While teaching a dog to sit and stay is important, it should go a little further when taking control of the door. Here are some tips to follow:
- Introduce a Hand Signal – Along with the “Sit” verbal command, teach your dog to obey a hand signal, such as an upheld hand, like a crossing guard.
- Creating Distance – Choose a line beyond which you don‟t want your dog going when you open the door. Have them sit and stay there and then walk toward the door. If they get up at any time, have them sit again before moving.
- Holding the Position – If your dog comes toward the door at all, do not simply have them sit again. Return them to the original position and start from scratch. They need to learn that there is a barrier that they cannot cross and you need to hold steady to it.
- Practice – You will need to practice this command repeatedly and enforce it whenever the door is opened. It can be distracting to make guests wait when training your dog, but it is important to teach the dog that they need to wait patiently away from the door whenever it is opened.
Make sure, when you are practicing to reward your dog that they perform the action correctly. If they move forward at all, start over again. But, if you can get to the door, turn the knob and open the door without them reacting, reward them for following your commands.
