It’s no secret that dogs love to explore. And one of the easiest ways for them to do that is by opening doors. Unfortunately, while this can be entertaining for us, it can also be dangerous – especially if your dog manages to get out into the street. Fortunately, you can do a few things to prevent your dog from opening doors. In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop dog from opening doors. Keep reading to learn more!
Dogs are naturally curious and love to explore. Unfortunately for many pets, they get into accidents or trouble because they are too distracted by all the new sights and smells to stay close enough to their owners. This is especially true if you leave your dog home alone during the day – even if it’s just for a few hours.
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Reasons Why Does Dog Open Door
There are several reasons why your dog is opening doors that it shouldn’t. First, watch what kind of behavior causes this. It could be due to anxiety, which many dogs deal with at one point or another. More often than not, though, it’s simply because he can and enjoys exploring his surroundings.
And when the door isn’t closed (or left open by accident), he bolts through. If your dog is eager to explore the world, the chances are that you find him barking by open doors that lead outside or into other rooms of the house. He might also be trying to get attention from you. For many dogs, this means barking by an open door until their owner gives them what they want – to come and close it!
Your Dog Is Stealing Food
If this is your problem, you’re likely leaving food where he can quickly get it. That means not only on the countertops but also in unsecured cabinets or pantry doors. Make sure that all of these places are closed tightly every time you leave the room or go to sleep for the day. This might mean simply closing a cabinet door by hand rather than using an automatic opener device, but it’ll be worth it if you stop him from getting into trouble!
Ace The Basics
If your dog is opening doors because they don’t know better (such as with very young pups), it’s time to break out the treats. When you see him standing by an open door, give him a peanut butter or cheese spoonful and tell him, “close it.” Do this every time for about three weeks, at which point he should have learned the door is only opened with your permission.
No matter how well your dog learns to open doors, there may be times he does it without intending to obey you. You might also notice that he isn’t doing as well as he used to (even though you’ve given him a treat prize). This could indicate separation anxiety, which means he opens the door because he gets distressed whenever you leave!
Do not scold your dog when he opens the door. This will make him afraid of you, and his future behavior could worsen.
A Detailed Guide on How to Stop Dog From Opening Doors
Way 1: Using a Higher Lock
Picking a lock is not an easy task. For example, used doors typically have locks at the bottom, where people put their shoes. There are several reasons for this, but one of them maybe because the door itself has the tendency to open outwards; therefore, any lock needs to be installed on that side.
The first thing you should do is install a higher lock, giving your dog less space to fit his head in between and work with. This method won’t 100% stop your dog from opening the door, but it will make him think twice before trying again.
The only downside to using this method is that if someone opens the door by pulling it towards themselves (as may be expected when carrying groceries), then there’s no way to lock the door from this side.
Way 2: Using a Baby Gate
If you have a dog that isn’t very tall, it will be enough to install a baby gate on your doorway, and he won’t be able to jump over or push it aside as it’s pretty heavy. If you’re going through / coming in through the house with groceries, nobody will see the dog trying to escape by opening the door.
This method is not 100% effective either, as a determined dog has been known to knock down a baby gate! However, in most cases, this does work well. And if not, there are many different options available when it comes to gates, so there should always be one which fits your needs exactly.
Way 3: Training Your Dog
The best way to stop a dog from opening doors is to train him. Of course, how you will do that depends on what is causing him to behave in this manner, but you mustn’t punish him for doing something wrong if he doesn’t know any better.
For example, if your dog knows how to use the doorbell and rings it himself when he wants to go outside. Then, training will be more accessible since all you need to teach him is not to ring it at inappropriate times (when somebody comes through the door or when you’re sleeping).
If, however, your dog has developed this habit of opening doors because of separation anxiety, then training becomes more difficult. It might be enough to get over your dog’s back and close the door behind you in such cases. But make sure to do this every time; otherwise, it will not be effective.
At first, you should also go back to using the treats; however, make sure that your pup does not see you closing the door, or he might start expecting a treat each time!
The key is for your dog to learn that the door only opens if nobody is around. One way of doing this is by leaving him with plenty of stuffed chew toys which he can play with when you’re gone. And preferably ones that take him quite some time to finish, so that he stays busy until you get back.
Eventually, as your dog starts understanding this concept well enough (as shown by always waiting patiently behind the closed door), you can begin to act more casual each time you leave.
Note: Dogs are brilliant and capable of learning, but make sure to take your time with training as it requires patience! How fast your dog will learn depends on its age; older dogs tend to be harder to train than younger ones.
Way 4: Using Security Chains
Stop a dog from opening doors security chains might be the best bet. Of course, this method is not 100% effective either, but if done right, it should give you enough time to come back and close the door yourself before your furry friend even has the chance.
The key is to attach the chain to the door, and the other side is attached to your wall. This way, when someone opens the door – instead of hitting the wall and opening wider – it will only pull on the chain and make quite a racket in most cases.
This can be done with any chain, but make sure to get one that is not too light in weight, or you might need something even more vital! How strong depends on how big your dog is, but if you have a large breed, he will be able to break pretty much anything.
Also, note that this method requires some installation / DIY skills and tools (including screwdrivers) for it to work correctly. However, these ways will help in how to stop dog from opening doors.
What Are the Signs That My Dog Is Going to Open the Door Again, and How Do I Stop Him?
You notice that your dog seems to be excitedly sniffing at the door or scratching at it when you see what’s happening. Soon enough, he manages to open it and escape outside.
Your Dog May Be Showing These Signs If He’s Going to Open the Door:
– Your dog suddenly becomes overly active near the door. For example, he may start scratching or pawing at it while barking in excitement.
– You may also see him trying to sneak behind/under you as if he has some surprise for you – but make sure your pup isn’t just going after a toy on the other side of the door.
– You may even hear him trying to open the doorknob with his mouth or paws!
This is your dog’s way of showing you how excited he is to go outside. Of course, it’s beneficial to let him out before he gets too worked up, but it may not be easy to train yourself to do that every time! You can work on this by training your pup with a command like “sit” before letting him out the door.
Conclusion:
We hope you have learned how to stop dog from opening doors. It is essential to remember that not all dogs are the same, and some may take a bit longer to train than others. However, if you are consistent with your commands and remain patient, you will be able to stop your dog from opening doors in no time.
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