Bandit's Buddies: How To Get our Dog to Come Inside When Called

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15 Tips to Help your Dog Love Living Inside.

Walk your dog, exercise him and provide loads of mental stimulation. Many owners still believe that a yard is a substitute for walks. It it not. Your dog still needs healthy exercise and a walk is a good way to ensure his exercise needs are met. A tired dog is a good dog. Dogs thrive on mental stimulation as well, and it's best if this comes from you, through games, interactive toys and fun training sessions. These activities will help increase the bond between dog and owner.
Don't lure your dog inside with a treat and then quickly close the door behind him. If you show the treat to your dog to entice him to come inside, he'll likely take the treat and try running outside with it or he may panic the moment he eats the treat and sees you close the door. In this case, you may be stuck with a dog that will enter only when he sees a treat or you may be stuck with a dog who senses that the treat is a trap, so next time he'll feel extra wary and reluctant to take it. That little bit of trust is soon gone.
Instead, throughout the day, when he's by the doorway, toss treats to the ground, sit nearby and let him eat them and don't close the door. Since you are sitting, he will know it's not your intent to close the door behind, and since the door is open he won't feel trapped. Do this several times so he learns that inside is a great place and not a trap. Day after day, your dog should come more and more inside to check for goodies.
Break the bad associations. Dogs learn through associations and can chain events. If every evening, you open the door, call your dog and then go grab your dog by the collar to pull him inside, he'll soon learn that when you open the door, call him and move towards him, you are about to close him. So a day may come where he will start escaping from you because he knows what's about to happen. Instead, become less predictable and do something totally different. Go by the gate, put his leash on, go for a brief walk, give him some treats and then head inside and give him more treats. This way you break the negative associations and create new ones. From "every time my owner calls me and grabs me by the collar, he pulls me inside" it should turn into "every time my owner walks by the gate, he puts the leash on, and we go on a fun walk and I get treats".
Make your home comfortable and rewarding. If certain noises startle your dog, do everything possible to reduce them or muffle them with some white noise. Keep your home at a comfortable temperature. If you have boisterous kids, make sure your dog has a quiet place to retreat where the kids won't bother him. Provide toys, let your dog engage in fun foraging games, feed him only inside.
Don't punish your dog for not behaving in the home, give him time to adjust through gentle guidance. Many owners send their dogs outdoors because they can't cope with dogs not behaving as they want in the home, but these dogs are never really given an opportunity to learn!
Leave your recall at the door. If you call your dog to come inside and he doesn't listen, stop calling him and poisoning the cue. Instead, do other things that will attract your dog inside and that your dog looks forward to do. Walk inside and go straight to the kitchen to unwrap a piece of cheese for him and place it in Kong. Run inside if your dog loves chasing you. Get a flirt pole and entice him to chase it inside. Make sure though to let these activities last a bit so your dog won't go into thinking that these events are just another trap to get him inside. Keep him entertained or he'll soon want to go back out. Use the recall only once he has learned that great things happen inside.
Don't stick by the doorway. The door way will remind him of going back outside and he'll be asking out soon. Instead take him to a central room where he can temporarily forget all about the outdoors with all its enticing sights and smells. Again, keep him entertained and stimulated.
Take advantage of warm/cold weather. Play with your dog outside for a bit when it's warm. He'll soon feel hot and he will be thirsty. Then entice him to follow you indoors where you have the AC running and a nice bowl full of fresh water for him. You can also add a few ice cubes or give him some dog ice pops to let him have some more fun. When it's cold spend some time with him outside and then invite him to enjoy the warmth of a crackling fire. The indoors should feel rewarding compared to the outdoors.
Limit access to windows. Dogs who feel compelled to guard and act territorial may start relaxing if you limit access to windows or if you put some window film over them so that your dog won't see too much action going on.
Don't fall into the trap of chasing your dog or grabbing him by the collar to pull him inside. Yes, these methods may be the fastest way when you need him in at once, but soon your dog will resent them and you'll soon end up with a dog that escapes from his owners or worse, a dog who snaps when you grab the collar. You need to go to the source of the problem.
Get your dog used to indoor noises by using desensitization and counterconditioning.If you have a new dog, read the hub "how to get my new dog used to living in the house"
Remove wildlife from your yard. Secure your fence, fill up any holes and use safe repellents to keep critters away from your property.
Let your dog spend time outside with you. Keep a treat pouch attached to your belt and reward your dog when he comes near you. These voluntary check ins, increase your bond with your dog and teaches your dog to stick by your side and bond with you more.
Put going inside on cue and make it a fun, happy event. When you are out with your dog, say something like "let's go inside!" in a happy, enthusiastic tone of voice and then let a rainfall of treats fall to the ground as you close the door. Click here for full article.