Advice on Our Lab Pup Dart Out the Door

Does he know the basic commands? If so then start there and use the sit/stay command.

If he doesn't know the basic commands or is still rough around the edges with them, then you need to start there and get him trained before going to something like bolting out the door.

What I do is have a pocket of treats-find a treat he will work very hard for-the liver treats are good. Before I open the door. I give the sit command, give a treat. Open the door-if the dog gets up put them back to sit-another treat. Every time he gets up, put him back to sit and another treat.

It will take a few times. But he will get it. He will learn that sitting gets the treat and getting up doesn't.

Also look into the Pet Connection in Mission. They have training for a very good price. I highly recommend them.

They make those shock collars. They work. My friend got one and tried it on his self first. It's not an extreme shock. But it does get their attention.

L. (H. now)

I have had labs my whole life. The things that make them so loveable are also the things that make them easy to train. They want to please you. We started very young with all of ours but they continue to learn even as they get older, it is never too late. You can not teach him not to do something he is in the middle of doing.

You must begin by teaching him to stay on command. It is an easy command to teach. Get a book at the library and be consistant with that command. he should learn it quickly. Once he understands it you go to the door daily and use it to train him with what you want. You do this as a training method not when you actually need it. This will allow you to take the time needed with him.

Until this is done he should be put in a bedroom or another room when you leave the house. This will remove him from the door when it is opened upon returning, therefore protecting him.

A good collar, leash (not the retractable kind), calm assertive attitude and and investment in your time. Practice having your dog sit and stay when opening the door and praise him for a job well done. Giving him some good exercise before a training session will really help as well. They need direction.

Oh I feel your pain!!! Our lab pup turned 1 in october. She was doing the same thing!! I have 4 kids so she did this all the time!! We did take her 2 the doggie classes and it still didn't help any!! We bought a book and had a couple good ideas in it. We used both methods so I'm not sure which one finally worked,she will still run out across the street but only if the kids are over there. The first thing we did was put her on her leash and tied it 2 the banister. When she would run out it would only go so far before she would be jerked back. We also put her in her kennal each time she did this. She really likes her kennel and being put in there for punishment she didn't like.I know they say don't use the kennel for punishment but it seemed 2 work for us. She doesn't dart out the door much now,so I'm hoping she learned her lesson. That and I think just the older she get the more behaved she gets!! It takes a lot of time and patience!! We now leave her out of her kennel all the time, we don't put her in there when we leave,and here lately she has been so good I can leave her out during daycare hours and not chew up toys or jump all over kids! It was like one night she went to sleep a pup and woke up a dog the next day!! Good luck

well since you only have the one dog I would work with her. First put him on the leash with a choke collar although some dogs don't respond to them. I have one that won't while the other two will. But with leash in hand have your daughter go outside and shut the door. After a minute or two have her come back in and if the dog tries to bolt for the door give it a good yank and tell him no. then give the sit command and if he sits praise him. never praise the dog if it does something its not supposed to. labs are smart they will learn. although I had a lab mix that was dumber than a box of rocks.
repetition and praise is the key to any dog obidence.

A crate should help the initial darting out the door (since he can't get out). Crates are also good so your dog knows where his space is if he wants to get away from kids or company & so he doesn't destroy the house or potty on the floor while you are gone. We have a Havachon (havaneese bichon mix) he is a little dog, but he has always been in a crate when we leave the house, but one time someone didn't make sure the crate door was completely closed & he shreded our mini blinds (something he would never have done when we were home - seperation anxiety?).
We use a remote training collor (mild electircal zaping - we have tried it on ourselves, it is a tingle not painful) to help teach our dog to stay out of the bathroom where the cat box is. They are a little pricy so I would try the other treat or clicker options first.

God bless!

We have had this very problem with both our dogs and cats! yes they like to run out into the traffic too. It is worse when the weather is great. We took extra ime when bringing in groceries and with the first trip in we put the animals in the bathroom with the door closed-they were mad and tried to destroy the bath butit was the safest thing we ever did. The cheapest too.

Good Morning D.,

My first thought was to get a kennel you could put your pup into while you're gone. That way when you open the door you won't be run over by your over-anxious, four-legged family member.

If it's too expensive, ask your vet for places that might sell used ones. Or try ebay or craig's list.

You didn't mention if you have a fenced back yard. If so, put him there.

I know these aren't "training" methods, but it's what I came up with! Hope it helps! ls

I too have a 1 year old lab.

I would try and teach him basic commands. Name, Sit, stay, heel. I am also trying to teach mines the clicker method. the clicker is about $2.00 at petsmart. http://www.clickertraining.com/, http://www.clickerlessons.com/clicker.htm
a video on how to use the clicker http://www.clickertrainusa.com/clicker-training-videos.htm

If your pup has a crate I would put him in a crate while your are going in and out of your house. You will also have to be firm when giving commands as well.

Crate training is the best thing you can do for your dog. I guess some people always put the dog in the crate when they leave, but a properly trained dog will not need to be put in the crate every time once s/he learns that your space is their space, too.

Look up the basic strategy, but as I recall, the main points are 1) the crate is not a punishment, 2) the space in the crate should be large enough for the dog to turn around and stretch out but no larger (or else they will pee/poop in there), 3) never leave them in there long enough to have to pee/poop in there, or they are not getting the main point: the crate (and eventually your entire home) is their living space, and dogs who understand that naturally will not pee/poop there.

The dog will learn to respect your space and become calmer in general in the house. The crate should be used for bedtime and when you are not home until you think s/he has learned, and then you slowly let them loose in the house, a little at a time and build it up. Good luck! Training a dog is hard work!

Any puppy can be trained but it takes being consistent and positive with them. You'll need to buy some small treats the dog loves and then get ready for some fake role play. The goal is to teach him that out front is not safe so therefore when he needs to go to the bathroom I would only take him out in the back yard, if possible, that way he's not confused about when he can and can't go out front. Then have someone come to the front door or even do the grocery bit again but have someone in the house down on the floor with puppy giving it treats while they say "stay"...and when he stays, you say "good stay" and give him a treat for positive re-enforcement. If he goes outside then I would get a bell that you could shake loudly as you change your tone of voice and get sturn with him while you say "NO! Inside!" or whatever other words you might want to choose as your command. Obviously, puppy needs outside play time as well so you could put on a leash and take him for short walks not that the weather will be warming up or even take him to the dog park sometimes where he will get socialized around other dogs. Have fun and hope this idea helps!

Is he fixed? Our lab was a crazy monster until we got him fixed. Then it seemed like all of his behavior got better.

Good Morning D.. We have a puppy who will be one this month, we couldn't afford training either. I thought I could do it because I didn't have any problems training our first 2 shih tuz's. Well we got them when they were first ready to leave momma. Amber was 5 months and it had been a challenge for sure, she was kennel trained or taught to pee or poop on cement, floors etc.. Got her from a pet / boarding shop.

What I did was google Obedience training and went from there. She is doing pretty good, still room for improvement. We should of called her mis licky licky.. She licks our arms, hands, feet, cloths, couch, anything she gets around she licks...lol I asked the vet about it and he said he would rather them lick then bite.. Well yeah but... Anyway there are several good training sites to read though and get ideas. It takes commitment to carry through though.

http://www.dogpatch.org/obed/obpage2.cfm

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/obedots.html

But while you are learning yourself how to train your sweet canine buddy, shut him in the bathroom or bedroom while carrying in grocery's or place on leach in backyard if you have one.
God Bless hope some of this helps. There are several good sites on dog trainig

K. Nana of 5
Forever Mama of a 11 month old 4 legged Princess Mis Amber licky licky

I agree with those who suggested kennel/crate training. We have an 8 year old lab who was kennel trained when he was a puppy. Although it was difficult for me to do it, I had to remind myself that they don't see it as a punishment. I think it was Amelia B. who offered very good advice on the size the kennel should be. Our dog eventually learned to go to the kennel whenever we left the house, and sometimes we would find him in there sleeping even when we were home. It was his own space and he liked it. He no longer requires a kennel b/c he's older and we don't have to worry about him chewing on things or bathroom accidents. Labs for Dummies is a great book ~ it helped us out a lot with his training. Good luck!

Keep a leash by the door. Don't open the door unless he's on it. Continue to try and train him not to run out, but use this as a precaution until he gets the message.