Is Your Dog Out Of Control When You Step Out The Front Door?
It's so easy to unintentionally train your dog to do something you don't like.
One of the most common behaviours I get asked about is jumping, over excited dogs on walks.
Why does that happen? It begins in the home before leaving.
Dogs are masters at learning your behaviour patterns. They know when you are going to bathe them or cut their nails or put on their jacket or give them food or go out the door for a walk.
We humans, fall into predictable behaviour patterns quickly and easily.
Take a moment. Sit down and walk yourself through exactly what you do before you take your dog for a walk. My guess is, you do the same thing each and every time.
My pattern is I go to the bathroom, check the treat bag, fill if necessary, put on shoes/jacket, pick up the dog's collar, pick up the dog's harness, put on the treat bag, step to the door, cue wait, open the door, pause, cue okay, step outside, wait again, okay is given when he looks at me and the walk begins.
The order of steps rarely changes. My dog knows he is going for a walk the moment I get up and go to the bathroom then to the table in the hallway.
There is absolutely no need to ask him if he wants to go for a walk. As a matter of fact, I don't say anything to him. I simply go about my routine quietly and calmly.
When I step out the door and wait for Louie to look back at me, I know I am beginning my walk with a calm dog.
If he's calm before the walk begins, there is a greater chance of calm on the walk itself.
That is where I see the biggest mistake consistently being made.
Before you even step out the door, high arousal begins. Fido!! Fido!! Wanna go for a walk??!!! Let's go for a walk!!!! Yea!! Let's go, let's go!!
This is often accompanied by a high pitch, excited voice, and fast movements. Perhaps it becomes a struggle to get the leash and harness on as well.
It's no wonder the dog is bouncing out of his skin the moment you step out the front door. You have unintentionally created an aroused state.
Sadly most people end up reprimanding the dog when they jump and get goofy. It's like giving your kid heaps of candy and getting mad at them when they are acting out of control on a sugar rush.
Teach calm from the get go. Trust that your dog knows what is going to happen.
Try it. Say nothing. Go through the motions of getting ready for your walk.
What does your dog do?
I bet he follows you around. At the very least, he lifts his head up to watch.
Wait for him to look back at you once you step out the front door. Pay it. It’s important that he knows you are at the end of the leash and you will be walking together.