Why It Matters #1: Wait at Doors

Teach Your Dog to Wait at Doors to Prevent a Chronic Illness Flare Up

It can be really hard for our brains to see patterns and make the connection between an activity and a flare up of symptoms. It’s even harder to see these patterns when they come from a source we associate with love & fun, like our dogs.

You’re living with a chronic illness. You’re exhausted. I get it. Chances are, though, your dog is contributing. Why does teaching your dog to be respectful & calm at doorways matter to you, in your life with a chronic illness?

Prevent falls or balance wobbles for you
Prevent pain and/or limb fatigue and other symptom flare ups for you
Give you the support you need when answering the door, safely
Protect the dog you cherish
Save you money, which is already tight from chronic illness life

This is true for pet dogs and service dogs alike! Little changes make big impacts for any dog owner. Read on to discover how, or head to my YouTube page to listen to this post.

dog bolts out door is a fall risk to owner

Potential Worry with Doorways:

My chronic illness may cause sudden loss of balance or a fall from a bolt of pain. I may or may not have warning, and it’s easy to trigger. My dog gets really hyper at doorways. I worry if my dog bumps into me, jumps near me, or rushes past me they may cause a fall.

How Training Resolves It:

Teaches dog to not be underfoot when you answer the door
Dog learns how to be calm around all doors
When you both go outside, you teach the dog how to give you space
You dog can learn how to slow their brain down & listen to what you need from them
Prevents sudden leash jerks from dog bolting out. My wait at doors skill also teaches your dog to go through doors with you slowly

a hyper, white dog jumps up at the door. This can cause pain for an owner with chronic illness to deal with

two dogs wait at a door for owners to get ready

Potential Worry with Doorways:

My chronic illness is an energy hog. Small actions can cause a flare up. I hate when someone is at the door because my dog goes crazy and it leaves me exhausted. I have to use precious energy to walk them to their crate or attempt to hold them back by their collar. I got a gate for the doorway, but then I have to lean weird to talk to people or get a package. And if my dog barks… instant nausea. I wish there was an easier way.

How Training Resolves It:

Gives you a specific time to teach your dog it is not okay to jump, lunge, rush, or bark when someone is at the door.
Dog learns how to wait for your cue to go through a door, which eliminates your need to hold them back
Teaches your dog how to wait patiently by the door, for however long you need to get ready, rest, and then go out together
Gives you a manageable time to teach your dog how to respond to leash pressure and not pull you through doorways.
You can remove the extra door gate and eliminate the risk of flare from leaning over it

Potential Worry with Doorways:

I don’t feel safe answering the door or walking outside alone. I want to have my dog with me to feel less alone, and/or to do a task to help how my disability impacts me in this space.

How Training Resolves It:

Your dog is prepared to take a task cue from you, because they know now how to be calm and focused on you at doors
By teaching your dog how to not be chaotic, they will instead be a silent presence by your side
When your dog is composed, it will give you more confidence, and the headspace to function when someone is at the door
Your pup learns to wait after going through an open doorway, for your cue on what to do next. This gives you time to close the door and be aware of your surroundings without your dog as a distraction.

Potential Worry with Doorways:

My dog is my best friend. If something bad happens to them because they rush through a doorway, I will be devastated. I worry I can’t afford surprise vet bills if they get hurt.

How Training Resolves It:

The dog learns to stay where you asked them to be, even if the door is left open for long periods of time, like parties
Your dog learns going outside without permission and/or a leash is not an okay choice. The more you reinforce this, your dog will leave to make good choices around doors.
Dog learns to wait after going through an open doorway, for your cue on what to do next. This slows their brain down, which helps limit excitement around going outside.
You teach them how to ignore temptations of outside and chooses to stay inside, and avoids attacks from other animals or being hit by a car
When you leave for a walk, your dog matches your speed to go through the door, preventing them from pulling hard enough to jerk the leash out of your hand and get loose

Your dog respecting doorways isn’t only about respect or leadership, or even because “you’re supposed to train it.” It is also about keeping you safer with your chronic illness, respecting the safety of others who come into your house, and respecting the love you have for your dog.

Use the buttons below to book a 1-1 training session with me to teach this vital skill to your dog, or head to my YouTube channel to watch the accompanying video in which I dive even deeper into explaining each of the key points from this post. As a free bonus, there are demo videos for training doorway manners available on my YouTube playlist, “Why It Matters” to give you a start, if you don’t feel you need customized step by step help training your dog.