Dear Critter Corner: We have been working with our pup on basic obedience around the home and yard. He is doing well, but once we step out the front door, it is as though we no longer exist, and his responses to cues are diminished. How can we change this?
This can be a common problem with many dogs. There are a few reasons why it may be happening, so here I will include a few ways to approach it.
If your dog is overall a well-balanced dog, the most likely reason you’re losing them when you walk out the door is a lack or generalizing the behaviors outside of your nice, calm, and familiar home environment. To move forward, you can take your pup to an area such as the front yard and start your training there. You will want to bring your expectations down a little and may need to return to some of your beginning steps to get certain behaviors from your pup. Over time and with repetition, you will start to have the same responses outside of the home as you do in. Remember, every time you make a training area more difficult, you may need to review a few steps and help your pup out a little more.
Another time we see this behavior in our dogs is when they are fearful of or under-socialized to the outside world. If this is the case with your pup, you will again want to start slow and just hang out in the front yard for a short time, and then end the session. I typically like to be able to get my pup to check in with me or give me some type of attention, and then I will reinforce that behavior. I may also turn into my pup’s biggest fan by encouraging them for being brave and exploring the front yard. I don’t want to force anything here. I want my pup to figure out the area is safe on their own, not by me pushing them. Again, over time and with repetition and patience, your pup will become more acclimated to the environment and be ready to move on to the next area.
If you are still having problems with your pup, consider signing up for a private consultation or one of our training classes.