Door Dashing

[poodlefan]

I don't have a front fence and the council will not allow me to put one up.

You live in the same situation as every household in the ACT, including mine. No front fences here.

If front door is the issue, you can teach them to go to a crate or basket when there is someone at the door OR teach them a sit stay for when you open it.

If access to the garage is an issue then block it off and secure any doors with additional fasteners.

And above all else, train a recall.

[kiesha09]

My first 'official' training session for my door dashing problem has me stumped. Both dogs have a very good wait and stay so when I set this situation up at the front door they were fantastic at it. In fact they didn't go through the door once without my ok.

I practiced with each dog individually on a long line (so there was no more accidents), asked them to sit about 2 meters from the door, went to the door and opened it. THey both stayed easily with the door open for a good 3 -4 minutes. So I made it a bit harder by walking out the front and pretending to do things outside. Again they stayed. I continued the progressions of throwing food out the door, throwing toys outside, there was even a German Shepherd walking past and I ask the owner if he wouldn't mind walking past a few more times to help my training. Both still stayed. I even danced around like a loon outside, running up and down my drive way etc (the neighbours now think I'm wierd ) and they stayed (chip even layed down, looking at my like I was wierd too).

The only additional progression I can think of is setting up 'visitors' to arrive or leave - which might be a bit harder but I'm certain they will catch on pretty quickly because I'm sure they get the concept. However, my thinking is that they certainly get the concept when it is set up like this (they have a long line on and there is only one dog at a time), plus I'm there to give the ok not to go out the door. I'm not convinced that they will then relate this to not going out the door if I'm NOT there.

Do you think if I keep going with this training and am 100% consistent with not letting them through the door without my ok that they will start to catch on that they cannot go through that door even if I am not there?

[Nannas]

I think you can.

Our AmStaff got out the front door a few times when she was smaller.

I began a 'door training' and now (2yo) she will not go from the (lino) tiles onto the wood piece (between the door and the screen door)

Even if the door isn't closed properly she will walk until her feet touch the wood, then she steps back so her feet are off the wood.

I have kids and their mates coming and going all day so both inside dogs needed to learn they were NOT allowed out the door, even if it wasn't closed properly. My pit will not go passed the wood at all either. (but she is 6yo and has the rules down pat)

Good Luck with it all. It sure is a relief once you know they won't race out the door..

[ness]

I'd play it like SG plays it in crate games. If your giving the dog a stay command then in the absence of the command the dog will still cross the boundary. If I remember correctly Susan didn't put the dog in a position or tell them to sit/wait. It was about the dog making the decision. Otherwise all you are really doing is proofing a stay behavior rather than a self control not allowed out the door way without a release word behavior.

[kiesha09]

Yeah that is exactly what I was thinking Ness. Its creating a rock solid stay/wait but I'm babysitting them by telling them to sit first. I need them to make their own choice and that is to stay inside the door without telling them anything.

THink I'll re-watch crate games this week and go through that program again, just adapting it to the door.

[ness]

Sounds like a good plan Keisha . Is there any way you can rig up a temporary fence across the door way outside when you practice. So the dog doesn't have to be on a long line as thats just something additional that would require fading.

Edited January 12, 2010 by ness

[bedazzledx2]

Spot on Ness!!! Its a bit like opening the car door. My dogs are not allowed out except on command which is their names individually. I learnt this trick form a sheep farmer many years ago who taught all his dogs they were to stay in the ute until he called them by name. I thought it was pretty cool and have taught all my dogs this since and I'm sure its saved their lives a few times.

I'd play it like SG plays it in crate games. If your giving the dog a stay command then in the absence of the command the dog will still cross the boundary. If I remember correctly Susan didn't put the dog in a position or tell them to sit/wait. It was about the dog making the decision. Otherwise all you are really doing is proofing a stay behavior rather than a self control not allowed out the door way without a release word behavior.

[kiesha09]

I can use my puppy pen to block off my front verandah, but I've also been practicing at the door from the garage to the house. I want to have the garage door open as that is really when I need them to stay inside (will see if my puppy pen can stretch across the garage opening.

Bedazzledx2 I like your car ettiquette being they can only come out when their individual name is called. Mine will only come out on my ok, but of course then I get two at once! I might train that too while I'm at it

I think I should change my 2010 training goals to purely ' having well mannered pets' as by the time I re-train all the bad behaviours that have been creeping in lately it will be 2011!!!