Don't Let Your Cairn Bolt out the Door!

A woman called in to Trisha McConnell's radio show (Calling All Pets) to
ask for advice on dealing with her parents' West Highland White -- it
bolts out the front door.

The woman could not understand why the dog did that. She had not been able
to get the dog to stay if the front door was open or to come when called if
it escaped (sound familiar?). The caller owns a Lab and she's never had
that problem with her dog :-)

Trisha did a great job explaining how and why terriers are different and
gave the caller a 3-pronged approach to the problems:

-- The woman's father has become "forgetful" and opens the front door and
lets the dog out. Trish recommended a double door system (install a
lockable screen door), use a baby gate to block the front door area, or put
a cover or something over the knob on the front door to hopefully remind the
father that he shouldn't open the front door for the dog.

-- Teach the dog to not go out the front door. Trish recommends using a
20-30 foot long line (a very long nylon braid or webbing leash) that you
either have someone else hold or tie to a very heavy object to prevent the
dog from escaping. The dog wears this as you gradually (over many sessions
and repeat many dozens of times) open the front door and immediately throw a
fantastic treat (tiny pieces of chicken or steak) behind the dog - in the
opposite direction of the front door. Gradually increase the door opening
and using treats to teach the dog to go to another spot when you are
answering/opening the door. Practice, practice, practice ... it will take a
long time but is worth it.

-- Teach come-when-called. Don't chase your dog. Practice this in a fenced
area or with the dog on a long line. Use a really delicious (to the dog)
and smelly treat. Stop and stand sideways to the dog. Wave the extra-good
treat in the air so the dog is sure to smell it. Give a stay command. Move
away from the dog and use the food to lure the dog to come. (The challenge
is to have a ready supply of delicious, stinky dog treats on hand at all
times -- I can guarantee you that a warm, just poached chicken breast was
not enough to get Merlin to come away from a rattlesnake, but maybe
Limberger would have had more appeal to him?)

If you haven't ever listened to the show, give it a try (you may need to
install a free player, it's pretty easy to do). http://www.wpr.org/pets/
The segment is titled "Can Elephants Recognize Themselves in a Mirror?" If
it doesn't appear on this page, click on the Browse Show Archives link.
It's a great show (1 hour), good questions, great help/suggestions and lots
of humor.