How to train dog not to run out the door?

Dogs get excited when you open the door since this can mean you’re going on a walk with them, have visitors they love, or are going to play with them. This behavior can be altered by using positive reinforcement to train your dog to wait and stay calm whenever you go near the door.

Why does my dog run away when I open the door?

Some dog breeds are easily excitable and will get crazy whenever they see or hear something they associate with something good.

One typical example is when dogs run to the door when you get near it. Dog owners know this too well! Some dogs even slip out the door at the slightest chance to run amok outside.

Examples of dog breeds that get easily excited include:

• Dalmatians.
• Border Collies.
• Siberian Huskies.
• Labrador Retrievers.
• Jack Russell Terriers.

Your pup might have been trained to get excited whenever you mention going out the door since it’s almost always followed with an activity they like, such as:

• Walks.
• Playing.
• Meeting a person they trust.

And while we love seeing our dogs happy, they can get a bit destructive when they’re too excited before leaving the door. Some pups even pee at the front door out of excitement!

How do I make my dog calm down when opening the door?

Be mindful of your tone

First, you need to be wary of how you communicate with your dog whenever you’re opening the door.

Some pet owners talk “excitingly” to their pups, which can trigger them to get excited and rowdy, too! If you want your furry friend to stay calm and composed, you must first display this behavior when talking to them.

Try not to raise your pitch and talk as if speaking to another person. This will drastically help bring their energy down.

Teach “stay” and “sit” commands

Another thing you can do is to teach your furry friends a few commands such as “stay” and “sit.”

You can do this by doing the following:

Step 1: Walk your dog to the door.

Step 2: Try to ignore their excitement until they get bored and leave. When they calm down, give them a treat.

Step 3: Go to the door again and slightly open the door. Your pup will most likely get excited. Command them to sit and treat them when they do, then walk out the door. If they didn’t move when you went out the door, give them another treat.

Step 4: Repeat the rewarding system until they learn to sit still when you fully open the door.

Give them distractions

If you don’t have the time to train them yet, the next best thing you can do is to use toys as a distraction.

You can try to make your furry friend fetch their toy while you open the door. You can also give them commands for tricks if they know any so you can redirect their focus.