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Separation Anxiety - Door is a Bore Training

Door desensitisation is a training process that helps a dog become comfortable with people moving toward, touching, and opening doors without becoming anxious or overly excited. The exercise involves breaking the door routine into small steps, such as standing near the door, touching the handle, opening it slightly, and then closing it again, while rewarding the dog for remaining calm. By repeating these steps gradually and at a pace the dog can handle, the dog learns that door-related cues do not always mean someone is leaving or arriving, which can help reduce stress, separation-related behaviours, and overexcitement around doors.

Things to keep in mind

  • Each step should be repeated approximately 10 times, or until your dog loses interest. 
  • Stop immediately if your dog shows any signs of stress or anxiety. 
  • If stress is shown, return to an easier step that your dog can complete confidently. 
  • Begin each training session at a step (or two) before where you finished last session. 
  • Only progress when your dog can complete the step calmly and confidently. 
  • If your dog struggles, reduce difficulty before continuing. 
  • Gradually increase duration in 1-second increments only. 

Step 1: Walk to the door, stop approximately 2 metres away, then return.

Step 2: Walk to the door, stop approximately 1 metre away, then return.

Step 3: Walk to the door, touch the door, then return.

Step 4: Walk to the door, turn or touch the door handle, then return.

Step 5: Walk to the door, turn/touch the handle and pause briefly (1–2 seconds), then return.

Step 6: Walk to the door, open it slightly (a few centimetres), then close it and return.
Gradually increase the duration the door stays open using 1-second increments.

Step 7: Open the door, step one foot outside, then return inside and close the door.
Repeat and gradually progress to both feet outside.

Step 8: Open the door, step fully outside, then immediately return inside and close the door.

Step 9: Open the door, step outside, pause for 1 second, then return inside and close the door.

Step 10: Open the door, step outside, pause for 5 seconds, then return inside and close the door, gradually increase time.

Disclaimer:

Be mindful when you train and interact with your pet to avoid all aversive & balanced training techniques. When animals are hurt and scared, they may stop the behaviour but they won’t learn the right thing to do. 

Aversive training consists of: yelling/scaring pets, leash jerking, hitting, using choke collars, e-collars, prong collars or slip leads, using water such as spraying cats, 

Force-free training focuses on positive reinforcement which promotes trust, confidence and consistent behaviour with our causing harm or stress to our pets. This is the most up to date, science backed Humane method of training.