running outside

[angelakc]

I'm having a problem with Zsa Zsa running out the door every time someone opens it. I really don't mind the back door but it scares me with the front door because of the road. I have tried to stop her but she is sooo quick lol. The other day a salesman came to the door and I just cracked it and she darted out... I would hate for me not to have seen her run and she get stolen. Any suggestions??

[erickajm]

Maybe you could train her to "sit" when the door is about to be opened. My Brady squeezes through every time... then he looks back at me with that look on his face saying, "what?" We live in the country/mountains but it still drives me crazy.

[Nico29]

That is super dangerous. The same thing happened with us. The food delivery man came and Chase ran out to see him. SO SCARY! We put up a baby gate and trained him to go "Back" to a line we made with tape much further away from the door. My husband kept going outside and opening the door and I would stay in and say "Back". Each time he crossed the line I said no in a stern voice. The third time he darted toward the door I screamed "Phooey" and sprayed him on the back of his neck with a spray bottle that had water inside. The trainer said that when the mom reprimands her pups she bites the back of their necks. All I can say is that it "knock on wood" worked because he listens to "Back" now. We practice it all the time. Like in the doorway of our bedroom we will say "Back" and he knows to back up and sit by the entrance. We also do it when he tries to sneak into the kitchen. One more thing. Praise him big time when he does it. Maybe offer a unique treat that he never gets. Consistancy and lots of daily practice is the key for us. Good luck!

[capt_noonie]

You've got good advise above already. I would like to add to work on the stay or wait command. Also make it a habit of walking through doorways first and Zsa Zsa follows, even inside the house, actually it is easier to practice that inside the house. That way she is always following you, not you following her.

But, that being said, when there is no on at the front door Uni will wait until I give her the ok to come outside. If there is someone at the door she will bark and bark thinking they are there to visit her. She will run out the door, but stop at the person who is outside. We are still working on that one.

[capt_noonie]

Oh I would like to add this too. Even though you are ok with her going out back, don't let her dart out the back door either. Make sure she waits for you to go through every doorway. Otherwise she'll get confused and think some doorways are ok for her to go through whenever she wants.

[Marissa101]

What I did was I put snickers on his leash. Opened the door, made him stay at the bottom of the stairs, and if he came up with me or to the door we would go back, give him the command along with the motion, walk up the stairs (he has one of those leashes that you can lock to whatever length you want) then say stay one more time along with the motion and walk through the door. And then I gave him a treat if he stayed Now he looks at me and I have to pat my legs if I want him to come with me. Other wise he just sits there. He learned super fast since I have only had him for 3 weeks I repeated it alot though. So don't give up. Hope that helped!