You could stop your dog from racing out of the front door as soon as you open it with one easy trick.
If you’ve got an excitable dog, you’ll know just how much energy they can have when you tell them it’s time to go for a walk. Some dogs will run around the house as they impatiently wait for you to be ready, and the second you open the front door, they can bolt outside to explore and get some fresh air.
This can be highly dangerous, especially if your front door leads out onto a road. Your pet could end up getting hit by a car, getting snatched by someone else while you can’t see them, or just getting lost by wandering too far away from home while you get your coat and lock the door.
But according to one dog training expert on social media, there is something you can do to make your dog stop and listen to you before they run out the door.
Sarah Hodgson, founder of online dog training resource Raising Happy Dogs, stated that while teaching your dog to wait for your command might seem like hard work, it doesn’t have to be a difficult trick to teach.
In a video posted to her TikTok account, she said: “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 noted that it can be more difficult to keep multiple dogs under control simultaneously. In this case, she said it can be “really helpful” to have the command related to their name that lets them know it’s okay for them to go outside.
This means you’ll tell all your dogs to “wait” and then say each dog’s name when it’s their turn to go.
The Dog’s Trust also has some helpful information on how to train your dog to be patient when it comes to doors. They said you should start by standing at the closed door and waiting for your dog to show you “calm behaviour”. When they do, you should reward them with a treat.
You can then move on to placing a hand on the door handle. If your dog remains calm, give it another treat straight away so that it knows this is a good way to behave.
Once you feel your dog has gotten the hang of things so far, you can start to open the door. Give them treats for waiting patiently, as long as they’re calm. If they pull ahead to try and get out of the door, gently close it and wait for them to calm down, continuing to reward them for good behaviour.
The Dog’s Trust states: “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.”
Continue practising these steps until your dog is happy to wait patiently and calmly while the door opens fully. Then you can lead them through and reward them again for giving you their attention on the other side.
