A common concern I hear from dog owners is the fear of their dog racing out the door and into the street. I, too, witness this all too frequently when visiting my clients for in-home dog training appointments. If the front door is opened a crack, I often see a blur of a dog racing past me.

Why is this such a common problem with our dogs? Mostly because we train our dogs that it is fun to run from our houses. Yes, we train them! We consistently do this in three ways.

First, our dogs learn that the front door guarantees the presence of new and exciting people. Typically, these visitors encourage the dogs to be overly active at the door.

Secondly, our dogs associate the door with very possibly the best part of their day, going for a walk.

Additionally, and probably most importantly, if our dogs should ever get out the door we (in an attempt to get them back to safety) race them down the street. What more fun could a dog ask for? After a long boring day, their owners are running through the neighborhood with them.

So, whether you have a new puppy that has never played chase me around the block or a veteran of many great escapes, you can still teach your dog safety at the door.

To teach your dog not to race through a doorway, always make sure a leash is on your dog when you are opening the door. It is a good idea to have a spare leash kept near the door just for this purpose. Teach your dog how much fun it will be to sit and stay rather than running away. Keep some very special treats near the door and reward your dog for sitting a few feet back from the door. Frequently practice this exercise when there is no one at the door. Keep your dog sitting while holding the leash, giving him treats while opening and closing the door. If your dog moves towards the door quickly, close it and place the dog back into a sit. If he sits for a few seconds give him a yummy treat.

Next, have a friend or family member practice walking in and out the door while knocking and ringing the doorbell. You will be holding onto the leash and rewarding your dog for sitting quietly or placing your dog back into a sitting position. Encourage all visitors to ignore your dog for the first 10 minutes they are in your house. This will help reduce the level of excitement associated with the front door.

Most importantly, be prepared any time that door will be opening. Training and rewarding a new fun behavior will help curb the dangerous door bolter.