Door Practice

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This is a Very Important Lesson to Teach Your Dog.
It could save their life. Please take the time to insure you will never have to worry that your dog might bolt out of a door and into the street. Many dogs have been killed because they were not taught this exercise.

I prefer to use the command 'Wait' rather than a 'Stay' command. To my dogs, 'Stay' means Do Not Move. On a 'Wait' command, they can move around, but they cannot go out of an open door without permission, (release word), from you.

Have your dog on leash and stand by the door. Give a verbal 'Wait' command and a hand signal,
(open palm right in front of their eyes).
Keep the leash very loose.
Open the door and,- if your dog starts to bolt out of the door,- give a 'pop back' correction - at the dog's level - When the Nose is at the Door Jam - Not before. The door jam is a visual reference for your dog and every door has a door jam.
At the same time that you are giving the leash correction, give a low, loud ah-h-h- sound.
Close the door and try again. If they try to bolt again, make this correction with more force. Keep increasing the force until they do respond.
Of course, we Must tell them when they are doing it right, so when they are not making any attempt to go out of the open door, use your voice only - no petting - and in a quiet voice, tell them 'Good Dog'.
Before your dog is allowed to go out of the door, they must have your permission.
I suggest using your 'Release Word'. It will tell your dog it is Ok to go out.

For the next two weeks, take that extra couple of seconds it takes to put the leash on and do 'Door Practice' each time your dog must go outside. You won't be sorry.

Only when they are steady on this exercise, proceed to the next step, which is telling your dog to 'Wait', and you step out of the door, holding it open. Have the leash on your dog so you can catch them if they try to come out with you. When your dog really knows what is expected, start doing 'Door Practice' in the car.

Have a friend Pop Back if the dog tries to jump out before permission is given

With Two People, use a long line stretched through an open window. Open the door on the opposite side just a crack and give the 'Wait' command, then open the door wide. The person holding the long line will make the correction.

If your are Doing this alone, do the following before you bring your dog out to practice. Lay the long line on the seat and have the snap about One foot from where the seat stops by the door. The other end you will lay out the other side and shut the door on it. Bring your dog out, get in the car and snap the line on the collar. Sit there a few minutes or drive around the block. Lay the line on the seat with the end closed in the door Before you open the door, give the 'Wait' command and then open the door and get out, leaving the door open. If your dog tries to come out with you, the line will correct it.

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