This week we've started practicing sitting nicely while DH comes in from work, as Tess had been jumping all over him. On JulieT's wonderful advice, he warns me that he's coming and I put Tess on her lead. He takes one step in to the house and I treat Tess for sitting nicely. If she lunges forward he takes a step backwards and we carry on in this way until he's by her side. I've been thinking that because of the layout of the house it would be even better if we could train Tess to go to her mat whenever somebody is entering the house. Can anybody help me with how to do this please? I'm thinking we need to teach her to associate the doorbell ringing with going to her mat for a nice treat and that I can go with her and put her lead on and go through the above routine but on her mat. DH often comes in the back door currently but I can ask him to ring the doorbell and for one of the kids to answer. Is it a good idea to get the visitor to give Tess a treat when they've got to her and she's calm or not? I think I would have them drop it on her mat as she doesn't take them nicely when excited unfortunately. She does find visitors stroking her incredibly exciting and almost always does a wee! How would we progress so that I could answer the door when nobody else is here to keep her on her mat? I've been teaching her to go to her mat and treating her for lying down on it, then I say 'release' and treat her for coming away again, then I send her back etc. but I don't seem to be able to stretch out the time that she'll stay between treats very much. I guess I have to work on it a lot more!
For a dog that has already learned to rush to the door on the doorbell, plus is so excited she has a wee there are quite a few steps. As part of this you need to get your mat cue very strong but you also need her to calm down, and give up the inclination to rush to the door. This article might help: http://www.clickertraining.com/how-to-keep-your-dog-calm-when-the-doorbell-rings
She doesn't rush to the door, she doesn't associate the doorbell with somebody coming in because she's always been in the utility room and only let out if/when calm, usually towards the end of a visit - and it's then that the bladder lets go ;-)
