.
• If they get up before your release word is given - start over and slow down the action of either going to the door to open it or opening the door and you going through the door
• Release your dog with your special word to allow them to go through after you have crossed the opening threshold.

Practise this a few times a week and your dog will look to you for when to go through doorways first, rather than think the door opening is a portal to anything they want, whenever they want!

Happy Training Everyone!

For more information on DogStars Training Academy's Classes, Private consultations or Dog Trainers Workshops - please visit - www.DogStars.ca