Ok everyone, need a little advice here. I am very frustrated with a particular habit that my dogs have.
Whenever I get home from work, the dogs are (of course) excited. Before I let them into the house, I wait for them to calm down and sit quietly.
The trouble is, the dogs know that sitting quietly will get them inside and to the toys, treats and food. But recently, whenever I give them their release command to go inside, they just stampede through the doorway, bumping the door frame, furniture, each other, etc. on their mad quest to get indoors. This is both annoying and dangerous: they've all knocked me hard in the knees on their way in.
How do I let them know that they are supposed to pass calmly through doorways and other spaces? Am I just training them into a "starting gate" mentality by making them sit before I open the door? Should I do something different?
Rushing through the doorway as a pack is only causing them to knock their hips against the door frame (ouch!) and knock me in the knees (double ouch!). Any ideas on how to curb this behavior?
Whenever I get home from work, the dogs are (of course) excited. Before I let them into the house, I wait for them to calm down and sit quietly.
The trouble is, the dogs know that sitting quietly will get them inside and to the toys, treats and food. But recently, whenever I give them their release command to go inside, they just stampede through the doorway, bumping the door frame, furniture, each other, etc. on their mad quest to get indoors. This is both annoying and dangerous: they've all knocked me hard in the knees on their way in.
How do I let them know that they are supposed to pass calmly through doorways and other spaces? Am I just training them into a "starting gate" mentality by making them sit before I open the door? Should I do something different?
Rushing through the doorway as a pack is only causing them to knock their hips against the door frame (ouch!) and knock me in the knees (double ouch!). Any ideas on how to curb this behavior?