Safety precautions with a dog in the entrance and the elevator

You every day at least twice (if the dog is an adult, and with a puppy even more often) leave the apartment to the entrance and enter it, and also ride the elevator, if you have one. And it is extremely important to observe safety precautions at the same time. After all, the most dangerous conflicts occur precisely in the entrance and / or elevator.

Safety rules with a dog in the entrance and the elevator

1. In the entrance the dog must be only on a leash! This is the main rule, non-observance of which can be costly for both your pet and yourself.
2. Quietly leave the apartment to the entrance and enter it from the street, do not break out by storm.
3. Train your dog to walk beside you on a leash while you are in the driveway. Encourage her at first almost continuously, then reduce the frequency of reinforcements.
4. It is better to wait for the elevator to arrive where you will not be able to interfere with anyone, no one will step on the dog and will not stumble over it when leaving the cab. Reward your pet when he is calm.
5. In the elevator, also choose a place where no one will trip over the dog and will not step on it. It is better, if possible, to stand so as to be between the pet and the incoming / outgoing people.
6. If the elevator has stopped at an intermediate floor and your dog is still not responding well to the presence of other people in a confined space, ask them not to enter the elevator to give you the opportunity to reach the goal alone. Formulate the request in such a way that it is clear that you are a responsible owner and care, among other things, about the safety of others. But, of course, about your dog too.
7. While waiting for or in an elevator, practice concentration and endurance exercises. However, until the dog learns to be calm, it is better not to use the elevator if someone is there. At first, you should travel alone.
8. If you have to walk down stairs and your pet reacts strongly to other people, it’s best to get in the habit of sitting your four-legged friend between flights of stairs and practicing concentration and endurance exercises. At first, it is better to do this without people, then – and when they appear, too.
9. Teach your dog to remain calm when opening an elevator door. If you are traveling in the company of other people, it is better to let them go out first, and then go out with the dog. But if you are standing near the door, of course, you should go out first, but at the same time switch the dog’s attention to yourself.
10. If there is a possibility of aggression, it is worth using a muzzle. It is important to properly accustom the dog to it and choose the right model.