If you have read my article on crate training and have arrived at the objective of your dog wanting to be in his crate and will stay in there calmly, then we are ready for the next lesson. One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard from pet owners is how their dogs “Charge” the door when it’s opened. This includes the front door to their home. Training your dog to not charge the crate door will help with every other door you need to go through.
First, never release the dog when he or she is making a fuss to get out. If you have taught “Manding” then stand at the door and just wait, wait for the dog to sit and behave. This may take quite awhile. We’re not looking for a long calming wait. Just a sit and look up. I usually have the door already unfastened so the moment I get the behavior I can release the dog. After doing the consistently several times you will find the dog gives the behavior much faster. Once I have consistent manding behavior when I’m at the crate door, I begin to make him wait a little longer. At first, it’s only a second or two, then release. The goal is to release him before he acts up. If you wait too long and he breaks, you will have to wait that much longer for him to calm down again. The key is to be consistent! Begin a release command when you open the door after you have the dog consistently manding for you several seconds. As you open the crate door give your release command, “Go”, or whatever you choose to use. The key is to give the command as you open the door so the dog can begin to associate him moving with the release.
Do this many times to get him used to that release command. The next step is to begin your hold or “wait” or “Stay” command. Once the dog is manding tell him to “wait”, “Stay”, “Hold”. Since you have been having him “mand” for you all this time without being told to “wait” the command doesn’t mean anything yet, but he’s doing what you want so he will begin to associate his waiting patiently with the term. This will take time, be he will keep being reinforced by repetition. Keep a positive tone of voice and don’t move to fast.
The last part is the hardest, but usually the quickest. Once the dog waits at the crate door and goes when released, the next part is to have him wait when the door is open. We are again telling the dog to wait, the crate door is unlatched but being held closed by you. Keep telling the dog to wait as you slowly begin to open the crate door. Be ready for the dog to get up and charge the door, after all, he’s expecting to be told to “go”. Keep telling him to “Wait” as the door is opened, when he gets up quickly shut the door and tell him, “no, Wait”. This is not said in a harsh command, and try not to “Slam” the door, but close it quickly. Yes, it may smack his nose as you close the crate door, but just keep a level tone and tell your dog to wait. Once he is sitting and manding again begin to open the crate and all the time telling him to wait. Do the same thing, if he tries to get up and charge the door. If you can get the door open enough for him to get out and he stays sitting, release him quickly and praise him. Each time you open the crate follow this procedure and in no time you will be able to open the crate door all the way and he will stay seated until you give his a release.
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