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Why teach "Wait At Door"

  • Safety

    Teaching "Wait at Door" prevents your dog from rushing out the door and reduces the risk of accidents and escapes

  • Promotes impulse control

    Teaching "Wait At Door" helps promote impulse control and teaches them to look to you for permission before performing a behavior

  • Rewarding

    Learning new cues and tricks can be fun and rewarding for dogs, and "Wait At Door" is no exception

"Wait At Door"

Follow these steps when practicing "Wait At Door"

• Put your dog on a leash and have them sit by the door

• Position yourself between your dog and the door, say “Wait,” open the door a crack, and immediately close the door

• If your dog stays still, say “Yes” and give them a treat

• Practice this exercise until your dog stays still consistently

• The next step is to release your dog. To do this say “Wait,” crack the door open, and leave it open

• If your dog says still, say “Yes,” give them a treat and then say “Okay!” “Okay” is their signal that they can walk out the door

• Practice this exercise regularly and open the door wider as your dog’s ability to wait improves

Pro tip

If your dog isn’t food motivated, substitute treats for a toy, petting or praise.


Example

Alisonjoy at School for the Dogs practicing "Wait At Door"


Products we love

• Lamb lung. Dogs love these and they're perfect because they're very small.

• Treat pouch. A pouch is a great place to hold your treats during a training session or on a walk.