It can be tricky to teach your dog to go outside without you.
Sometimes it’s difficult, but other times it’s easy.
Let’s go through some of the techniques that have worked for other people, and will help you make the transition easier for your dog.
Table of Contents
The Problem
It’s not too difficult to teach your dog to go outside, but it can take a while.
One way to get your dog used to going outside is by taking them on a short walk outside the house for about three minutes at least twice per day.
Get your dog excited and use a treat, for example, they’ll only get the treat if they follow you outside.
This will let them know that going outside is a good thing. You can also try taking your dog on a short ride or run.
When you first take your dog out it’s important that they develop a relationship with you, so go slow and don’t leave them alone for too long.
If your dog still refuses to go outside once they have been going every day, then you will have to start some time-out training.
If they won’t go on their own, you should take them out a few steps, then take them back inside for a short time-out.
Once they realize that going outside is a good thing for them, they will start enjoying it, and hopefully, stop being afraid of it.
If you’re having trouble, you can consider using a pet door so your dog will be able to go out whenever they want to, and then all you have to do is call them in when it’s time for them to come inside.
Dog training is a very special skill that has to be developed with your dog.
The more you work with your dog, the more they will come to trust you as a leader. However, always remember that your dog is a living being and not a machine.
They have feelings and emotions just like you do.
If they don’t feel comfortable going out because of something that happened before, it might take a little longer to teach them what needs to be done.
It is very important to get an early start when it comes to dog training.
If you are still having issues with your dog not wanting to go outside without you, here are some additional tried and tested techniques that you may wish to try:
Simple Techniques
How to Use the Belly Rub Technique:
The belly rub technique is probably one of the most effective ways to start getting your dog out of the house.
Basically, you distract your dog by pawing at them on their belly, face or legs. After a few seconds of this, you get up and leave.
Every time you do so, give them a treat as you head out the door.
Eventually, they will follow out of curiosity.
What to Do If That Fails:
If the belly rub technique doesn’t work, there are a few other things you can try.
The first is either increasing the frequency of the belly rubs or adding a toy to your dog’s playtime.
This will allow you to get your dog used to the idea of going to different places in the house and eventually outside.
The other trick is to leave the door open and coax your dog out with a treat or toy.
Once your dog realizes that they are being rewarded for going out, they will start to associate the door with good things.
If you want to skip the treats and toys, this technique can also work by getting your dog interested by saying “come.”
This will cause them to come to you, but it is up to you whether you reward their behavior or not.
The “I Can’t” Method:
Now that your dog is used to being in different rooms, it’s time to move the one that they are not usually in.
This method is useful for getting your dog used to opening doors or gates.
It is up to you whether you want to use the doors or gates that are already in your house or if you want to hang something new.
If you use an existing door or gate you can ask your dog to go through it, slowly rewarding them until they are comfortable.
Eventually, you will be able to remove the “I can’t” from the equation and your dog will learn how to open those doors on its own.
If you want to show your dog how to open a gate or some kind of new opening mechanism, follow the same process as before until they are comfortable going through the new tool.
When they do, reward them with treats and praise.
The First Steps Outside:
Now that your dog is comfortable with its movements inside the house, it’s time to go outside.
Start by getting them used to being outside by giving them treats or toys while they are still in the house. Then, put them outside the first time.
Start the training by teaching them how to go out your front door.
You can achieve this by opening the front door and have them sit.
After a few seconds, say “Out” and give them a treat. Keep repeating this process until they are comfortable going out.
Next, you will need to teach them how to go through a gate or door, by opening it and asking them to follow you.
The “I can’t” method should work for this as well.
Transitioning Your Dog to the Street:
Once your dog is comfortable going out of their house, it’s time to work on the rest of the world.
Start by getting them used to car rides around the neighborhood.
After that, you can start taking them for walks.
Make sure they are on a leash at first and ask them to follow you.
The leash will also keep them safe.
Time to Introduce Other Dogs:
It should be noted that this method takes time. For the best results, you will need to practice inside and outside.
With regular practice, your dog will learn how to go outside without you in no time.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to get your dog to go outside without you, it’s time to practice.
If you want them to go outside, you will need to show them that there is something beneficial outside and that it’s worth their time and trouble.
Stay calm and be patient and you will soon have your dog going outside with confidence without you
