Quote:
Originally Posted by Maddie23  Another question:
How do I stop my 10 month old from bolting out the door for freedom? We practice the wait command when she is on leash ready to go out for a walk. No problem. We practice when the door from the kitchen to the utility room is closed, again, no problem. But let someone open the front door or door that leads to the garage (with open garage door) and out she goes. There isn't even time to use a wait command - she is lightening fast. And once outdoors, she is gone (live in town in a relatively quiet subdivision, luckily). None of the holler and run the other way and she will follow you works. For one thing, by time you make it to the street, she is already a block away, this furkid is RUNNING. You can yell her name and she doesn't even look back. She has gotten out 4 times and luckily each time there has been someone outside a couple of blocks away that she has gone up to to investigate and I have been able to catch her...... any ideas???? |
Have you practiced the "wait" command at the front door and the one that leads to the garage as well? Dogs need to practice commands and learn them in as many places as possible, or they will learn that they only have to do them in certain spots. Door bolting is a huge safety issue, and it's great that you have worked with her!
The way I work with door bolters is the following: (Make sure you praise/treat/pet your dog for good behavior!)
I have the dog on leash to begin with. I put them in a sit/stay or sit/wait at the door, like we are going for a walk. I go to open the door, and if they make a motion to get up, I say "oops," and that usually keeps them from getting up all the way. If they do get up all the way, I have them do sit again. I repeat this process until I can open the door without the dog getting up.
Once I can open the door all the way myself, without the dog getting up before being invited, I have someone else open the door wide while I keep the dog in a sit/stay inside.
When you can open the door (or someone else can) and she does not try to bolt out when you are holding the leash, repeat the exercises but with the leash dropped to the floor. This way, if she bolts, you can grab or step on the end to keep her from running off. Make sure you have a leash you don't mind sacrificing on hand! Once you can drop the leash and she doesn't bolt, if you are not confident about taking the leash off, you can cut the leash off in short increments so she will gradually be 'leash less!'
Another exercise that has worked wonders for door bolters is the "place" command. I have my clients set up a dog bed in the room. In the bed, they can place a chew toy, bone, or favorite toy to make the "place" inviting. I encourage the dog to come to the "place" and when they lay down on the bed, say "place" and treat, then walk a few steps away. When the dog gets up, encourage the dog to come back, and repeat. Once the dog learns that the bed is the "place" (or you can say bed or another word you choose), I tell them "stay" after they lay in their place.
Once they learn the "place" task, you can start having someone go to open the door, (have her on leash in case she tries to bolt so you have a life line!) and if she goes to get up, encourage her back to her place and treat. Repeat until someone can open the door and exit.
Then you can use this same exercise for someone ringing the door bell! Have someone ring the door bell, and invite her to her "place." Make sure she has a much loved treat/toy or chew to make it more inviting! Go to answer the door. If she gets up, guide her back to her bed and treat. Repeat until you can answer the bell without her getting up from the bed and running to the door.