I would use a down stay. The problem with the doorbell is that dogs get really distracted. Loki can do a really good 20 foot down-stay in class or at the park or something (that means I walk out 20 feet and then back to him and he stays) but even trying it at home where it's easy would not work if the doorbell rang. I'd then have to get his attention back from the doorbell. He's only 1 1/2 and we're still working on his attention span!
However, Loki does not run out the door. He's only done it once in his whole life and that's because it was the pizza man and he smelled food!! And he followed the pizza back inside! What we do is make him sit before letting him go outside, and also he never goes outside without a leash. So he has to sit and get his leash on before he is allowed outside. He picked this up pretty quick since we do it 10 times a day! What they will probably tell you in class is to have your dog sit before you give it what it wants (food, attention, throwing the ball) This is like saying "please" By making Loki sit to attach his leash every time, he knows that he's not allowed to go outside without that routine.
Also, there are rooms that I don't let Loki in (like the bathroom) Of course when he was a puppy I just closed the door. But I also taught Loki "out" to mean "get out of that room/closet" so every time he goes in there, I say "out" I get an "oh mom i just wanna sniff in here" look from Loki, but he complies. So he pretty much stays out of there, since he knows I'm just going to ask him to get out anyway. Don't know if that helps at all, but it works for us. |