Jazzy darts OUT the door!

[jazzysmommy]

I really need some help with this issue...... Here recently Jazzy has been opening the screen door and darting across the street. One time she ran into an apartment and another time she got into a minivan with a man and child.
She is 5 months old now. We have always been able to walk her outside without a leash until rencently. We have a large yard that is mostly fenced in, but her attraction is the apartment complex across the street. She can litterally hit the handle on the screen door and open it.
We have of course been keeping the main door shut, but occasionally my three kids will forget and there goes Jazzy!
I am scared to death she will get injured by a car/person, stolen, or lost. I do have her microchipped but that isn't a guarantee.
We have been scolding her when we go and get her, and we make her "go lay down" when she is back in the house.

Any suggestions would be very welcome!

 

[sandy's mom]

You really need to practice recall. Do it in the house and really praise and treat her. That way, when you call her, she will see it as a good thing and come. Maybe a different latch on your door would be a good thing until she gets trained.

Good Luck!

 

[JohnMD.]

I had the same problem. One thing that was suggested on here and has really helped the situation is to teach her to sit and stay at the door. Before Casey gets to go out, he must sit and stay. I stand outside the door. If he moves before I tell him, I shut the door and start over. He gets to come out only when I give him permission.

I also keep the main doors shut, because sometimes he jumps at the door and it pops open. This is where the recall is needed.

 

[boxer-mom]

I havent had this problem with cash but i have heard of installing a baby gate at the door. It might be a hassel of having to step over it when ever you go in or out of the door but at least it will stop her from running out the door.

 

[Indy's mom]

Jazzy needs to understand that she never gets to go out any door without your permission.

Here's how we made this a non-issue with Indy. It was sooooo easy, but needed a fair amout of practice and we always enforce it now. Practice going to an open door with the leash on, tell him wait. Any attempt to go out the door and the door begins closing from the outside. You've got an accomplice who the dog can't see. This can be practiced on bedroom, bathroom doors if you only want him going into those rooms, outside doors, whatever works for you. He can only go thru the door when you have give him your release. Work with all doors, even sliding doors, obviously they can't be secretly closed, but if you've got that leash, you've got the control. You can go to a lighter form of control, once the leash is mastered. Heavy string, down to thread and then nothing. Baby steps all the way and don't ever be afraid to go back to using the leash.

We don't use this for indoors as a rule because all rooms are his to roam, but the garage is attached and he is sometimes allowed out there, sometimes not. We tell him wait and he does. The other thing I love, is on days like today, rainy outside. Not only does Indy wait to go out, but he is told to wait before coming in. Then he is asked to sit. Let's me clean his feet!

I'm sorry this got so long, but really the benefits are so many. Clean feet, far less chance of him running outside, and no one ever gets pushed out the door or down the steps because Indy is waiting his turn. We even do it when he has a doggy friend over, it works!

Best of luck
Sandy

 

[Dunkin]

Sorry this is off topic but you are the first Jazzy I have seen on here. (besides mine) I would love to see a picture of yours.

 

[Simmons99]

I agree with Sandy - this was the first thing we taught Chloe - especially being we live in a dense subdivision - not good to have the dog take off - it could take hours to find her.

She has to sit and stay until we say "ok" before going through any doors (inside and out). Also she is not allowed between humans and the door - we "own" the door - not her.

Once Jazzy understands what he is to do - then set him up with the screen door and a known distraction to see what he does - immediately correct upon any indication that he wants to go for it (perked ears or tenseness) and then give him an alternative behavior (down/sit/etc.)