Answering the Door

Does anyone have any advice for training a pup to behave while answering the door?

Bane gets so excited whenever the door goes he has to be there to answer it with you which we don't mind, it's just as soon as the door opens he tries to jump out to say hello to the person. We have tried to tell him to sit next to us and he does for about 2 seconds and then gets up and tries to get out again. He just doesn't sit still!

He also likes to destroy anything that comes through the letter box. It is quite funny to watch him shoot to the door and rip stuff out of the letter box, but not when it is something important  

With the door do you have a baby gate you can pop him behind? Then he can see what is going on but you keep him calm, make him sit wait and with treats, not going to happen overnight but over time he will learn to be calm and you won't have to use a gate forever, just be persistant.

With the post, get a cage lol x

We're lucky since there is a door between the main room and front door. A baby gate would help out though. Also you can have someone come by every 10 minutes or so to help him get used to it. It's like training them to do anything else repitition, patience, and reward.

I can relate to this! Our postman has just about given up and gone away by the time I've got the girls shut in the kitchen! So, I'm not a lot of help to you I'm afraid    yep and they eat the letters if they can   

Sorry I cant help, Katy goes mental when someone comes to the door. As for our post, I can be standing with my hand an inch from the letterbox & she can still jump up & grab it before I do   

We have Rockys crate in the hall and as soon as someone comes to the door he jumps in there. We can then let him out once the door is safely closed and everyone is in the flat. As for the post again go with a cage that's what we have.

Thanks everyone!
He goes a bit crazy if we put him behind the stair gate but maybe if we try moving it closer, it would work better.
Kathy that sounds like a good setup! Maybe we will have to invest in getting him a crate that we can put in the living room.

Will also try getting the neighbour to knock on a few times so we can practice! Or maybe start doing a 10 minute door training session with him and the OH each day

Haha Jen they are like ninjas sometimes! Who knew paper tasted to good!

The crate can be a God send when used correctly and never as a punishment. Have a good look around on line to get one at a good price EBay etc.

The boys go behind the baby gate next to the door when i answer it.

My routine is probably a bit extreme for most because of Chance, but i bring chance in on lead once he's calmed down and get him in a sit/stay away from everyone while i give him something tasty, i then get people to feed him - so i do the same with harvey out of habit but just makes life easier

Bane wrote:Does anyone have any advice for training a pup to behave while answering the door?

Bane gets so excited whenever the door goes he has to be there to answer it with you which we don't mind, it's just as soon as the door opens he tries to jump out to say hello to the person. We have tried to tell him to sit next to us and he does for about 2 seconds and then gets up and tries to get out again. He just doesn't sit still!

He also likes to destroy anything that comes through the letter box. It is quite funny to watch him shoot to the door and rip stuff out of the letter box, but not when it is something important  

With the letter box as others have mentioned the only way to combat that really is to get a cage The only option with the jumping up is to teach a "down" or "off" command and ensure that all visitors carry it out also. Other than that, you could put him on a short lead when answering the door, ask him to sit and get the visitors to praise the sit with a treat.

ella wrote:The boys go behind the baby gate next to the door when i answer it.

My routine is probably a bit extreme for most because of Chance, but i bring chance in on lead once he's calmed down and get him in a sit/stay away from everyone while i give him something tasty, i then get people to feed him - so i do the same with harvey out of habit but just makes life easier

Similarly to Ella's Chance, Biscuit has got stranger problems and isn't safe to be loose with them right away. When we have male visitors or workmen to the house she goes into her crate with a kong, so that she can smell them and work them out for a few minutes in a safe place. She then comes out on lead and if she wishes to approach them I ask them to get her to sit and give her a treat. If we have female visitors, she's now been taught not to jump up and will just run around their feet wagging her little bum, which isn't particularly helpful either lol! A baby gate could be an option for when you need to answer the door quickly to the post man etc?

We've trained darcy to sit on the stairs whilst the door is opened

just a word of caution about baby gates - we bought a savic dog gate as densil used to attack the hoover. This is quite a tall gate but one day he just jumped over it from a standing position - so glad there wasn't someone at the door at the time. Now we have to balance a step ladder over it to stop him jumping it, lol. 

I gave up teaching Pixee not to eat the post, and she does not like the post 'man' when our post girl is on holiday. So I put a plastic shopping bag on the outside tucked in the letter box and sealed letter box off with masking tape. Everyone is happier for it, and the post 'man' too.

We are still trying to get Pixee to stay calm in her chair when the door goes, and have also got to her sit and we wont open the door till she is calmer, we are slowing getting there. Time and patient will work.

Wow Densil he sounds a bit like a ninja Bane is getting pretty good at jumping so will have to watch him with it as he gets bigger!

Lynn I guess as with anything it will just take time and patience

Lula would not go near the door as it too cold. Only these morning my mum called to pick something up and she came to the door and followed my mum. Who picked her up gave her a quick cuddle before handing her back. I will now be closing the living room door when answering the front door.

Wish I could do that but the OH took it off!

He seems to be getting better at sitting and waiting But it seems as though we are beginning to hit the naughty teen stages :/

Bane wrote:Wish I could do that but the OH took it off!

He seems to be getting better at sitting and waiting :)But it seems as though we are beginning to hit the naughty teen stages :/

Get him to put it back on then   

hahaha think I might have to if he doesn't calm down soon!

Bane wrote:Wish I could do that but the OH took it off!

He seems to be getting better at sitting and waiting :)But it seems as though we are beginning to hit the naughty teen stages :/

   oh dear

I hate doors   , when we changed round our kitchen and lounge, and opened up the new kitchen into the dining room, we ended up with just one door downstairs into the lounge, but at least I have a room to shut Pixee in should the need arise, problem is, she has a front view to the front door and can see who has come  

Does anyone have a problem like this: my puppy pees when is excited, especially when she sees a new person or other dog. Is it normal for youngsters and especially bitches?

Yes its normal as they don't have full control of their bladder yet   

Sazzle wrote:Yes its normal as they don't have full control of their bladder yet   

I thought so, thanks anyway

We have the same trouble with Sonic. I have succeeded in training him to sit and stay when I go out the front. Even with the door unlocked he will not move. If someone knocks on the door he gets so excited that I have to keep hold of his collar. I hold his collar and tell him to sit and I tell him that he is a good boy and give him a pat when he does. I still have to hold his collar though, but he is learning, slowly. Once a visitor is inside he settles down a bit.

Staffy lover wrote:

Bane wrote:Wish I could do that but the OH took it off!

He seems to be getting better at sitting and waiting :)But it seems as though we are beginning to hit the naughty teen stages :/

   oh dear

I hate doors   , when we changed round our kitchen and lounge, and opened up the new kitchen into the dining room, we ended up with just one door downstairs into the lounge,  but at least I have a room to shut Pixee in should the need arise, problem is, she has a front view to the front door and can see who has come  

Haha we moved into our new house last July and it is only a small 2 bed terrace so thought taking a couple of doors off would give us a bit of extra space! Love open plan stuff bet your kitchen/diner looks great!

Doufyl: Bane has done this once, when we had a lot of family around! He must have weed on the floor about 5 times in 15 minutes! They grow out of it

Sininaz: This is what we are trying to do with Bane as he tries to get out the front door to greet whoever is there before they get a chance to get in the house At the moment he quite likes sitting and waiting on the sofa so maybe that is the way we will have to go with it!