It’s been a truly exhausting day when you finally collapse on the couch with a blanket and an episode of The Big Bang Theory. However, as soon as you get comfy, you hear the unmistakable sound of your dog trying to open the door. He sits outside, moaning and barking until you finally give in and get up to let him in. It would be alright if this happened infrequently, but it’s almost as if he waits until you’ve gotten really comfy! I mean it’s fine when your partner is around because then they can get up and open the door, but you’ve had enough.
Solving this problem with some straightforward training comes with obvious benefits. Firstly, you’ll never have to get up when you’ve sunk into the couch again. Secondly, he won’t get trapped in a room when you’re not at home.
This training can be tricky to start with, but once you’ve shown him what you want him to do, he’ll quickly catch on. Training consists mainly of teaching him how to open doors. Once he knows it will quickly become a habit. Younger dogs are often more receptive and respond to training in a matter of days. Older dogs who have been stumped by doors for years may need a couple of weeks before the light bulb comes on.
Succeeding with this training is mainly about patience, but getting it right could see you remain comfy on your couch for years to come. It also comes with the added bonus of making other training more straightforward too. The more training you do with him, the quicker he will learn other useful tricks and the more eager he’ll be to please.
Before he discovers how to open the door to Narnia, you will need a few things. His favorite food or treats will play an essential role in motivating and rewarding him.
Also get some cloths or old T-shirts that you can tie to the door. For one of the methods, a pad of small, brightly colored sticky notes will also be needed.
Also, ensure you can set aside 15 minutes a day for the next week or two and that you won’t be distracted when you’re training. The only other thing you need is an optimistic attitude and then you can get to work!
We only have door knobs. What is the best way to get him to open the door keeping in mind he is just a wee little lad.
Hello, opening a door with a knob and being a shorter breed will make this task difficult, if not impossible. If you really want Pele to be able to open the door, a lever handle may be the best option. Typically you teach your dog to pull on a rope or long piece of fabric attached to the lever. The concept is explained here: https://wagwalking.com/sense/can-dogs-open-doors. All of the methods in the guide where you submitted the question are good. I've reposted the link here: https://wagwalking.com/training/open-a-door. The Sticky Note Method is often effective. Follow the steps as listed to give Pele the instructions. Changing your knobs to levers will give Pele more of a chance for success. All the best!
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