Training your dog to respect open doors quite simply can save their life. It is one of the most important things you can teach your pup from an early age to prevent them from running out of an open door and saving much heartache and preventing a terrible habit from forming.
At worst, your dog running out of an open door can be fatal, and at the very least it can become a habit that conveys to them that you are not in charge. Making your dog sit before exiting, as well as entering through a doorway will show them that there is a process to taking that step, and that you, the pack leader determine when they can proceed through the doorway.
Like all other conditioning, we command the dog in the sit position and can reward them once that command is obeyed. They should be maintaining a focus on you in that moment, and once you are ready to allow them through the door, you can gesture or command for them to come, go or use whatever keyword you choose to give them the ok to break the threshold.
Teaching this at an early age can be one of the best lessons you can give your pup, but it is never too late to create this rule. Keep in mind that a strong pack leader always makes the decisions, so if you are allowing your dog to burst out of doors, they are taking the lead and making the decision and that is conditioning a terrible habit.
Make it a rule that your dog sits and waits for your command every time they go out the door. Doing this will show them that they must follow your lead. Be patient and repeat this until they are calmly following your command, and they will not only have more respect for you, but you will keep your dog much safer by doing so!
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