We have that problem with Roxy - even if we stand in the doorway and block it with our legs. She's like a mouse and can fit thru the smallest space before we can catch her. Then she's like a bullet up the street and into traffic. We solved that problem by making a V-shape out of 2 pieces of the white coated-wire closet shelves. We can open the door and just step over the "wall" and the pups have no clue they can jump over it. But even if they did, we would have a few seconds to react and catch them. It has worked great.

people talk about training,,,,,blah blah blah. Thats what it sounds like to Otis when I try to train him not to run out the door. I've resorted to 2 panels of an ex pen that barricade the door off. Works like a charm! Otis is a smart dog, but his wild side takes over when he see's an open door!

Sadie is becoming such a big girl now! The treats are working wonderfully with her! She is learning to stop now when someone opens the front door from the inside instead of just bolting out of it. I had the side gate opened today and she didnt try to run past me at all. When she got close, I just told her "No, Sadie" and she turned around and ran off to play in the backyard like a good girl! She loves Honey Nut Cheerios so I use them as treats for her. Im so proud of her - now if I could only get her potty trained to let me know when she needs to go outside!! :)

Thanks everyone for your advice.

Custom Gate
 

We would be having the same problem if my husband hadn't built a gate. He made it to match the picket garden fence in the front yard. If the placement of the gate you have, won't allow you to close the door, maybe a custom one would work. I tried to add a photo but it's over the 200 limit. If you'd like I can email it to you. It's been a life saver, especially my life, saving me from having a heart attack, watching Honeybee bolt up the street.:aimeeyork

You can get a doggie gate. That will definitely stop your baby from running out of the door. ;)

Maybe you can get a Baby Gate and put it up ...... :thumbup:

YEAH! :clapsmile:cheer::yay_jump::woof:I'm so glad this worked for Sadie! I just bought some Captian Crunch PB to mix it up a little!:p

xpen
 

This is what I have done for years. I have an xpen in a half moon configuration inside my front door. The door can be opened and people can get inside and close the door and the dogs cannot get to the door. Yes, it takes me a second longer to get to the door, but the dogs are safe. It's well worth the trouble.

That is GREAT news! :yay_jump:
We had the same problems w/ LilyGrace when we brought her home...we worked w/ her on the leash and w/ treats....then gradually, she would sit until I went out and Mojo went out (because she normally plows him over running out the door)...and w/ that training, she is now the first one back to the door ready to go in (ready for a treat)!:thumbup:

btw...I have family in Susanville!!!

It is great! My friend has it set up like that because she's got a runner. Mine are pretty good about not running out the door. I tell them to back away and they do. Also my entire house is fenced in so if they do run out they cannot get passed the fence and everytime someone knocks and they have my storm door open I crack open the door and tell them to close the storm door and then I'll open the door. My babies do get a little excited when ppl come over so I have to watch them sometimes. My kids know that no one is allowed in a out the house and if they want to play they need to go out and stay out...lol I personally would keep the door lock if I had kids coming in and out:D If they need something they will knock.

This seems like great advice as I have heard something like it elsewhere. :thumbup:I am glad it worked for you and will work on it with Louie - he just started trying to run out.

Our trainer made us teach Winston to sit and stay at every door and before we ever cross the street. Once Winston sits and stays, than we say 'lets go' and we exit the door or cross the street FIRST; before Winston. With lots of treats and positive reinforcement he caught on right away.

So slowly your yorkie will learn that he/she must sit and stay prior to EVER crossing the street or exiting a door. and that you (the human) always goes first.

to teach stay:

- first tell your dog to sit by using your voice and hand command (once they do give a treat and say good boy/girl);
- than say 'stay' and put your hand out like a stop signal;
- than count (in your head 3-5 secs);
- if they move, say engeng (it's a noise we learned in class) or say 'no', which ever you use;
- If your dog doesn't move give a treat and say good boy/girl

Your dog MUST learn sit and stay before they can learn not to run out the front door.

And REMEMBER your treat and/or positive reinforcement MUST be more exciting than what's outside!!

Exactly how we had to do it. Now that they are laying wood flooring we had to buy a different type that wouldn't scratch the wood.
Excuse the REAL mess, but here is the picture of our safty zone. :D

Where did you find that?? That is a good idea!! I have a gate across the front porch but Lily does the same thing and she runs like crazy and scares me to death!!
I am having a real problem getting her to "come" to me or anyone?? She will NOT let you catch her to pick her up and she runs from you even to take her out to potty in her xpen or whatever I have to play CATCH to pick her up....she is 5+ months old??? She is a very stubborn little girl but she is afraid of newspaper if I get it out and make noise w/it she will get scared and I can get her like that in the house sometimes. Sit and Stay doesn't do a thing and she doesn't care about the "treat" no matter what it is??? I am at my wits end!!!!!

She is still a baby so please don't give up on the treats and training her to sit. :) Pebbles was known as DEVELDOG for quite a while when we first brought her home. :( She was bolting out the door, running when called, not listening at all when she was 5 1/5 months old. It took a while (months) before we got this under control. Go slow and work with her maybe 3-5 minutes at a time when she is not distracted and work your way up. Sit on the floor and work on just sit and treat and praise. Then get her do it in different places and keep her leash on her so that she cannot bolt or run from you until she listens. Pebbles walked around for months with her leash dragging behind her. I would call her and she would run under the bed and the only way to get her out was to pull her out by the leash. I was at my wits end too, that is why I am so positive this will work for everyone. Believe me it will work! Use something really good to get her attention, cheerios, cheese, lunch meat, chicken, liver sausage it has to be something she thinks is sooooo yummy she will do anything for it. :yay_jump:
For her safety block the door temporarily but I guarantee she will do it if you have her attention and lots of patience and consistency.
As much as I love her, if Pebbles would have continued to be out of control I don't know if she would still be with us, that is just how frustrated I was until I started doing this with her. But I was also very determined to not let her control me with her out of control behaviors.

*In the middle of me replying to the message, the girl that had Pebbles before me stopped by. She has not seen her in months~when she was still Devildog. She was amazed how different she is now compared to the way she use to be when Pebbles lived with her. All of her bad behaviors were part of the reason that she was given up.:(:(:(:(