Tugging Part 1: Train Your Dog to Open Doors, Drawers and Cupboards

Find out how to teach your dog to 'pull' on cue using a game, then apply this to opening doors, drawers and cupboards. Star (*) indicates the clicker sound for deaf/HOH. Train your dog to be a canine superstar
Brought to you by Vancouver Island Assistance Dogs
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Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• tug pull open drawers
• doors
• closets
• cupboards
• disabled
• disability
• training service dogs
• assistance dogs
• Owner-trained

[vidgirl4444]

Chihuahua knows how to close the doors and cupboard. I try to teach her to TUG and she dont do it. any tips? and when i say TUG or pull she lets go!

[supernaturalbc2008]

@vidgirl4444 Play tug with her and capture it by clicking the instant she tugs. Add a cue when she's doing it consistently.

[doctorwhocrazyful]

If you put a treat in the cupboard, would the dog be more likely to open it?

[supernaturalbc2008]

@doctorwhocrazyful Probably, but you wouldn't want to use that as motivation since eventually there may be food in cupboards you don't want the dog to have. Better to break down the steps into small pieces that the dog can succeed at unitl she can do the whole behavior and then attach a cue. You don't want a service dog (or any dog) rummaging cupboards on her own! D

[bynamearose]

Thank you so much for posting this. Merci beaucoup!

[supernaturalbc2008]

@bynamearose You are welcome! D

[supernaturalbc2009]

@backyardsounds Try using a verbal marker such as the sound "X" or a tongue cluck.

[backyardsounds]

This would never work. My dog is horrified of clicks, bangs, snaps, thunder, or any sort of boom. We've tried for 6 years now to get her over the fear. Simply can't help her. She's very trainable, but a clicker would be out of the question.

[supernaturalbc2009]

@foreverr1Dfan Dependn on the type of door handle, the size of the dog. If you have levers on the doors, it is trained a little differently with a large dog (can start with a tug rope and move to a paw push). A small dog may always need the tug rope.

[foreverr1Dfan]

so do they always needs a rope or leash on the door or cupboard to be able to open it? or will they eventually figure out how to knock the doorknob or handle?

[thesandycloud7babv]

my dog just wants the treat