A dog’s natural instinct to explore can lead to dangerous situations when they dart out an open door. This exhilarating taste of freedom can result in serious harm, from accidents with vehicles to getting lost or injured. Dogs often fail to connect the dangerous outcome with the act of escaping, making consistent training crucial. When dogs are allowed to run loose, it reinforces undesirable behaviors like ignoring commands and seeking immediate gratification, making them more likely to repeat the escape. To prevent such risks, it’s essential to establish clear rules for both household members and guests, and to teach your dog to wait patiently at doorways. Training your dog not to jump on furniture is another important aspect of overall good behavior.
Establishing a Household Pact and the Doggie Doorknob Rule
The first and most critical step is to create a united front among everyone in the household. Establish a firm agreement that preventing your dog from escaping is a shared responsibility. This involves educating all family members and housemates on the importance of door safety and consistently training them on how to manage your dog around exits. Inform all visitors about your dog’s door-darting habits and the procedures you have in place. Specifically, implement the “Doggie Doorknob Rule”: before anyone turns a doorknob, they must first locate your dog and ensure it cannot slip out. This includes instructing guests, especially children, to never open a door without confirming the dog’s whereabouts and containment. When visitors are leaving, remind them to wait until your dog is secured in another room, on a leash, or reliably in a “stay” or “wait” command before opening the door.
Foundational Obedience: Sit and Stay
Before addressing door-darting specifically, it’s vital to build a strong foundation in basic obedience. Dogs don’t instinctively understand commands like “Sit” or “Stay.” You must teach them the meaning of these words and associated hand signals. This training is most effective when your dog has already formed a bond with you and understands that paying attention to you is rewarding. Prioritize building your relationship and establishing yourself as a leader. Once your dog reliably responds to basic commands in a controlled environment, you can gradually introduce distractions and practice in various locations, including other exit doors in your home. Ensure your dog has relieved themselves before training sessions to avoid frustration for both of you.
Managing Your Dog’s Behavior Around Doors
Physical control is essential when mental control is not yet reliable. If your dog doesn’t consistently obey commands, keep them on a leash, crated, or behind baby gates when near exit doors. When guests arrive, keeping your dog on a leash by your side is a good practice until they are fully trained. This allows you to effectively give commands like “stay” or “get back” and prevents them from bolting out the door. By consistently preventing escapes and reinforcing desired behavior, your dog will be less inclined to try and slip through doors. Always remain vigilant, as even a well-trained dog can be tempted by the excitement of a visitor.
Specific Techniques for Doorway Training
Several methods can be employed to teach your dog not to run out the door without permission.
Teach Stay with Verbal Command and Hand Signal
This technique, developed by canine behavior specialist Kathy Graninger, focuses on reinforcing the “stay” command at the door.
- Place your dog in a “Sit” position a good distance from the door and command “Stay!” while extending your arm in a “Stop” hand signal.
- As you approach the doorknob, if your dog begins to move, use a firm “No…Stay!” and your “Stop” hand signal.
- If your dog breaks the stay, gently guide them back to their original spot, repeat the “Sit-Stay” command, and reinforce the “Stop” signal.
- Practice until you can open the door without your dog breaking their stay. Remember that excitement from visitors can tempt your dog, so always supervise.
Teach Wait at Doors and Gates Using Positive Reinforcement
This method, adapted from September Morn’s “Teach Wait” in Dog Fancy, uses “wait” as a less formal command than “stay.”
- With your dog on a leash, approach the door and say “wait.” Reach for the doorknob.
- If your dog moves forward, withdraw your hand, pause, and try again. If they wait, offer praise and treats.
- Once your dog waits while you touch the knob, open the door slightly. Reward waiting with praise and treats. If they move, close the door and restart.
- Gradually open the door wider, continuing to reward a waiting dog. If they move, close the door without reward.
- When your dog can wait with the door wide open, give a release command like “OK, go ahead.”
Teaching Wait using Collar Correction
For dogs not motivated by treats and praise, Karin Anderson suggests a collar correction approach.
- With your dog on a leash and training collar, say “Wait” as you open the door.
- If the dog attempts to go out, give a leash correction and firmly repeat “WAIT!” This helps the dog associate an open door with waiting rather than exiting. Consistent practice will eventually make the command unnecessary and can also help if a door is accidentally opened.
Training Escape Artists: The Permission Method
Meesoon Shirley Chong’s method focuses on teaching the dog that exiting requires permission.
Step One: Understanding Consequences
- Repeat this at multiple doors. Secure your dog on a leash and collar they cannot escape.
- Silently open the door and let your dog dart out. Close the door on the leash and leave them outside for increasing durations (starting with 30 seconds). Make a big fuss upon their return, acting traumatized to convey an unpleasant experience.
- Double the time your dog spends outside with each subsequent escape. The goal is for the dog to discover that being outside alone is not rewarding.
- When your dog hesitates or stays inside when the door opens, celebrate enthusiastically with praise, treats, and play.
- Eventually, your dog will stand at the open door and wait for your permission to go through. You may need to coax them initially. The goal is for your dog to be reluctant to go through a door without your explicit go-ahead.
Step Two: Introducing the Houseline
- Use an 8-10 foot cord (houseline) attached to your dog’s collar. Let them drag it around the house for a few days while supervised.
- Repeat Step One with the dog dragging the houseline, but instead of picking it up, step on it if they try to exit.
- The goal is for your dog to wait at the door, even while dragging the houseline.
Step Three: Adding a Helper
- With a helper, review Step Two. Have your helper open the door and walk through.
- If your dog follows, step on the houseline as you close the door. Instruct your helper to walk away and out of sight.
- The goal is for your dog to wait for permission to exit, even when someone else goes through the door first.
Training Your Dog Not to Bolt Through Open Doors
Tracy Doyle’s technique, originally for deaf dogs, is highly effective for all dogs.
- Every time you or your dog go through any door, make your dog sit. Open the door but keep them in the sit position. If they stand, close the door and make them sit again. Repeat until they sit calmly at the open door, then give an “OKAY” signal to proceed.
- Apply this to all doors, including car doors and crates. If your dog bolts from their crate when opened, make them sit and wait for your “OKAY.”
- If your dog starts to bolt as you open a door, close it firmly. This will confuse them and reinforce the need to wait.
- Practice with your dog on a long lead, having them sit and stay while you walk through the door, leaving them behind. Correct them if they follow and start over.
- Incorporate sit-stays and down-stays at doorways, opening the door and walking in and out while your dog remains in position. Praise them for maintaining the stay.
Consistent practice is key. Once your dog understands they can only go through doors with permission, it becomes second nature. This training can save your dog’s life and provides peace of mind. It’s always better to be seen as a “control freak” by training your dog to wait patiently than to face the tragedy of an open door leading to an accident. This also makes everyday situations, like getting your dog into and out of a car or crate, much smoother and safer.
Important Considerations
Never scold your dog when they return after escaping. Dogs associate reactions with the immediate past. Scolding upon return teaches them not to let you catch them. Instead, focus on reinforcing the desired behavior of waiting patiently at doors. This consistent training not only prevents dangerous escapes but also strengthens the bond and trust between you and your dog.
