How to Teach a Dog Not to Run Out the Door
Basic obedience skills are important for your dog to learn for a number of reasons, including your pet's safety. Teaching your dog the basic commands of "sit" and "stay" can stop him from bolting out the door and jumping on arriving visitors. In addition, these basic skills increases the bond between you and your dog and give you more confidence in your ability to handle your pet. It also reduces stress in your pet, who now understands how he is supposed to respond in various situations.
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Instructions
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Sit
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1
Take your dog to a quiet location, preferably indoors.
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2
Take a treat and hold it above your dog's nose so that she naturally points her nose upward.
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3
Move the treat over her head so that her haunches move toward a sitting position.
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4
Give her the treat as soon as she moves into the "sit" position.
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5
Repeat the exercise several times over several days. Begin saying the word "sit" aloud to name what it is she is doing and what the desired behavior is that you are seeking.
Stay
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6
Put your dog in the "sit" position.
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7
Wait a few seconds before giving him the treat. Over several training sessions, increase the amount of time between putting him in the sit position and giving him the treat. Begin adding the word "stay" to the exercise.
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8
Increase the amount of distance between you and your dog while he remains in the sit-and-stay position, waiting for the treat. As he masters these skills, continue to increase the distance, including leaving the room.
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9
Add a command to tell your dog that he is released from his stay. For example, say "free" and give the pet his treat to indicate that he no longer is expected to stay in position.
Door
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10
Give your dog the command to "sit" before the door is opened.
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11
Give your dog the "free" command once the door is closed and it is safe for her to move about again.
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12
Give your dog her treat and lots of praise to let her know that the behavior she exhibited was what you had expected from her.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Do your training sessions a few hours after your dog has eaten. Even dogs aren't motivated by food if they're working on a full stomach.
Keep training sessions short. Training sessions should last no more than 10 minutes, but may be conducted a couple of times a day. If you continue training after your dog has become bored by the exercise, your pet will not learn as quickly.
If your are leaving for several hours, you can't leave your dog in a "sit" position the entire time you're at work. If this is an issue, consider crate training your dog so that she doesn't bolt out the door at times when the "sit" command can't be employed to keep her from running outside.
Never punish or scold your dog during training sessions. This only makes the dog fear you and does not help your pet to learn.
When teaching your dog to sit, don't hold the treat too high, or your dog may jump to reach it.
