Video Playlist – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5Gq75nD6Q&list=PLm8D1Vr2GUTnx3PkylN-4lLf3tJVS1r9J

When you reward going in and out of all doors as part of your 3-5 minute treat training sessions, you're conditioning your pup to enjoy the process and learn the rules of the game. Using doors when you don't need to go out the door will help you and your pup focus on the training rather than the task you might want to do on the other side of the door.

Level 1

• Have your pup on a leash and walk towards the door together.
• Have your leash and treats in one hand, and the other hand free to use for the motion and sound to signal a sit at the door.
• You can use your mat to help your Pup stay longer.

The "cue" to sit is the sound and sight of your hand touching any door handle. You can ask for a "sit," but I prefer teaching the dog to always sit when I reach for a door handle. This becomes an automatic behavior that keeps everyone safe and focused.

Don't ask for a "sit" verbally. Silently wait for an S I T with your hand on the door.
When you're waiting for a sit, look at your pup's butt and imagine them sitting.
When they sit, mark with a “yes”, "yip" or a click and then reward with a treat.

Level 2

Repeat Level 1 a few times until the sit becomes more automatic when you touch the door handle. When they sit as you motion to touch the handle, you can begin slowly opening the door and slowly shutting it when your pup pops out of the sit. Create space for the initial sit and use your body in front of the door before you close it so you don't mistakenly close it on your darting pup.

Give both of you time to coordinate this and feed treats for the extended sit stays as you open the door. Once you have a calm sit, you can cue "let's go" and head through the door.

Level 3

Who goes through the door first?

It depends on your dog's energy and the situation.

• If your dog is high-energy and wants to bolt out doors, you should go through the door first more often.
• If your dog is careful and learning to build confidence, you should let your pup go through the door first more often.
• You can also practice going through together here and there to be sure your dog gives you space and can practice staying in heel position.

You can turn this it into a more high-paced game that will build the ability to wait, listen & respond to everything.

BUILD STAY DURATION:

To build duration for longer sit/stays, you can go through the door while your pup waits and watches you for the release cue. (If you’re struggling as about platform work to build your stay durations.)

As you slowly build their stay duration, you will eventually be able to run out the door while they wait and call them to come when you're ready. You can feed them treats or play tug with them as a reward for waiting, but the release from a long stay is often enough of a reward. As you advance with these door games, you are fading food rewards and building wonderful lifestyle patterns that will work anywhere, not just at doors. The door area is a great place to practice impulse control so they get used to sitting and waiting calmly by all doors.

WORK ON SEND AWAYS:

You can send your pup out in the front door without you (if it's safe) by cueing "GO”... "go see Sally," "go to your spot,"etc. Surprised

Send aways is advanced work that will help your dog –

Get out of the kitchen, office, or gathering space when needed, if you teach them to head to their bed, open crate, outside, etc before you need it, you will have a wonderful pattern built in.

Wrap Up –

Besides having a polite dog at every door, these 3 levels of training are building blocks that will create amazing results. Every time you play training games with joy and enthusiasm, it builds a bond and you're creating default behaviors that make life easy for both of you. If you put in the time to get these behaviors to happen automatically, they will become lifelong habits that both of you will benefit from in so many ways.

✔️ Time Commitment:
Spend just 2 to 10 minutes, twice a day
✔️ Frequency:
Do this at least 3 days a week
✔️ Duration:
Stick with it for 3 to 6 weeks

You will see progress!