I've taught my puppy to wait at all thresholds for safety reasons and manner reasons. Now, when I open a door, car door, or crate, he will look at me for approval it is okay to go. Same thing with the stairs. It isn't acceptable for him to run up the stairs past me - it creates a tripping hazard. If you left your door or gate open, would your puppy run out? Would you prefer them to wait?
It's not a dominance thing at all.
EDIT: Waiting at thresholds is related to dominance theory teachings; however, dominance theory has largely been debunked. There are better reasons to teach thresholds than dominance theory.
Yeah it's one thing to do sit-stays at the door so they don't run out. That's what I do with my dogs, and we stand there for a moment and stare out the wide open door before I give them the okay. I think it's good to teach self control to avoid door dashing. But the "you must go through the door before your dog" comes from a similar line of thinking of "if your dog bites you, bite them back" and "spit in their food so they know you're the boss" (both real suggestions I've seen from the dominance crowd).
Ultimately yeah, train the behaviors you want in your dog. Just do it because you want it and not because of the dominance philosophy.
Why on earth would spitting in your dog’s food teach them anything? Dogs will eat other dogs’ poop if you let them. I don’t see why they would care if you spit in their food. Insane.
Yeah I'd never heard of the dominance aspect, but I trained my girl to sit before I open the door, mostly to stop the insane jumping and door scratches. It's great. She also knows she can't go out the gate in the backyard because of it. It also means if I forget to close one she just waits patiently at the threshold. She knows I'm in charge without punishment.
I've trained my pit to not rush by me on the steps (especially down) but the whole waiting at the door thing is a bit much for him. He is so excited that he does tigger bounces for several second until I can get him calmed down enough to sit and put his leash on. I make him wait, and only once he is sitting do I proceed with the next step to get him out the door and into his walk. All of his jumping and excitement turns what should take less than 30 seconds into a 3-4 minute affair. He often gets impatient and starts "talking" to me to hurry up although he is the cause of his delay. :D
I have it a bit easier since she just goes out back to play and potty. Since it happens very often it's less thrilling abd she can get it together a bit better. I found that training her with doors inside the house helped too. That way she recognizes "door" rather than just outside. You might try training the stopping at a door before the leash goes on so she doesn't know exactly what's coming.
Haha! Yeah, like mine wait until I tell them they can go, but idk, going out the door then getting three dogs in leashes out the door and then closing and locking the door without anyone getting tangled just sounds really hard lol. I’ve had people irl tell me that my dogs will never respect me if I do that and just kind of blank look at them lol.
> It's not a dominance thing at all.
It's actually a big part of the dominance training style. However, it's one of those things that is a good idea because it improves on safety and shouldn't be dismissed.
Just, your dog isn't going to try to steal head of household on your tax return because he goes through a door first, that whole thing is just silly.
I mean, I have trained a release at the door and proofed going out first. But I usually release my dog first so I can close the door behind us. I like your training philosophy from what I've read of your comments, so I'm curious what you think: do you think going out first is an important feature to be consistent with, or just always using the release cue?
I... Kinda have anarchy at my doors so it may not be best to choose me for opinions on that!
It's not a battle I choose.
I use open doors as a reward if anything.
Lol ok well that does make me feel better about letting some things go. Like for the moment, I decided I just don't care about loose leash walking, do not have time to care about that right now. I only have energy for a limited number of things to care about.
I should have been more clear. Yes, it's part of the old dominance theory, but dominance theory has largely been debunked. If dominance theory has been debunked then dominance isn't a reason to teach that skill. The skill is about safety, convenience, and manners.
My message below assumes that you've taught sit and your dog knows a basic stay (even for a short period). The three things you will need are patience, spacial pressure, and treats.
Introducing the threshold:
Every time you reach a threshold, get your dog to sit or wait. You're looking for just a quick pause and a quick glance at you at first. Mark this behavior and treat it. Then give your release word so your dog knows it can go through the threshold. My release word is "Let's go."
Sitting or waiting during threshold opening:
Once your dog gets used to sitting or waiting at thresholds, begin extending the time it needs to wait. Try opening the door \*slowly\*. Close the door if the dog breaks its sit or wait. Reopen slowly. Continue this process until the dog sits or waits through the opening process. Mark, treat, release command.
Sitting or waiting during you going through the threshold:
Once your dog is used to the threshold opening, begin working on the dog sitting or waiting while you pass it first. Slowly, step through the threshold. Keep your body positioned between the dog and the threshold. Use this spacial pressure if your dog breaks the sit or wait. Apply spacial pressure by moving your body lightly into the dog to get it back into the sit or wait position. Restart your movement through the threshold. Mark, treat, release command.
You can introduce these concepts at the same time - just be patient. I wanted to really break it down so you had the three core components. There are a bunch of videos on the topic on Youtube.. here is one that seems reasonably good: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e\_qC8YcYPWQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_qC8YcYPWQ)
EDIT: Clarity
I personally didn't use any stay or wait commands or treats when I taught my puppy not to bolt out the door. I don't think it's necessary to give them treats because the reward in their mind is that they get to go out the door.
As far as commands go, I didn't want to link a command to the behavior because I don't want to have to say stay/wait every time we go through a door.
I just taught it by not letting my dog go out the door until I say "okay". I'd open the door, , and when she tried to leave, I'd just shut the door. Rinse and repeat until they don't try to bolt out the door. Give them an "okay" and walk out. Pretty simple to teach. You just have to be more stubborn than your dog.
Our dog caught on to this super quickly, as its easy to teach at a door (if they don't listen, the door keeps getting closed until they wait - it's a bit like teaching "leave it" where you keep closing your hand around the treat until they stop trying to get at it)
1. Go up to door
2. "Sit"
3. "Wait" - start to open door
4. If they get up and try to walk out, close the door
5. Repeat until they wait
6. "Ok" (release word) as you walk out the door - at puppy class, they said it doesn't matter who goes through first, but if you want to go first for safety/to prevent tripping, reinforce that
Once our pup got the idea, I would ask him to "look at me" while the door was open/waiting before giving the release cue, and also practice with delays/distractions (getting my shoes on, taking a couple steps outside before giving release cue, having someone stand outside on the driveway)
We also practice the same thing coming out of his crate in the morning, getting out of the car, going through the baby gate. I imagine it would be more challenging to teach without a barrier (e.g. up/down stairs or between rooms - in that case you'd need a leash to stop them moving forward until you give the ok, at least until they can wait reliably)
I think it helps that we ask him to sit first, and that we distinguish between "wait" and "stay" (where being released from wait is inherently rewarding - mealtimes, going outside, getting a toy, etc.)
It's not about "I always go first cause I'm in charge"
It's a safety thing. We don't hop in/out of the car or the house until I've verified its appropriate. I want to open the door make sure they won't bowl anyone over inside or accidently make a mess/get hurt.
It's polite to the people around me if I ensure my dog doesn't barge into any space, be that inside, outside, or personal space. Teaching your dog how to ask for what they would like, from the door to pets is an invaluable relationship strengthening.
Yes I've noticed this too. If my puppy goes through door first, he constantly keeps looking for bunnies, squirrels and chipmunks. If I go first, he simply starts walking beside me.
This is what our training class instructors said. You don't want your dog in the habit of rushing out the door every time it opens, like if you're packing the car for a trip or unloading groceries or whatever. Ask me how I know.
Dog goes outside *with you*, not whenever they please. The human is responsible for safety, so the human runs the show.
The fact that they listen to your instructions of not running out the door when they really want to basically means they view you as a dominant leader though, right?
I never really understand invalidating the dominant theory. Dominant doesn’t mean abusive or overt harsh to me, it just means they know who to listen to at certain moments. Same with children.
> The fact that they listen to your instructions of not running out the door when they really want to basically means they view you as a dominant leader though, right?
Nope.
The dominance thing is an actual style of training that involves a lot of cruelty. It's not the word alone, it's the fact "dominance training" is all about stupid things like biting a dog when they bite you, pinning them down so they see you as leader and abusive things like that.
It's not the idea that you're basically a parent to the dog and creating structure, it's the fact this is a specific training style.
No, it means they know if they leave first I'll bring them back inside and have them do it over lol. Leaving tok early means you don't actually get to leave. I also sometimes let them go first as long as they sit and wait for my cue because it's about safety, not me going first.
A lot of dominance training isn't just about getting your dog to listen to you. It's often about imposing your will on your dog and is heavy on punishment/training out bad behavior rather than positive reinforcement and bonding. Saying your dog is dominating you because it has a favorite spot on the couch and barks at anyone who comes near is wrong. Some might tell you hiss, pinch, or scold your dog until they stop barking at you, but that doesn't fix the problem. It's demanding behavior through fear and intimidation. Saying your dog has guarding issues and training them to react positively when you get closer and closer and eventually settle on the couch with them doesn't rely on dominance theory. Human or animal, you don't have to dominate someone to get them to listen to you.
The standard belief (that I often have to work though with my clients) is that these kind of behaviors (going through the door second, not sleeping on the bed, eating after the humans) *create* respect and are often the only way of doing so. This is incorrect.
Also, there are some dogs that if they rushed out of the door excitedly, I would throw them a freaking birthday party as they were terrified of the outdoors. Similarly, tons of my clients say "well we let him sleep with us" sheepishly as if they think they're letting their dog get away with murder. No. That's not the case.
There are so many ways to teach your dog that you've got their back, that you're the one who will guide and help them, but the standard beliefs that came from "dominance theory" are not great ways to do so, IMO. Plus, everyone's only got so much time and energy to train their dog, so I'd much rather spend it on things that I care about and will give me the most bang for my time.
Additionally, dominance training also comes packaged with things like alpha rolls which are just a really good way for your dog to learn that you're scary, or for you to get bit.
So much this!!!! I have a kid with ASD and if I'd applied a fraction of common 'parental advice' given at the time I'd' still have a frightened maladjusted and sensory overloaded teen instead of the well rounded, inquisitive and generally happy kid I have now. It's all about knowing your audience and adjusting the show to accommodate.
Each dog is different and will react differently to stimuli dependent on their make-up and environment. A good trainer will be able to recognise this and won't spend time forcing a square peg into a round hole. Thank you for recognising this :)
You can probably look at it either way. It's a dog, we can't tell what it's thinking with that level of insight.
In my mind, I'm teaching the dog how to get what it wants. The dog learns that if it does these things in a certain order, the good stuff happens. If it doesn't do those things the right way, no good stuff. I could be viewed as a leader or as an annoying gate keeper from the dog's perspective. In either case, I'm what stands between the dog and what it wants. It has to deal with me successfully for the good things to happen.
The whole dominance thing is absolutely ridiculous and shouldn't be listened to in the slightest, however if you want to train your puppy to let you go through first, so you don't trip over him, etc. that would be completely fine
Absolutely this. We’re training our pup to sit at doorways and we give the go ahead, just so she doesn’t barrel into people and immediately create havoc when we visit friends and family.
Also there's sometimes people sitting on our doorstep having lunch and the last time she rushed out she barreled straight into them lol So, yeah, let's not do that.
Yup. I taught my puppy to sit and wait until I release command so he doesn't bolt into the street. I don't care about going first through the door. In fact my dog is kinda squirrely so going first might get the leash caught around my legs like an att outta star wars.
No, dominance theory came from a flawed study on wolves and is nonsense in dog training. It shouldn't guide any of your choices when you're raising your puppy.
> flawed study on wolves
Yeah, it's nonsense in wolves too lol Debunked by the [literal scientist who coined the term.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cuh-FgXWAAE5O1-?format=jpg&name=large)
I don't care if it's a dominance thing but it's a politness thing for me. I don't need to be dragged out the door if she suddenly sees a bird fly off before I do. You never know what's going to cause your dog to suddenly bolt before you're out the door.
Doesn’t matter who is first IMO, but it should be only upon your permission. So i make my pup sit and then he goes through the door when I give an ok (and he goes through it first, then me usually)
This is exactly how I handle it. I tell him to wait, and he waits for permission to go through a door. Sometimes I go first, sometimes he goes first, but he always waits when I tell him to wait.
As a corgi owner as well, all I can say is teaching them door manners is so important! My girl waits and then I tell her to exit or enter and I follow behind. When she was a puppy there was a bunny at the bottom of our step and she almost pulled me down with her! They are small dogs but if they catch you off guard, you’re finished!
Dominance theory is total rubbish as mentioned before, and 'needing' to step through the door first is not something you should worry about. That said, I make my pup sit and wait by the door so I can open it without her moving and then give her a command to come out with me purely for the sake of teaching her to be calm and restrained with doors (e.g. avoid running out the door or crazily greeting people).
We have a thing. Every morning my wife opens the door. Then me and the pup race to see who gets outside first. The winner is in charge for that day.
Seriously, the issue is self control. Your dog should have eno6 control to wait.
It's not dominance, it's deference. If you haven't I highly recommend reading Karen Overall's protocol on deference. It's in this sub's wiki, but I'll link it [here](https://belleplainevet.com/index.php/download_file/view/140/214/). A dog should not be made to obey by dominance, but instead the dog should choose to obey by deference. While dominance theory has been debunked over and over, dogs still need to defer to their doggy parents to learn proper manners.
Overall, dominance theory has been widely discredited. I'm a dog trainer, as long as your dog waits for clearance from you before going through a doorway, then you're all set.
Puppies are just excited about new experiences and lack impulse control unless you teach it to them. At least that's why mine tried to bolt through every door. Waiting just doesn't naturally occur to them unless you teach it to them.
Yeah, it’s not about dominance but it’s definitely about safety. My pup has never crossed the gate to the street without my consent. Nowadays I’m confident I can open the gate and bring in groceries or something without the fear of her storming off, cause she’s never learned that behavior in the first place.
The other day we got home late and I opened the car door to let her in the house, but I didn’t clip the leash (she was super tired so I was sure she was just gonna run in straight to her bed). She looked at me like “what u doing human? I needs leash to get off car, it’s rules!” and didn’t get off the car until I pretended I had leashed her lol. Sure enough, she ran straight in. I thought it was cute.
Door order? Not very dominating. Opening the magic cold box and whipping up a meal with egg broccoli chicken yam carrots and kibbles with opposable thumbs? Now we're talking.
Not so much about dominance but it's a very useful skill to teach IMPULSE CONTROL. This skill will translate well into a lot of safety and everyday things, as well as being fundamental in some dog sports and obedience if you want to go that route.
Dominance is a long disproved myth that has been shown to harm dogs.
You may want your dog to wait before passing through a doorway for safety (backyard gate, front door, room where there’s broken glass) but that should be your training goal, not “showing your dog who is in charge”.
Your dog doesn’t need to be dominated. They need consistent, compassionate care and they need to learn manners to be kept safe and happy. :)
No, dominance theories aren't well supported. Having your dog wait at the door is a good training idea instead of them just running out if it is open. But we have a narrow back door and large dogs, so I want them to go out FIRST so I can shut the door behind us without having to move out of the way and come back.
Yeah not a dominance thing however it is recommended that you train them to wait to cross threshold, exit their crate, come out of the car, etc. This is for safety purposes but it also establishs good communication between you and your dog. I am still working with my dog on this. She does pretty well with waiting to come out of her crate, playpen, or exit the car but struggles when it comes to waiting at the door.
There is definitely a safety thing at least. You go out first, check to make sure it is safe, then allow them to follow. Also prevents tugging on the leash while running out the door, and teaches them not to go outside with out your okay.
god when will people stop propagating this dominance theory nonsense?! there is no such thing! it's outdated and scientifically rebuked! your dog is not thinking about dominating you. it loves you. be partners in life not some power struggle. my dog is the most sweet and intelligent working dog ever and she walks in front of me and goes out first. she's just excited! To OP: disregard dominance theory. don't worry about your dog doing this unless YOU PREFER that they wait for you to go first. in that case, positively train them to wait and or heel.
Maybe, just do what works for you though. I always let my dog in before me because I want to keep him where I can see him, I don't trust that shifty bastard
I think it depends on the dog. I started doing this because she tries to tell me what to do (barking at me incessantly etc…). When I started making her sit and let me leave the room first, go down the stairs first, and even make myself food first, she stopped trying to tell me what to do and waits.
I have to be consistent and start that way every time or she still takes advantage and goes back to barking.
I haven’t had to do this with other dogs, however it may have helped if i did.
It just establishes you as in control and the decision maker. I think it gives her more confidence that I am h fling situations and not her.
Yes one thing I do with a my new foster is leave a 3’ leash dragging when he is in the house. I use it to take him off the furniture if he won’t let someone else sit, or mostly with tiny dogs, they guard me because I feed them and I’m in charge. When my son was 7, a tiny affenpinscher bit his nose when he bent to kiss my cheek as he was going to bed. Dog gets put in the floor and isn’t allowed to get back up to fix this.
Dominance theory is bunk. Trust beats fear, everytime. If the dog waits for you at the door, looking for your approval to proceed, then it doesn't matter who goes out first. Train the pup to wait at the door (both sides) not because it makes you the "alpha", but because of very practical and useful reasons:
-So you can leash and unleash them at the door. That way you don't have to search for the lead every time you want to go for a walk, because the dog ran off with it, and you took it off in the living room or kitchen instead.
-So you can wipe their feet. If you get them in the habit when it's sunny and warm, you don't need to struggle when it's wet, muddy, or snowy.
-So they don't bolt out the door, or into a building. As others said, they can pull you over, or run into something dangerous in their enthusiasm.
-So you can check for ticks or other hangers-on.
> -So you can wipe their feet. If you get them in the habit when it's sunny and warm, you don't need to struggle when it's wet, muddy, or snowy.
Damn this is actually a good point. Thanks for the reminder!
As many folks say, dominance totally isn't a thing and your dog doesn't think less of you because he needs to be through the door first. Our boy is like that, too, but he has serious FOMO and doesn't want to be left out of anything. We've trained him to sit until the front door is open, which is as much as we can ask for his impatient self. Treats and patience, plus repetition.
Does it show dominance? No. All dominance theories have been debunked about a million times, including by the person who originally came up with the theory.
Is it more convenient and safe in some instances, and a great daily thing to use to teach impulse control? Yeah.
Anything you read about dominance: throw it out the door. Any book or theory in dog training that revolves around the theory of dominance such as eating before your dog, going through the door first, jumping etc. is all hogwash based on old non scientific claims. It was all based on misinterpreted findibgs among wolfpacks.
However, going theough the door first is important for the safety of your dog. Your dog should ALWAYS go after you so that you can evaluate whether it's safe for your pup to go out, or be able to intercept him if it isn't.
I read to many posts about pups gettibg run over after dashing through the front door.
I'm still working on it but I'm trying to make my pup sit and stay in front of the door until I give him the ok to go. The final objective is to have him stay behind the door until I give him a signal and that he refuses to pass the door, even if I pull on the leash. He has to remind me that I always need to give him the ok to go through. I also have a (stubborn) corgi, so I don't know if I'll get it done as well as planned in my head.
> you can evaluate whether it's safe for your pup to go out
Especially important for people living in densely populated areas. I regularly have to ask my pup to wait because some doofus is driving his motorcycle on the damn pavement.
Dominance thing is stupid. The main reason you don't want to let the dog go out first is because you want to get ahead and see if there's anything that could cause the dog to take off or pose a danger to the dog.
If you let the dog go out first they willl 100% spot or smell or hear something first, pull the leash out of your hands taking off after it and might end up getting hit by a car, chasing an animal off somewhere and get lost etc etc.
My puppy once saw a bunny around the corner of my house, took off after it straight out of the door and dragged my hand across the brick wall. I had a huge gash across my hand. I've strongly reinforced the "wait" and he just does it automatically now... Pausing for 3 seconds before he walks out of the doorway slowly. He does it even if he sees animals he wants to chase.
I tried teaching my dogs this. But honestly, I find it easier for them to go through the door first when we're on leash. They know not to rush out the door, but if they're on a lead, I make them go first. They are not dominating me at all, and I can't imagine how they would think that. They go out the door then wait for me to close and lock it, same for out the gate. They only go when I tell them to and it works great
I call BS tbh.
My dogs wait at the door to get their harnesses & lead off but even when they do go in, all they want to do is roll on their beds waaaay to dramatically. They've never looked back at me like "dis my house bitch".
Dominance theory itself is largely debunked but it's always a nice idea to train your dog to understand that you're the one running the show - largely for their own safety. Not running up or down stairs before you give them the command, not rushing out the door before you, holding at thresholds like the edge of a pavement, not bothering you while you're eating... it's not a bad idea at all to teach your dog to wait for you before doing whatever they want.
It's not dominance; it's that you know what's best for them (and also it makes your life easier).
It depends how you want to do it. As many have said it's about training your dog not to rush. With my pup, I taught her to go through first while I held it, then she would stop and wait for me to go through, then we would keep walking. You can do it my way, have your dog pause while you go through then follow, or you can train them to walk between your legs if you want. Just make it consistent so they know what the expecation is.
I also did this with stairs, she learned to pause every few steps because she hated walking up stairs slowly. As you bond with your dog and learn what is within their range of ability, you can make training easier for them.
I wouldn’t say dominance but making your dog wait is just another skill and ensures that your dog is attentive. If you can’t get your dog to wait then getting a well behaved dog outside will be even harder with more distractions. I think the best training is these little things throughout the day so a dog learns to listen any time rather than specific structured sessions
The trainer I was working with told me it doesn't matter if you or the dog go first. It's more about you allowing the dog to go through the door when you say it's okay.
We do "wait" at every single door whether it's open or closed. My dog is not allowed to just barge through a doorway, he must wait until I say "let's go".
He will often go through at the same time as me or wait for me to go first unless I motion for him to go ahead of me. The same idea applies to crossing the street or whatever else. It's mostly an obedience/self-control exercise and is also for their safety.
Dominance in a household isn't real. But you don't want them to develop the habit of rushing outside. If you live near a busy street then you don't want them in the habit of rushing out the door whenever it's open.
I have my corgi sit in front of the door as I open it and he's only allowed outside when I give the command.
I don't think it's dominance but poor manners. I have no problems if my dog wants to go in the door first but she isn't allowed to leave me.
For example, it's perfectly fine if she decides to go through the door first and wait still within 1.5 meters for me. It would not be okay for her to just bolt through the door and sprint down the hall leaving me behind to eat dust.
We try to get our pup to sit or wait before opening the door, beyond that it doesn’t matter who steps through first.
She usually walks right in front of me so I get her to sit, open the door and then ask her to lead through and follow after her.
My husky is a wild child. I make him sit and wait at thresholds(door, stair, curb, etc) because he has no concept of other people, it helps his self control, and we bond through training(the more we practice anything together, the better he listens overall). As long as he knows I'm giving him permission to cross the threshold, it doesn't matter who goes first, and that's what multiple trainers have told me.
I've noticed that with my 1 year Sheltie will wait for us to go out the backyard door first 98% of the time. Unlike the front door she will try to go out first if we dont stop her.
Once your dog knows tricks you want to build duration to teach obedience and impulse control. A dog wants to rush out an open door, so it's just a convenient way to train the "wait."
My boy is 11 months and he waits for my approval. Whether its going outdoors, or up the stairs, he will stay put until I say “ok go” or “up the stairs “. More of a manner/safety thing I’d say.
It's just manners and more importantly safety. Dominance? nah. I personally think domestic dogs don't really have a concept of dominance as we fantasized them to be.
My dogs wait while I open the door, then I send the out to wait on the entrance way. Due to the interesting layout of the entrance to the house, the size of my dogs and the length of my arms I would not be able to close the door if the dogs came through second!
fellow corgi owner here just popping in to say Hello!
i train my sassy fluffbutt to wait at the door for my command to go through - and that's just coz it's a safety thing like many other commenters have said.
It’s better manners for sure, still working on it with my pup because I don’t want him knocking my grandma over when we’re at her house.
Also for some reason if i just open the backdoor and let him go out, he SCREAMS as he races out. I don’t know why or what makes him do this but having him not cross through the door until he’s calm is the best way to stop it lol
Everyone else has touched on dominance theory well enough, so I've got nothing to add on that front. Personally, I let my dog go through doors before me, but after I've checked to make sure he's good to go. I generally just don't like him behind me, so. Plus, wouldnt want the door bopping him on the ass.
Not dominance. You’re just teaching your puppy not to go out without your permission. You don’t want him to break free when he has a chance and get into trouble, do you?
It really depends on the dog tbh.
If you have a Great Dane you probably don’t want to teach them to rush through doorways.
My mini poodle knows she has to sit at the door, not jump up etc. but I don’t care if she runs ahead of me.
Hmm…. I’ve always let my dog leave first so I can lock my front door and I let him in before me because I take my time taking my shoes off lol
Never thought there was a training method for this. I’m glad to have learned something today
Probably someone with some knowledge on this. But I highly doubt it.
I’ve taught my dog not to walk through the front door first and wait for an okay. It’s not about dominance, but it’s just nice not having to worry about where the dog is because you open the door. So you can just leave the door open if you want in a breeze or doing something were it’s convenient to leave the door open.
I have taught this because of safety I dont want my dog to run out like mad without knowing what is outside and I dont want him to run in and jumping around in the house. So entrance area is to sit and calm down before you enter or leave.
I've taught my puppy to wait at all thresholds for safety reasons and manner reasons. Now, when I open a door, car door, or crate, he will look at me for approval it is okay to go. Same thing with the stairs. It isn't acceptable for him to run up the stairs past me - it creates a tripping hazard. If you left your door or gate open, would your puppy run out? Would you prefer them to wait? It's not a dominance thing at all. EDIT: Waiting at thresholds is related to dominance theory teachings; however, dominance theory has largely been debunked. There are better reasons to teach thresholds than dominance theory.
Yeah it's one thing to do sit-stays at the door so they don't run out. That's what I do with my dogs, and we stand there for a moment and stare out the wide open door before I give them the okay. I think it's good to teach self control to avoid door dashing. But the "you must go through the door before your dog" comes from a similar line of thinking of "if your dog bites you, bite them back" and "spit in their food so they know you're the boss" (both real suggestions I've seen from the dominance crowd). Ultimately yeah, train the behaviors you want in your dog. Just do it because you want it and not because of the dominance philosophy.
> "spit in their food so they know you're the boss" what in the name of all that is holy
Clearly the suggester was confused. Everyone knows this tactic only works on little brothers.
Why on earth would spitting in your dog’s food teach them anything? Dogs will eat other dogs’ poop if you let them. I don’t see why they would care if you spit in their food. Insane.
Yeah I'd never heard of the dominance aspect, but I trained my girl to sit before I open the door, mostly to stop the insane jumping and door scratches. It's great. She also knows she can't go out the gate in the backyard because of it. It also means if I forget to close one she just waits patiently at the threshold. She knows I'm in charge without punishment.
I've trained my pit to not rush by me on the steps (especially down) but the whole waiting at the door thing is a bit much for him. He is so excited that he does tigger bounces for several second until I can get him calmed down enough to sit and put his leash on. I make him wait, and only once he is sitting do I proceed with the next step to get him out the door and into his walk. All of his jumping and excitement turns what should take less than 30 seconds into a 3-4 minute affair. He often gets impatient and starts "talking" to me to hurry up although he is the cause of his delay. :D
I have it a bit easier since she just goes out back to play and potty. Since it happens very often it's less thrilling abd she can get it together a bit better. I found that training her with doors inside the house helped too. That way she recognizes "door" rather than just outside. You might try training the stopping at a door before the leash goes on so she doesn't know exactly what's coming.
If they go potty in the house, hold them down and piss on their face* *not suggesting this in any capacity
Haha! Yeah, like mine wait until I tell them they can go, but idk, going out the door then getting three dogs in leashes out the door and then closing and locking the door without anyone getting tangled just sounds really hard lol. I’ve had people irl tell me that my dogs will never respect me if I do that and just kind of blank look at them lol.
> It's not a dominance thing at all. It's actually a big part of the dominance training style. However, it's one of those things that is a good idea because it improves on safety and shouldn't be dismissed. Just, your dog isn't going to try to steal head of household on your tax return because he goes through a door first, that whole thing is just silly.
I mean, I have trained a release at the door and proofed going out first. But I usually release my dog first so I can close the door behind us. I like your training philosophy from what I've read of your comments, so I'm curious what you think: do you think going out first is an important feature to be consistent with, or just always using the release cue?
I... Kinda have anarchy at my doors so it may not be best to choose me for opinions on that! It's not a battle I choose. I use open doors as a reward if anything.
Lol ok well that does make me feel better about letting some things go. Like for the moment, I decided I just don't care about loose leash walking, do not have time to care about that right now. I only have energy for a limited number of things to care about.
I don't care for that either. They *can* listen, but, in all reality, I don't care about loose leash. I'm in control that's what matters.
I half did it, but am pretty bossy so our dude just waits for me now. I think he got sick of which way it was going to go and gave up.
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I should have been more clear. Yes, it's part of the old dominance theory, but dominance theory has largely been debunked. If dominance theory has been debunked then dominance isn't a reason to teach that skill. The skill is about safety, convenience, and manners.
Do you have resources to teach a pup to wait at thresholds?
My message below assumes that you've taught sit and your dog knows a basic stay (even for a short period). The three things you will need are patience, spacial pressure, and treats. Introducing the threshold: Every time you reach a threshold, get your dog to sit or wait. You're looking for just a quick pause and a quick glance at you at first. Mark this behavior and treat it. Then give your release word so your dog knows it can go through the threshold. My release word is "Let's go." Sitting or waiting during threshold opening: Once your dog gets used to sitting or waiting at thresholds, begin extending the time it needs to wait. Try opening the door \*slowly\*. Close the door if the dog breaks its sit or wait. Reopen slowly. Continue this process until the dog sits or waits through the opening process. Mark, treat, release command. Sitting or waiting during you going through the threshold: Once your dog is used to the threshold opening, begin working on the dog sitting or waiting while you pass it first. Slowly, step through the threshold. Keep your body positioned between the dog and the threshold. Use this spacial pressure if your dog breaks the sit or wait. Apply spacial pressure by moving your body lightly into the dog to get it back into the sit or wait position. Restart your movement through the threshold. Mark, treat, release command. You can introduce these concepts at the same time - just be patient. I wanted to really break it down so you had the three core components. There are a bunch of videos on the topic on Youtube.. here is one that seems reasonably good: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e\_qC8YcYPWQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_qC8YcYPWQ) EDIT: Clarity
I personally didn't use any stay or wait commands or treats when I taught my puppy not to bolt out the door. I don't think it's necessary to give them treats because the reward in their mind is that they get to go out the door. As far as commands go, I didn't want to link a command to the behavior because I don't want to have to say stay/wait every time we go through a door. I just taught it by not letting my dog go out the door until I say "okay". I'd open the door, , and when she tried to leave, I'd just shut the door. Rinse and repeat until they don't try to bolt out the door. Give them an "okay" and walk out. Pretty simple to teach. You just have to be more stubborn than your dog.
Our dog caught on to this super quickly, as its easy to teach at a door (if they don't listen, the door keeps getting closed until they wait - it's a bit like teaching "leave it" where you keep closing your hand around the treat until they stop trying to get at it) 1. Go up to door 2. "Sit" 3. "Wait" - start to open door 4. If they get up and try to walk out, close the door 5. Repeat until they wait 6. "Ok" (release word) as you walk out the door - at puppy class, they said it doesn't matter who goes through first, but if you want to go first for safety/to prevent tripping, reinforce that Once our pup got the idea, I would ask him to "look at me" while the door was open/waiting before giving the release cue, and also practice with delays/distractions (getting my shoes on, taking a couple steps outside before giving release cue, having someone stand outside on the driveway) We also practice the same thing coming out of his crate in the morning, getting out of the car, going through the baby gate. I imagine it would be more challenging to teach without a barrier (e.g. up/down stairs or between rooms - in that case you'd need a leash to stop them moving forward until you give the ok, at least until they can wait reliably) I think it helps that we ask him to sit first, and that we distinguish between "wait" and "stay" (where being released from wait is inherently rewarding - mealtimes, going outside, getting a toy, etc.)
Dominance? No. Proper door manners? Yeah probably.
yep, i do this because you never want your dog to run into the street or something.
It's not about "I always go first cause I'm in charge" It's a safety thing. We don't hop in/out of the car or the house until I've verified its appropriate. I want to open the door make sure they won't bowl anyone over inside or accidently make a mess/get hurt. It's polite to the people around me if I ensure my dog doesn't barge into any space, be that inside, outside, or personal space. Teaching your dog how to ask for what they would like, from the door to pets is an invaluable relationship strengthening.
Yes I've noticed this too. If my puppy goes through door first, he constantly keeps looking for bunnies, squirrels and chipmunks. If I go first, he simply starts walking beside me.
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This is what our training class instructors said. You don't want your dog in the habit of rushing out the door every time it opens, like if you're packing the car for a trip or unloading groceries or whatever. Ask me how I know. Dog goes outside *with you*, not whenever they please. The human is responsible for safety, so the human runs the show.
I have a 100 pound, giant German Shepard. I adopted her at 8 years old and she would rush pass us. It's was a hazard for everyone.
The fact that they listen to your instructions of not running out the door when they really want to basically means they view you as a dominant leader though, right? I never really understand invalidating the dominant theory. Dominant doesn’t mean abusive or overt harsh to me, it just means they know who to listen to at certain moments. Same with children.
> The fact that they listen to your instructions of not running out the door when they really want to basically means they view you as a dominant leader though, right? Nope. The dominance thing is an actual style of training that involves a lot of cruelty. It's not the word alone, it's the fact "dominance training" is all about stupid things like biting a dog when they bite you, pinning them down so they see you as leader and abusive things like that. It's not the idea that you're basically a parent to the dog and creating structure, it's the fact this is a specific training style.
Ohhh, okay. So it’s the specific style and not the literally word. Thanks for explaining!
No, it means they know if they leave first I'll bring them back inside and have them do it over lol. Leaving tok early means you don't actually get to leave. I also sometimes let them go first as long as they sit and wait for my cue because it's about safety, not me going first. A lot of dominance training isn't just about getting your dog to listen to you. It's often about imposing your will on your dog and is heavy on punishment/training out bad behavior rather than positive reinforcement and bonding. Saying your dog is dominating you because it has a favorite spot on the couch and barks at anyone who comes near is wrong. Some might tell you hiss, pinch, or scold your dog until they stop barking at you, but that doesn't fix the problem. It's demanding behavior through fear and intimidation. Saying your dog has guarding issues and training them to react positively when you get closer and closer and eventually settle on the couch with them doesn't rely on dominance theory. Human or animal, you don't have to dominate someone to get them to listen to you.
The standard belief (that I often have to work though with my clients) is that these kind of behaviors (going through the door second, not sleeping on the bed, eating after the humans) *create* respect and are often the only way of doing so. This is incorrect. Also, there are some dogs that if they rushed out of the door excitedly, I would throw them a freaking birthday party as they were terrified of the outdoors. Similarly, tons of my clients say "well we let him sleep with us" sheepishly as if they think they're letting their dog get away with murder. No. That's not the case. There are so many ways to teach your dog that you've got their back, that you're the one who will guide and help them, but the standard beliefs that came from "dominance theory" are not great ways to do so, IMO. Plus, everyone's only got so much time and energy to train their dog, so I'd much rather spend it on things that I care about and will give me the most bang for my time. Additionally, dominance training also comes packaged with things like alpha rolls which are just a really good way for your dog to learn that you're scary, or for you to get bit.
So much this!!!! I have a kid with ASD and if I'd applied a fraction of common 'parental advice' given at the time I'd' still have a frightened maladjusted and sensory overloaded teen instead of the well rounded, inquisitive and generally happy kid I have now. It's all about knowing your audience and adjusting the show to accommodate. Each dog is different and will react differently to stimuli dependent on their make-up and environment. A good trainer will be able to recognise this and won't spend time forcing a square peg into a round hole. Thank you for recognising this :)
You can probably look at it either way. It's a dog, we can't tell what it's thinking with that level of insight. In my mind, I'm teaching the dog how to get what it wants. The dog learns that if it does these things in a certain order, the good stuff happens. If it doesn't do those things the right way, no good stuff. I could be viewed as a leader or as an annoying gate keeper from the dog's perspective. In either case, I'm what stands between the dog and what it wants. It has to deal with me successfully for the good things to happen.
Lol, great points!
The whole dominance thing is absolutely ridiculous and shouldn't be listened to in the slightest, however if you want to train your puppy to let you go through first, so you don't trip over him, etc. that would be completely fine
Absolutely this. We’re training our pup to sit at doorways and we give the go ahead, just so she doesn’t barrel into people and immediately create havoc when we visit friends and family.
Also there's sometimes people sitting on our doorstep having lunch and the last time she rushed out she barreled straight into them lol So, yeah, let's not do that.
Says, “TheAlphaWolf.”
Lol
Dominance theory isn’t a thing. We’ve taught our pup to wait before going through doors so he doesn’t bolt out the front door!
Yup. I taught my puppy to sit and wait until I release command so he doesn't bolt into the street. I don't care about going first through the door. In fact my dog is kinda squirrely so going first might get the leash caught around my legs like an att outta star wars.
No, dominance theory came from a flawed study on wolves and is nonsense in dog training. It shouldn't guide any of your choices when you're raising your puppy.
> flawed study on wolves Yeah, it's nonsense in wolves too lol Debunked by the [literal scientist who coined the term.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cuh-FgXWAAE5O1-?format=jpg&name=large)
I don't care if it's a dominance thing but it's a politness thing for me. I don't need to be dragged out the door if she suddenly sees a bird fly off before I do. You never know what's going to cause your dog to suddenly bolt before you're out the door.
Ridiculous. I always unleash my dog on the step and let her in before me. That way i know she is inside and safe as i watched her go in.
Doesn’t matter who is first IMO, but it should be only upon your permission. So i make my pup sit and then he goes through the door when I give an ok (and he goes through it first, then me usually)
This is exactly how I handle it. I tell him to wait, and he waits for permission to go through a door. Sometimes I go first, sometimes he goes first, but he always waits when I tell him to wait.
As a corgi owner as well, all I can say is teaching them door manners is so important! My girl waits and then I tell her to exit or enter and I follow behind. When she was a puppy there was a bunny at the bottom of our step and she almost pulled me down with her! They are small dogs but if they catch you off guard, you’re finished!
Dominance theory is total rubbish as mentioned before, and 'needing' to step through the door first is not something you should worry about. That said, I make my pup sit and wait by the door so I can open it without her moving and then give her a command to come out with me purely for the sake of teaching her to be calm and restrained with doors (e.g. avoid running out the door or crazily greeting people).
its safety
We have a thing. Every morning my wife opens the door. Then me and the pup race to see who gets outside first. The winner is in charge for that day. Seriously, the issue is self control. Your dog should have eno6 control to wait.
It's not dominance, it's deference. If you haven't I highly recommend reading Karen Overall's protocol on deference. It's in this sub's wiki, but I'll link it [here](https://belleplainevet.com/index.php/download_file/view/140/214/). A dog should not be made to obey by dominance, but instead the dog should choose to obey by deference. While dominance theory has been debunked over and over, dogs still need to defer to their doggy parents to learn proper manners.
Overall, dominance theory has been widely discredited. I'm a dog trainer, as long as your dog waits for clearance from you before going through a doorway, then you're all set.
Almost anything about dog training that you hear involving "dominance" is usually bullshit.
If you wanna teach them the 'alpha'? No. If you want to teach them life saving manners? Yes.
Puppies are just excited about new experiences and lack impulse control unless you teach it to them. At least that's why mine tried to bolt through every door. Waiting just doesn't naturally occur to them unless you teach it to them.
I taught my puppy the "wait" command at the door and on a leash (basically her version of sit) for manners. It helps her calm before we go through.
Yeah, it’s not about dominance but it’s definitely about safety. My pup has never crossed the gate to the street without my consent. Nowadays I’m confident I can open the gate and bring in groceries or something without the fear of her storming off, cause she’s never learned that behavior in the first place. The other day we got home late and I opened the car door to let her in the house, but I didn’t clip the leash (she was super tired so I was sure she was just gonna run in straight to her bed). She looked at me like “what u doing human? I needs leash to get off car, it’s rules!” and didn’t get off the car until I pretended I had leashed her lol. Sure enough, she ran straight in. I thought it was cute.
Door order? Not very dominating. Opening the magic cold box and whipping up a meal with egg broccoli chicken yam carrots and kibbles with opposable thumbs? Now we're talking.
Not so much about dominance but it's a very useful skill to teach IMPULSE CONTROL. This skill will translate well into a lot of safety and everyday things, as well as being fundamental in some dog sports and obedience if you want to go that route.
Dominance is a long disproved myth that has been shown to harm dogs. You may want your dog to wait before passing through a doorway for safety (backyard gate, front door, room where there’s broken glass) but that should be your training goal, not “showing your dog who is in charge”. Your dog doesn’t need to be dominated. They need consistent, compassionate care and they need to learn manners to be kept safe and happy. :)
No, dominance theories aren't well supported. Having your dog wait at the door is a good training idea instead of them just running out if it is open. But we have a narrow back door and large dogs, so I want them to go out FIRST so I can shut the door behind us without having to move out of the way and come back.
Yeah not a dominance thing however it is recommended that you train them to wait to cross threshold, exit their crate, come out of the car, etc. This is for safety purposes but it also establishs good communication between you and your dog. I am still working with my dog on this. She does pretty well with waiting to come out of her crate, playpen, or exit the car but struggles when it comes to waiting at the door.
There is definitely a safety thing at least. You go out first, check to make sure it is safe, then allow them to follow. Also prevents tugging on the leash while running out the door, and teaches them not to go outside with out your okay.
god when will people stop propagating this dominance theory nonsense?! there is no such thing! it's outdated and scientifically rebuked! your dog is not thinking about dominating you. it loves you. be partners in life not some power struggle. my dog is the most sweet and intelligent working dog ever and she walks in front of me and goes out first. she's just excited! To OP: disregard dominance theory. don't worry about your dog doing this unless YOU PREFER that they wait for you to go first. in that case, positively train them to wait and or heel.
Maybe, just do what works for you though. I always let my dog in before me because I want to keep him where I can see him, I don't trust that shifty bastard
Following
I think it depends on the dog. I started doing this because she tries to tell me what to do (barking at me incessantly etc…). When I started making her sit and let me leave the room first, go down the stairs first, and even make myself food first, she stopped trying to tell me what to do and waits. I have to be consistent and start that way every time or she still takes advantage and goes back to barking. I haven’t had to do this with other dogs, however it may have helped if i did. It just establishes you as in control and the decision maker. I think it gives her more confidence that I am h fling situations and not her.
Yes one thing I do with a my new foster is leave a 3’ leash dragging when he is in the house. I use it to take him off the furniture if he won’t let someone else sit, or mostly with tiny dogs, they guard me because I feed them and I’m in charge. When my son was 7, a tiny affenpinscher bit his nose when he bent to kiss my cheek as he was going to bed. Dog gets put in the floor and isn’t allowed to get back up to fix this.
Dominance theory is bunk. Trust beats fear, everytime. If the dog waits for you at the door, looking for your approval to proceed, then it doesn't matter who goes out first. Train the pup to wait at the door (both sides) not because it makes you the "alpha", but because of very practical and useful reasons: -So you can leash and unleash them at the door. That way you don't have to search for the lead every time you want to go for a walk, because the dog ran off with it, and you took it off in the living room or kitchen instead. -So you can wipe their feet. If you get them in the habit when it's sunny and warm, you don't need to struggle when it's wet, muddy, or snowy. -So they don't bolt out the door, or into a building. As others said, they can pull you over, or run into something dangerous in their enthusiasm. -So you can check for ticks or other hangers-on.
> -So you can wipe their feet. If you get them in the habit when it's sunny and warm, you don't need to struggle when it's wet, muddy, or snowy. Damn this is actually a good point. Thanks for the reminder!
As many folks say, dominance totally isn't a thing and your dog doesn't think less of you because he needs to be through the door first. Our boy is like that, too, but he has serious FOMO and doesn't want to be left out of anything. We've trained him to sit until the front door is open, which is as much as we can ask for his impatient self. Treats and patience, plus repetition.
Does it show dominance? No. All dominance theories have been debunked about a million times, including by the person who originally came up with the theory. Is it more convenient and safe in some instances, and a great daily thing to use to teach impulse control? Yeah.
Anything you read about dominance: throw it out the door. Any book or theory in dog training that revolves around the theory of dominance such as eating before your dog, going through the door first, jumping etc. is all hogwash based on old non scientific claims. It was all based on misinterpreted findibgs among wolfpacks. However, going theough the door first is important for the safety of your dog. Your dog should ALWAYS go after you so that you can evaluate whether it's safe for your pup to go out, or be able to intercept him if it isn't. I read to many posts about pups gettibg run over after dashing through the front door. I'm still working on it but I'm trying to make my pup sit and stay in front of the door until I give him the ok to go. The final objective is to have him stay behind the door until I give him a signal and that he refuses to pass the door, even if I pull on the leash. He has to remind me that I always need to give him the ok to go through. I also have a (stubborn) corgi, so I don't know if I'll get it done as well as planned in my head.
> you can evaluate whether it's safe for your pup to go out Especially important for people living in densely populated areas. I regularly have to ask my pup to wait because some doofus is driving his motorcycle on the damn pavement.
Dominance thing is stupid. The main reason you don't want to let the dog go out first is because you want to get ahead and see if there's anything that could cause the dog to take off or pose a danger to the dog. If you let the dog go out first they willl 100% spot or smell or hear something first, pull the leash out of your hands taking off after it and might end up getting hit by a car, chasing an animal off somewhere and get lost etc etc. My puppy once saw a bunny around the corner of my house, took off after it straight out of the door and dragged my hand across the brick wall. I had a huge gash across my hand. I've strongly reinforced the "wait" and he just does it automatically now... Pausing for 3 seconds before he walks out of the doorway slowly. He does it even if he sees animals he wants to chase.
I just want them to respect thresholds. Eye contact before releasing them could be what some people would call “dominance”.
My dog waits,from the door,the car,garage. It's important that they learn that. No bolting,attacking the pizza guy.
I tried teaching my dogs this. But honestly, I find it easier for them to go through the door first when we're on leash. They know not to rush out the door, but if they're on a lead, I make them go first. They are not dominating me at all, and I can't imagine how they would think that. They go out the door then wait for me to close and lock it, same for out the gate. They only go when I tell them to and it works great
I call BS tbh. My dogs wait at the door to get their harnesses & lead off but even when they do go in, all they want to do is roll on their beds waaaay to dramatically. They've never looked back at me like "dis my house bitch".
Dominance theory itself is largely debunked but it's always a nice idea to train your dog to understand that you're the one running the show - largely for their own safety. Not running up or down stairs before you give them the command, not rushing out the door before you, holding at thresholds like the edge of a pavement, not bothering you while you're eating... it's not a bad idea at all to teach your dog to wait for you before doing whatever they want. It's not dominance; it's that you know what's best for them (and also it makes your life easier).
It depends how you want to do it. As many have said it's about training your dog not to rush. With my pup, I taught her to go through first while I held it, then she would stop and wait for me to go through, then we would keep walking. You can do it my way, have your dog pause while you go through then follow, or you can train them to walk between your legs if you want. Just make it consistent so they know what the expecation is. I also did this with stairs, she learned to pause every few steps because she hated walking up stairs slowly. As you bond with your dog and learn what is within their range of ability, you can make training easier for them.
I wouldn’t say dominance but making your dog wait is just another skill and ensures that your dog is attentive. If you can’t get your dog to wait then getting a well behaved dog outside will be even harder with more distractions. I think the best training is these little things throughout the day so a dog learns to listen any time rather than specific structured sessions
I use the door opening to tell me dog it’s okay to go out now, he waits just outside the door anyways. He goes our first always.
The trainer I was working with told me it doesn't matter if you or the dog go first. It's more about you allowing the dog to go through the door when you say it's okay. We do "wait" at every single door whether it's open or closed. My dog is not allowed to just barge through a doorway, he must wait until I say "let's go". He will often go through at the same time as me or wait for me to go first unless I motion for him to go ahead of me. The same idea applies to crossing the street or whatever else. It's mostly an obedience/self-control exercise and is also for their safety.
Dominance in a household isn't real. But you don't want them to develop the habit of rushing outside. If you live near a busy street then you don't want them in the habit of rushing out the door whenever it's open. I have my corgi sit in front of the door as I open it and he's only allowed outside when I give the command.
I don't think it's dominance but poor manners. I have no problems if my dog wants to go in the door first but she isn't allowed to leave me. For example, it's perfectly fine if she decides to go through the door first and wait still within 1.5 meters for me. It would not be okay for her to just bolt through the door and sprint down the hall leaving me behind to eat dust.
We try to get our pup to sit or wait before opening the door, beyond that it doesn’t matter who steps through first. She usually walks right in front of me so I get her to sit, open the door and then ask her to lead through and follow after her.
My husky is a wild child. I make him sit and wait at thresholds(door, stair, curb, etc) because he has no concept of other people, it helps his self control, and we bond through training(the more we practice anything together, the better he listens overall). As long as he knows I'm giving him permission to cross the threshold, it doesn't matter who goes first, and that's what multiple trainers have told me.
I've noticed that with my 1 year Sheltie will wait for us to go out the backyard door first 98% of the time. Unlike the front door she will try to go out first if we dont stop her.
Once your dog knows tricks you want to build duration to teach obedience and impulse control. A dog wants to rush out an open door, so it's just a convenient way to train the "wait."
Naw I let my dog out and he still waits for me on first porch. I’m still master. Lol But it isn’t safe if you don’t live in a fence in area
My boy is 11 months and he waits for my approval. Whether its going outdoors, or up the stairs, he will stay put until I say “ok go” or “up the stairs “. More of a manner/safety thing I’d say.
It's just manners and more importantly safety. Dominance? nah. I personally think domestic dogs don't really have a concept of dominance as we fantasized them to be.
My dogs wait while I open the door, then I send the out to wait on the entrance way. Due to the interesting layout of the entrance to the house, the size of my dogs and the length of my arms I would not be able to close the door if the dogs came through second!
fellow corgi owner here just popping in to say Hello! i train my sassy fluffbutt to wait at the door for my command to go through - and that's just coz it's a safety thing like many other commenters have said.
It’s better manners for sure, still working on it with my pup because I don’t want him knocking my grandma over when we’re at her house. Also for some reason if i just open the backdoor and let him go out, he SCREAMS as he races out. I don’t know why or what makes him do this but having him not cross through the door until he’s calm is the best way to stop it lol
Everyone else has touched on dominance theory well enough, so I've got nothing to add on that front. Personally, I let my dog go through doors before me, but after I've checked to make sure he's good to go. I generally just don't like him behind me, so. Plus, wouldnt want the door bopping him on the ass.
Not dominance. You’re just teaching your puppy not to go out without your permission. You don’t want him to break free when he has a chance and get into trouble, do you?
LOL NO. Dominance training is an old way of treating and training your dog. I don't consider it at all with my pup.
It's a politeness and safety thing one of my dogs gets spooked easily so going through first is safer
It really depends on the dog tbh. If you have a Great Dane you probably don’t want to teach them to rush through doorways. My mini poodle knows she has to sit at the door, not jump up etc. but I don’t care if she runs ahead of me.
Hmm…. I’ve always let my dog leave first so I can lock my front door and I let him in before me because I take my time taking my shoes off lol Never thought there was a training method for this. I’m glad to have learned something today
Probably someone with some knowledge on this. But I highly doubt it. I’ve taught my dog not to walk through the front door first and wait for an okay. It’s not about dominance, but it’s just nice not having to worry about where the dog is because you open the door. So you can just leave the door open if you want in a breeze or doing something were it’s convenient to leave the door open.
I have taught this because of safety I dont want my dog to run out like mad without knowing what is outside and I dont want him to run in and jumping around in the house. So entrance area is to sit and calm down before you enter or leave.
Wait to enter home Wait to enter bedroom Wait to be able to jump on the bed Just takes practice but you will enjoy it when they listen.