Anti Door Darting Technique

[Louie'sDad]

At some point, along with his other behavioral problems, Dante started door darting. This got copycat Duma into the game, which of course he loves, because after he goes out the door (and sometimes it's hard to tell that he's even gotten out!), I chase after him--what fun lol for him anyway. Luckily I am in a gated community on an island, so there's really nowhere for him to go, but the fact is that he doesn't really seem to want to go anywhere, not even within the community. On the few occasions I decided to see what would happen if I didn't give chase, he would run back and forth across the front door crying "come play with me"--it's pretty funny, actually.

Not long after it started, the door darting thing got a little out of control, so I tried training them. Before I leave the house, I turn in front of the door to see where they are. They now each have their own "spot" to go to. So I say "Dante, go to the kitchen" and "Duma, go to the stairs" and they each do their thing (and I watch carefully to make sure they get there and sit down properly) and they watch me as I open the door saying "good boys" and walk out. It took a while to get them to do this, and I have been clicker training them since day 1, but it's really worth the effort. Of course I need to be extra vigilant when a visitor is leaving the house, but I keep Da Bird nearby and it always lures him back if he knows he'll get some decent playtime if he comes back. I live in a condo and don't have a garage or an option for a screen door but this has worked out really well.

It may not have registered in his brain that he was "free". He might have been processing things like the diff in air temp, smells, wind/breeze, noises, etc. I can tell you this about my F1: he wasn't aware that the great outdoors existed until I acclimated him to it, which took a few outings. Once he got comfortable, he roams freely in pursuit of squirrels, birds, etc (tethered, of course). Coincident with this, his attempts at door darting began.

I bought a clicker months ago, but never tried using it. Because of my F1's persistence, obstinacy, and predatory behavior, I figured that he would be un-trainable. We have a comfortable relationship, although it would be great if I had encouragement that SVs , especially F3 F2 F1 can be trained.

 

[Kristin]

Zeddie never door darted....until my dsh Tiger started losing weight. He has always been the door darter, but now Zeddie and Tiger have started swapping traits. Tiger now jumps on the counter and eats out of the sink with Zeddie, and Zeddie now door darts

 

[maalleh]

Trying to keep my cats from door darting, I grab a favorite toy and just before I open the door, I toss the toy and they go running after it giving me time to get out the door and close it behind me. They can't resist the tossed toy.

 

[Dantes]

It may not have registered in his brain that he was "free". He might have been processing things like the diff in air temp, smells, wind/breeze, noises, etc. I can tell you this about my F1: he wasn't aware that the great outdoors existed until I acclimated him to it, which took a few outings. Once he got comfortable, he roams freely in pursuit of squirrels, birds, etc (tethered, of course). Coincident with this, his attempts at door darting began.

I bought a clicker months ago, but never tried using it. Because of my F1's persistence, obstinacy, and predatory behavior, I figured that he would be un-trainable. We have a comfortable relationship, although it would be great if I had encouragement that SVs , especially F3 F2 F1 can be trained.

Actually, Duma's been on the leash and walking outdoors since 3 months (he'll be 2 years in January). Maybe he didn't realize he was free but he does seem to know the difference, especially if we're near the estuary or at the park. His door darting wasn't coincident with the leash, it was a long time later, when Dante's problems escalated.

Actually, his persistence and obstinacy is all the more reason he'd probably be good at clicker training, since he'll learn what pleases you and gets him awards (food) and time with you. My guess is that the initial training will take a little more patience and repetition but once he gets the hang of it, he'll learn quickly. You might even create an obstacle course and do some agility training with him.

BTW, Duma is an F3. I hope to find someone to help me record some of his "tricks" of come, sit, down, shake, and currently working on ringing the dinner bell lol. I wish I had more time to do agility training, although right now it's limited to jumping from the floor to the chair and from chair to chair (maybe I just need a better imagination?). I tried creating a tunnel out of boxes but right now he just wants to play in them--also I have to put the others away while I'm training, and then I feel guilty for that

This girl's cats are all feral.