Make a Mistake I dare you

Why do we not like it when our dogs make mistakes?  Why do we try to prevent them from being in error?  I find myself asking people this question all the time.  I see people doing all types of things to prevent their dog from committing an error.  Many times they get frustrated just trying to control the dog with force or blocking the dog with pressure.  The one place I almost always see this behavior is at entrance and exits to the home.  So many dogs just run out the door and then are being chased down the street to get them to come back.

So how should you deal with the front door?  How do you get the dog to stop rushing out the door each and every time you try to open it?  The answer for me is to teach the dog that going out the front door is not good.  I actually let and want the dog to go out the door.  Most people would consider this to be a mistake, and if the dog knew that you didnt want him going out the front door then it would be a mistake.  So I prepare the myself for teaching the dog by having a leash, some treats and a little bit of patience.  First thing I am going to do is make sure that the leash is on nice and snug at the top of the dogs neck.  Then have a few of the dogs favorite treats  to reward him.  Finally, I want to give myself some time in my training session to let the dog use his head to figure out the problem.

Once you have the leash, a few treats and some patience you can get started.  Be sure you are holding the leash in your hand as you approach the the door.  Do your best to have slack in the line.  Then open the door.  Your dog will probably be ready to go out the door at this point.  Let him. The moment that the dogs paw touches anything on the other side of the door frame, like a floor mat, tell him "no" and then turn him around and bring him back inside.  This will most likely happen a few times before the dog decides to hesitate a little bit.  As the dog continues to go out the front door continue to tell him "no" the moment he touches the floor mat and then turn him around.  Once you see the dog hesitate for a moment at the door you want to give the dog a reward as you move away from the door on the inside of your home.

I have seen many dogs get this behavior down fairly quickly if you spend the time for a couple of weeks teaching them this.  I would recommend doing this once every other day for a couple of weeks.

If you would like to get more training tips or have me help you with your dog visit us at www.Longoriahausdogtraining.com "

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