The first one is very timid and doesn't wander off too far if we aren't right by her side.
However, the second one is a complete handful; she's totally unmanageable when she manages to slip through our legs as soon as the door opens.
She’s done it three times today already. I know it's because cats often cut through our garden and she tracks them because she absolutely hates them, but today she made it all the way to the road (I live in a large courtyard and we can’t put up any gates or fences at the entrance because of the shop next door that shares the space...).
She’s really scaring me because her recall is non-existent, and it honestly feels like she thinks it's a game. She seems to enjoy me chasing her and shouting for her to come back, as she just runs towards me and then darts off in another direction again...
Three times in one day is just too much. When it's me dealing with it, I can manage (for now), but the others in the house (especially my mum) just haven't got a chance of catching her.
If anyone has any solutions, I'd be really grateful!
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It’s definitely a nightmare when a dog slips through your legs the second the door is opened. When I had Wilko trained, it only took a couple of sessions to teach him to stay behind me before a door is opened. Same goes for the car… he only gets out when I tell him to and waits patiently. It’s much better from a safety point of view. Definitely look into a local dog training club; it’s a bad habit that can be sorted out in just a few sessions.
Use whatever she likes best to reward her—food, play, or even the chance to have a quick sprint—anything goes to make sure she associates this work with something positive. The rule is: if I wait, I get a reward. And for a high-energy dog, that definitely needs to become a lifelong mantra! ;-)
This is a really dangerous situation for everyone involved! Including the cats, who obviously don't want to be killed (I’ve seen it happen before and it happens incredibly fast...).
Personally, I’d start long-line training immediately to teach her to always stop at doorways and never rush through without your permission.
Does your girl know how to "sit"? A spaniel is capable of learning that very quickly; with a few short sessions here and there, she’ll have it cracked in a matter of days.
Next, put her on the long lead, make her sit a little way back from the door, and tell her to "stay" or "wait"—or whatever command you prefer. Keep a very close eye on her as you move towards the door. At the slightest attempt to lift her bum off the floor, as @Energie suggested, block her physically and put her right back at the starting point. You’ll see that she’ll soon realise there’s no way she’s moving until you give the signal. With a bit of practice, you’ll even be able to ask her to wait with the door standing wide open. And if she ever did try to bolt, the long lead is there to stop her!
Great advice, Energie! You’d already shared that body block video with me, and it’s really good. I tried the body block and the 'stay' once, asking my younger dog—who is absolutely hyper and excitable—to stay put while I walked about 5 metres away to put the bin out. His recall is brilliant, but staying still for five seconds just isn't in his nature, so we've got some work to do on that!
The ideal thing for the open door training session is to have two people; someone further away outside can eventually even call the dog to increase the difficulty level (but not right at the start).
Otherwise, that person is there to catch the dog if they manage to bolt. Some are incredibly stubborn and don't respond well to body blocking. Remember that if they don't back off clearly and haven't given up on the idea, you need to stay vigilant.
With a typical English Bulldog, it should be fine. About 10 reps should do it. Personally, I’d add a "no" as well. No means no, right?
And finally, when she’s behaving well, that’s when you reward her, get all bright and cheerful again, and slowly walk out ahead of your dog (always). It’s purely for safety reasons.
If mine spotted a cat before I did, she’d kill herself trying to pelt down the stairs.
Hi there, it’s quite straightforward really—I think this is a perfect case for a bit of body blocking.
You need to have the dog face a wide-open door without being allowed to go through it. You do this through body blocking. You can start with this here:
Block the way and walk towards the dog to make them back up, using a vocal cue as well. It could be "hey", "oi", or whatever works for you.
You need to see the dog give up on the idea, either by moving away or just not showing any interest anymore.
Then you can step aside a bit, leave the door wide open, and if the thought even crosses their mind for a split second, "hey!" and they should normally back off.
The door has to become a taboo subject. They aren't even allowed to think about it. And never, ever let them go out in front of you, even on a lead. Always the same ritual. A "sit", a "wait". Then you touch the handle and if they get up, "hey" and you shut the door again. Taboo. Don’t even think about it. Wait your turn.
Evening,
Recall is one of the most important things for your dog. Start with some games—try hiding from them at first. You can then move the exercise to a quiet dog park; the one at Genthod-Bellevue is usually very chill, but there are plenty of others, of course. Getting them to come back depends a bit on how you react. If you chase after your dog, there’s not much chance they’ll come back of their own accord. Try hiding if your pooch doesn't react: behind a tree, for example. Doing this in a fenced-off, secure area should work well.
Evening,
Recall is one of the most important things for your dog. Play games; start by hiding from them first, and then you can move the exercise to a quiet dog park—a local secure dog field is usually quite chill, but there are plenty of others, of course. Their recall often depends on how you react. If you chase after your dog, there’s not much chance they’ll come back of their own accord. Try hiding if your pooch doesn't react—behind a tree, for example. Doing this in a fenced-off, secure area should really do the trick.
Well, they *are* on leads when we take them out --'
But I still have to get in and out of the house through the front door... I'm not going to keep them tied up all day or lock them in one room, they have the run of the whole house...
Naïa just darts between our legs whenever we come in or go out...
How old are the dogs? Has it always been like this? Normally, if your dog has been properly exercised before you head out, she should be a bit calmer. Alternatively, as a temporary fix if the layout of the flat allows, you could fit a baby gate in the hallway leading to the front door and leave her with a ball or an irresistible chew toy, etc. For a long-term solution, start teaching her now how to channel her energy with a good walk before you leave, and work on basic commands like staying seated and going to her bed.
How many walks is she getting? You’ve got a gundog, so it’s only natural she’s full of energy! It’s down to you to put the work in on her recall...
And yes, I can confirm that if you’re chasing after her, she’s having a great time because to her, it’s all just a game...
