I was lucky when my pup was little because almost every time I answered the door --if my he got through - he would turn around and followed anyone back into the house.
BUT - occasionally instead of turning around and coming back, he went bouncing off --following my other dog. No good - right!
So - I taught him to stay back about 10 feet (sitting) before I answer the door. He learned this very quickly and is very good about it.
Before I answered the door, I turned around and walked toward him (with myself between him and the door) and moved him back (with my feet) to where I wanted him to be. I told him to "sit" and then "stay" --- I kept my
eye on him as I went back toward the door with my hand in the "stay position" and myself reminding him to stay as often as I needed to.
At first - if he started toward me - before I answered the door - I'd repeat the above. And, after only once or twice - he learned to sit back and stay when I answer the door.
****** Got to let you know - my dog is not a rocket scientist. The only tricks he knows are "sit" and "stay" --- but these are the lifesaving ones - and should be the first ones we teach.
Be sure you teach your new little puppies these two commands. Start as soon as you get your puppy - 8 or 9 weeks old is not too early.
Use the hand gesture - and a simple one- word command. I'm sure you'll find that these two commands take almost no training. The dogs do this almost automatically. (I really felt like I didn't even train my little dog to do this - he almost just did it on his own.)
What we need to practice with them:
1) Teaching them to stay for longer periods of time - and
2) Teaching them to stay - even if they get excited and really want to
bolt
*** Easiest thing I ever taught my dog.....
Carol Jean |