Stop Door-Rushing! A Dog-Human Translation Guide

'Where are you going, am I coming?'

The Scene You Know Too Well.

Picture this: You're getting ready to leave, just grabbing your keys, and your pup begins to spin, jump, maybe even nip at your clothes. You're thinking, 'Why can't they just be calm?'

I've come to understand dogs aren't being "bad" - they're trying to have a conversation, and you may be missing it.

This post will teach you how to stop door rushing.

What Your Brain Hears:

"My dog is excited/anxious/out of control and needs to learn better manners."

What Your Dog is Saying:

"WAIT! Are you leaving? Are you taking me? Should I be worried? This is either a walk, Yah! or home alone, Dam!, and I need to know because I'm having a BIG feelings moment.

The Translation Breakdown:

When Your Dog Door-Rushes, They're Saying:

"I NEED TO KNOW THE PLAN!"

• Dogs are creatures of routine who feel safest when they understand what's happening

• The door opening could mean walk, car ride, or being left behind - three wildly different scenarios

• Their behaviour is actually your dog asking 'What's the plan, human?'

'I'M UNSURE & WORRIED'

• If you leave without them, their brain remembers that possibility

• The frantic energy is them saying 'Please don't leave me! Can I come too?

• It's not disobedience - it's anxiety wrapped in stress

'I'M TRYING TO BE PART OF THE SITUATION!'

• When dogs feel uncertain, they often try to 'make things happen'

• Door dashing is their way of saying 'If I can just get out first, maybe I can influence this outcome'

• Think of it like a human pacing when nervous - it's a coping mechanism

What Your Dog Wants You to Know

Your door-dasher isn't broken, rude, or untrained (although you do need to do some training for this behaviour!). They're actually showing you how they feel. Every leap, every bolt toward that door is them saying:

'Not knowing what's happening feels overwhelming. Will you come back?'

How to Stop Door Rushing

Instead of Fighting the Emotion, Acknowledge It:

Create a 'Door Routine' - Give them a job that answers their 'What's happening?' question

• Ask them to sit on their mat while you gather keys

• Grab some treats, open the door slowly, if they dash for it, close it again, toss a treat back onto their mat, that's where you want them, repeat until they understand what you expect, a dog sitting calmly on their mat as the door opens.

• This translates to: 'Here's your role in this situation - you're safe and included'

Tell your dog what's happening - Yes, talk to your dog!

• 'I'm going to work, you're staying home with your Kong, chew..'

• 'We're going for a walk together - I'll get your lead'

• Dogs understand tone and routine words better than we think

Practice 'Boring Doors' - Open and close the door randomly throughout the day without leaving

• This desensitises any activity around the door and teaches them: 'Door opening is a normal day-to-day activity'

The Relationship Shift

When you start seeing door rushing as communication instead of bad behaviour, everything changes. You're not training your dog to 'behave' - you're learning to have a conversation.

Your dog has been trying to tell you that the uncertainty around you leaving feels overwhelming. They just needed a translator.

Your Dog's Letter to You

*"Dear Human, I know you think I'm being 'bad', but I'm just trying to tell you that the door and beyond is exciting, overwhelming, frightening. When that door opens, I don't know if this moment means fun (we're going together) or sadness/boredom (you're leaving without me).

I'm not trying to run away FROM you - I'm trying to run WITH you. When I push past you at the door, I'm really saying 'Wait for me! Include me! We're a team!'

Please help me understand the plan, then I can be the calm, confident dog you see in me. I just need to know what is going to happen.

Love (and slightly less door drama), Your Dog 🐾"

Your Challenge

This week, try having one chat with your dog instead of getting frustrated. Get curious about what they're feeling instead of focusing on what they're doing wrong.

Ask yourself: If my dog could text me right now, what would they say about this door situation?

Then listen - really listen - to their body language, their energy. You may discover they are trying to tell you what it's like for them.

What has your dog been trying to tell you? Share your 'translation breakthroughs' in the comments - I love hearing about moments when humans and dogs understand each other!