Teaching Your Dog to Love Doorways
Whatever the reason may be for your dog’s fear of doorways, you will need to teach them how to like them. This is important for both you and your pup. You want them to be comfortable with going through doorways no matter where they are!
Start inside your home, where your dog may not be fearful, but is still comfortable. Hold a treat up to your dog’s nose and lure him through the doorway. If your pup is too scared to walk through the doorway, give them a treat when they move closer to it. Do this until your furry friend has walked through the doorway. Once your dog is comfortable walking through the doorways on the interior of your home, take them to the entryway of your home to practice there.
Put your dog on a leash and walk out the back door. When your dog passes through the entry way, give your pup a treat. Even if your dog is still scared and walks through the doorway slowly and cautiously, reward them once they get to the other side.
When you give them a treat every time they make it through the door, they will begin to associate the scary doorway with the yummy treats and pretty soon they will be heading through the doors as if it never scared them at all!
While it may take time and patience, teaching your dog to no longer be fearful of passing through doorways can help both them and you! They will be more comfortable and happy, and you will have an easier time taking them on walks and getting them outside when you need to. Just remember not to punish them or yell at your pup, this will only make matters worse.
Dogs Who Are Scared of Doorways
While it may not be extremely common, some dogs have a fear of doorways. While this can be hard on the owners, it is something that can be fixed with some training!
Why I teach my dog to be calm in doorways
You don’t have to believe that whoever goes through the door first is – God forbid – dominant. I wouldn’t think about it like that.
(Although, if your dog is especially impressed with himself, it would do him some good to be second more often.)
Instead, think of it as teaching your dog self-control, because a dog who has self-control is going to be a happier dog in general who gets to go more places because he’s easier to manage. He’s less likely to pull, jump on people, etc.
And, simply, barging through doors is rude!
So when I’m training a new dog, I expect him to learn to be calm at the door and while going through doorways.
All dogs can learn polite door manners. I don’t care if he’s a big, strong, pushy dog. He can learn to pause, sit and wait.
A dog who barges through the door is obviously dangerous because:
So yes, I do walk through doors first when it’s reasonable, and I expect a pause before and after we head through the door.
Of course, it’s not always reasonable to walk through the door before your dog. It’s often much easier to let the dog go first and that is absolutely fine! Just make sure you’re really the one who’s making that decision.
For example, my apartment has a heavy front door that opens inward. It’s just easier to have Ace go through the door first while I hold it open, especially if I’m carrying out the trash.
My dog is trained to pause before and after we head through the door. He doesn’t need a leash. He just stands there waiting. Good boy, Ace!
(Note that my dog is far from perfect. He is quite the Door-Barger in other scenarios like if we’re at someone else’s home. Ahh … that’s why training in different contexts is so important. It never ends.)
OK, so by now you see what I mean.
It’s not really about being first. It’s about expecting the dog to be CALM.