As dog owners, you may be asking yourself how to train a dog not to run out the door. House training a dog is a bit different from other dog training tips. To be able to house train your dog successfully, you must remember some basic dog training tips. These include providing your dog with a safe and comfortable indoor environment, regular exercise, and rewarding good behavior.
House training your dog begins before he/she ever arrives home. Supervise your dog while inside the house. Create a schedule for your dog to spend time in your home.
Always supervise your dog when going to the bathroom. Use a leash and make sure your dog is in the crate. Dogs will naturally understand what to do when they see their owners going the front door or coming home. When you notice your dog sniffing the floor or jumping on furniture, immediately take him/her out of the crate. Do this several times a day until the dog stays in his/her crate.
Every time your dog gets out of the crate, use treats to reward him/her. Use treats such as boiled milk, chicken bones, or dog treats to give your dog a treat when he/she approaches the object that was just pointed at him/her. Repeat this procedure each time your dog approaches the object. Once you’ve worked your dog’s body memory by repeating the behavior each time he/she goes to the bathroom, you can begin focusing on verbal commands. These verbal commands will teach your dog to associate coming to the bathroom with a verbal reward.
Another option to use in dealing with how to train a dog not to run out the door is to hide something under the carpet. Place a treat or something your dog can chew in this hiding place. If you hide the item under the rugs or carpeting, your dog won’t be able to find it if she/he needs to go out the front door. If your dog finds the hiding spot and goes inside, the dog will learn to relieve himself or herself in that same place, therefore relieving you of having to constantly remind your dog to “go outside.”
For those of you who have access to a lot of money, there are two methods you can use to train your dog to stop this problem before you have to start training your dog again: play fetch and clicker training. This will probably require you to purchase some equipment: a couple of different-sized dog crates, and maybe a couple of different-shaped dog houses. Start training your dog by using a clicker and positive reinforcement. For every time your dog completes the command correctly, give him/her a treat.
You should always keep in mind that training your dog should be fun for both of you. If you’re left with no treats during your training sessions, your dog will learn to associate the command with having something to chew on. This means that every time you practice the command, you should also provide your dog with something to do – food, a toy, etc. This will help reinforce your commands and new skills. Eventually, your dog will forget he/she is learning new skills!
When you first begin training your dog to not run out the door, you will probably be impatient with your dog and will want to give the command quick, but eventually. Give the command and wait for your dog to sit calmly. When your dog does sit, give the treat and praise your dog. It’s important to continue to give treats for your dog’s good behavior so that it learns what the right behavior is.
