If your dog is constantly bolting out the front door, this simple trick could make all the difference in teaching them some patience and helping them stay safe
One simple hack could keep your eager pup from bolting out the front door the moment it's opened. If your dog tends to buzz with excitement at the mere mention of going for a walk, you're likely familiar with their excitable antics around the house. Just crack open the door, and they're sprinting out to breathe in the fresh air and embrace adventure.
Such dashes can bring about perilous scenarios, particularly if the door opens directly onto a busy street. The risks range from your four-legged companion being struck by a vehicle, snatched when out of sight, or wandering off and getting lost while you're still indoors, grabbing your coat and locking up.
But fear not – a tip from a dog training guru on social media claims to curb this frantic fleeing.
Sarah Hodgson, who runs the online dog training haven Raising Happy Dogs, assures that teaching your pooch to pause and seek your go-ahead before darting out isn't as daunting as it appears.
On TikTok, she shared her insight: “Teaching your dog to wait and reference you before they race out isn't as hard as it sounds, even when you're starting with dogs that might be hyper and excited to go out the door.
“Let's say your dog runs out the front door when you sign for a package or the kids come home [from school]. You can calmly step on the leash, instruct your dogs to wait, and reward them when they cooperate.
“Part two is you're going to stage door openings again by baiting them with toys and fun things to do if they stay inside with you. As they begin to show more impulse control, we'll pair the word ‘wait'. Always remember, initially, to reward ‘wait' before you release them to go outside.”
Sarah said that wrangling multiple dogs at once can prove trickier. She suggests it's “really helpful” to have a command tied to each dog's name, indicating their turn to head out. All dogs should be given a “wait” instruction, followed by calling each animal by name as their signal to exit.
Over at the Dogs Trust charity, experts shared similar advice for teaching your pooch patience at thresholds. They recommend kicking off with you posted by a shut door and rewarding your pet with treats as it exhibits “calm behaviour”.
Advancing to phase two involves reaching for the doorknob while encouraging your canine to keep their cool, doling out treats immediately to reinforce the positive conduct.
Once your pooch is nailing the basics, it's time to tackle door-opening. Toss them a treat for keeping their cool while you open the door.
If they lunge forward to bolt outside, just ease the door shut and hang tight until they settle down, dishing out treats if they exhibit good manners.
The Dogs Trust advises: “You don't need to ask your dog to sit or wait, and if they're excited, this might be too hard for them to do in any case. Simply stay quiet and calm yourself, and be sure to praise them when they're getting it right.”
Keep at it with these tricks until your furry friend is content to stay still as you swing the door wide open. Then guide them through, rewarding their focus on you once they're on the other side.
