Added Safety at Doorways

My dogs awaiting a treat right after getting permission to exit through the door.

In a previous post, I talked about teaching dogs to wait politely when a door is opened rather than dashing out. It's an important safety skill and quite easy to teach. Today, I'd like to add another step to the process, another layer of safety.

First, here's a recap of the original training:

• Your dog is asked to WAIT as you open the door.

• Most of the time, you give your dog a treat inside for waiting, without actually letting them step outside.

• When you do want them to go outside, you give a specific permission cue.

Now, imagine if your dog has just exited through the door and they suddenly see something very tempting in the environment, something they might like to chase or someone they'd like to run toward. Even if they're on leash, you might have a sudden jolt to your body as they try to dash off, which is especially worrisome if your dog is big. You may even have the leash jerked out of your hand if you're not prepared and then the dog is free to dash away.

That's why I like to teach a pause as soon as the dog exits through the door. It keeps the dog focused on me and it gives me a chance to better scan the environment and prepare for next steps. At worst, if I spot something super-tempting, I can just encourage my dogs back inside temporarily, until the temptation passes.

This added layer of safety is easy to teach. Here are the steps:

• After your dog WAITS at the door as requested, you'll give your release cue so they know it's okay to pass through the door.

• The moment they step outside, click or use a verbal marker or praise word to mark that step outside, which should promptly get their attention back on you. Then deliver a treat.

• I like to then place a couple treats on the ground to get them to drop their heads and snuffle them up. This builds an expectation for several goodies so they want to linger just outside the door and remain focused on me.

• I'll then give a cue that let's them know we're ready to start our leash walk or, if I'm releasing them into a fenced yard, I give my release cue so they can begin their yard activities.

• Sometimes, after they receive a treat for stepping outside, I'll invite them straight back inside for another treat. This helps to hone their focus on my specific cues rather than performing the same pattern all the time.

So there you have it: another layer of safety as you exit the home with your dog. Give it a try!

If you're in need of any training or behavior assistance, please get in touch.

I'd love to help you reach your goals! In-person lessons are available in Scottsville, VA, southern areas of Charlottesville, Buckingham County, and surrounding areas. Remote assistance is available anywhere in the US. My email is virginiadare2013@gmail.com.