Stop Your Dog from Bolting to the Door!

Dogs that don't come when called are a challenge to live with. But it is even more frustrating when those same dogs are the ones that bolt out of an open door at the slightest opportunity. They aren't selective. They bolt out of their kennels, out of the car, and of course out the front door. If you're not quick or paying attention, they are out and gone! Teaching a solid recall should always be part of a dog's training, but I'd suggest you also teach your dog to Wait at entryways. By teaching the dog to Wait, you are training the dog to seek permission before making the decision to move past a threshold. This is such a useful behavior and can be used in a number of situations including: doors exiting the house, car doors, the kennel door, as well as openings like stairs or entries to other rooms. The dog can learn to "Wait" on one side of any definable threshold until given permission to pass through. As you take a look at the video, let me point out the key things to remember when teaching this behavior. 1. Make sure there is a leash attached to the dog. This prevents an escape if you are working at an exterior door. Plus it is used to assist the dog in learning the correct behavior. 2. Use your body language to help the dog learn to back up. Body blocking is an easy way to stop the dog from moving forward. 3. Remember to practice in a variety of situations. Use a wait command at doorways, but also on stairs or getting in and out of a car. The more you generalize the behavior, the more your dog learns to be patient and look for permission to go. 4. Make sure you have a permission cue that tells your dog when it is ok to move forward. A permission cue teaches your dog to wait until YOU give permission rather than the dog having to decide on his own.

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