The Gnomestead Collective

Open/Close DoorsDog pushes or pulls a door open or shut

A practical service-dog skill adapted as an impressive trick. Pushing closed uses nose targeting; pulling open uses a tug rope on the handle. Teach push (close) first. It is easier and safer than pulling open.

Also known as: Door, Push It

At a glance

Tier
4 · Expert
Time to fluency
4–10 weeks
Practice
3× per week, 5 min each
Equipment
A lightweight interior door, A rope or bandana for the handle, Target stick, Small soft treats

Prerequisites

Your dog should know these words first:

TugTarget Stick

How to teach open/close doors

Lure

Target stick on the door surface, then reward the push or pull

  • For closing: hold the target stick on the door surface. Mark when the nose pushes it
  • Start with the door almost closed so a small push finishes the job
  • For opening: tie a rope or bandana on the handle and reward the tug that pulls it open
  • Shape one direction at a time. Do not teach push and pull in the same session

Hand Signal

Point at the door and make a pushing or pulling gesture

  • Point at the door. The dog should go to it and push or pull based on which cue you give
  • Use different words for push and pull so the dog knows which action you want
  • Gradually leave the door more open so the push takes more effort

Verbal Cue

Separate words for push (close) and pull (open)

  • Two distinct cue words: one for close, one for open
  • Say the word, let the dog work it out
  • Practise on different doors so the skill generalises
  • Supervise until reliable. An unsupervised dog that can open doors is a liability

Success criteria

Unlearned
Does not interact with doors on cue
In progress
Opens or closes a door on the verbal cue alone
Mastered
Opens and closes different doors on separate verbal cues, reliably

Common mistakes

  • Starting with a heavy door that the dog cannot move
  • Teaching open before the dog understands close, which leads to escape artists
  • Not securing the rope handle so the dog can grab it safely
  • Leaving heavy doors unsupervised. Fingers and paws can get caught
TugTarget StickHand Target