Stop Your Dog From Running Through Doorways

If your dog is so excited to get outside that he runs out the door before you want him to, this is surely a problem you’ll want to know how to control. Fortunately it is pretty easy to stop your dog from running through doorways until you give them an invitation. We’ve all known dogs like this, and I had one myself. He was so excited to get out, because in his mind that meant playtime (can’t blame him for that), but that still didn’t make it right. A dog can very easily get in trouble that way-running off and getting hit by a car, or fighting with a nearby aggressive dog, or even scaring a neighbor’s kid.  Please click here to read my article Boundary Train Your Dog, to learn ways to stop your dog from running right off your property. Besides the hazards of your dog running through the door before you, it is a sure sign of lack of respect towards you from your dog.

Your dog needs some alpha dog training. By teaching your dog that you are the Alpha dog, the pack leader, you will be able to stop your dog from running through doorways, from jumping up on people, from chasing things or any other behavior problems that need correcting. As the Alpha dog, you should always be in the lead. You need to stop your dog from running through doorways, and teach him that you are in charge. Letting your dog get away with thinking you are not in charge just invites  more behavior problems. He has got to understand that you are in charge, not him.

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Here are some good ways to stop your dog from running through the door, that use some of the training he should already know if you have obedience trained your dog. If you haven’t already obedience trained your dog, you need to learn how to obedience train your pet so he knows how to behave appropriately and not become a nuisance for you and your family.

• Start this training indoors. This makes it a lot easier to control the dog until he learns not to run through doors in front of you. Approach a closed door-bedroom, den, whatever-and before you can even open it you’ll notice your wayward dog trying to get in position to jump through that door before you. So, counter his move by commanding him to sit and then command him to stay using your firm commanding voice along with the appropriate dog training hand signals. If he’s had obedience training he’ll already know these two very basic commands, and do what you say. Praise him when he assumes the correct position. Wait a bit before opening the door, so he gets relaxed in the sit position, rather than just ready to spring up again the moment you reach for the doorknob. Now that he is relaxed a bit, start to open the door. He’ll probably leave the sit and stay position, and be on his way through that door. (If this happens it just shows that you didn’t really obedience train him as well as you thought, regarding sit and stay in the first place. So, be sure to go back and work on that exercise too). You can stop him from running through the door by immediately blocking his way with your leg or body, and then shutting the door. Return your dog immediately to his sit and stay position-using your firm command voice and also your hand signal to reinforce your command. Once he has resumed the sit praise him for sitting and staying. You’ll have to repeat this exercise for a few minutes per session several times a day. In fact, practice it each time you go through a door together until the dog stops trying to run through the door. Remember not to get angry, and to praise him for going back into the sit and stay position.

• Now that he is remaining in sit and stay position, you can open the door wider-just enough for you to slip through. You don’t want the dog to leave sit and stay position until you invite him to. Opening the door only partway is a little less temptation for him to try to follow. If he leaves sit and stay position, return him to his spot and command him to sit and stay. Again, just repeat this stage till he demonstrates he has learned to stop running through the doorway by remaining in  the sit and stay position even after you have passed through the door to the other side. Good boy.

• Now you are ready to try this out with the front door-the ultimate test. He knows this is the door that leads to the great outdoors and fun, so he may be more anxious to leave position and run out the front door than a bedroom door. Be ready for this, by having a leash already on your dog to stop him from running through the doorway ahead of you. If he is a big dog you can attach the leash to the doorknob instead of yanking on him. If he does lurch out the door before you can stop him, this will bring him to a quick stop, and give him something to think about. Meanwhile you won’t have to worry about him pulling your arm out of the socket. If he has really learned his sit and stay lesson from the previous indoor exercises, he should behave just fine. If not, you know what to do. Keep repeating the exercise and lavish him with praise each time he learns to stop running through doorways ahead of you. Give him plenty of rewards. He’ll learn that he still gets to go out, but he has to respect you as the Alpha dog, and wait for you to invite him through the doorway.

• This doorway training method is also a good example for teaching your dog boundary training-not to leave your yard or go past the curb, for example. Using the same commands to sit and stay, along with a leash for insurance, stand at the edge of your yard or at the curb (somewhere there is no traffic, so your dog can learn this safely) and step past the boundary, leaving your dog at the sit and stay position. If he is well trained he won’t move. So, give him tons of praise and a reward to positively reinforce his appropriate behavior. If he does begin to leave the yard or step off the curb, immediately return him to his sitting position, command him to stay, and repeat the exercise till he really gets the idea. Keep repeating the training a few times daily until it is well learned. But remember to be consistent. Every time you come to a door or curb make sure your dog sits and waits for your command to move forward.

See, it is a pretty easy problem to teach your dog not to run through doorways. If you haven’t previously obedience trained your dog, this will show you that obedience training is a priority to enjoying a fun and trouble free relationship with your doggy. To get the best results with obedience training your dog, you need to follow the step by step advice of an expert. Get yourself a copy of a great dog training book or perhaps a dog training video program so you do the training correctly, and avoid dog training mistakes that you will otherwise be sure to make. Click here to read my full review of the best on-line dog training program- Secrets to Dog Training.

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