Teach a Dog to Close Doors and Tidy Toys

Practical tricks give your dog a job, which many dogs find deeply satisfying. They provide mental stimulation, strengthen your bond, and can be useful. A dog who closes doors can help when your hands are full, and a dog who tidies toys can help keep the house in order. They are also impressive to show off, and fun to teach.

The key to success is to break each skill into small, achievable steps, and to reward your dog at every stage. Avoid rushing, and keep the game enjoyable.

You can teach your dog to push a door shut with their nose, or with a paw. Choose the one that suits your dog. Begin with a door that is easy to move, and start with a target.

1. Stick a sticky note on the door, at your dog's nose height.
2. Reward your dog for touching the note with their nose.
3. Hold the door slightly ajar, and ask your dog to touch the note, so the door moves.
4. Reward when the door moves, and gradually require more movement.
5. Add the cue close it, and fade the note.
6. Practice with different doors, and from different angles.

Note: Make sure the door cannot slam or trap your dog's nose or paws. Use a door stopper or a soft closer if needed.

Tidying toys needs two skills: picking up an item and dropping it in a container. Teach each separately, and then combine them.

1. Teach hold: reward your dog for taking a toy in their mouth, then for holding it for a few seconds.
2. Teach drop it: reward when they release the toy into your hand.
3. Place a basket on the floor, and ask your dog to drop the toy over it. Reward when it lands in the basket.
4. Move the toy farther from the basket, and ask your dog to pick it up and carry it.
5. Add the cue tidy up, and increase the distance.
6. Practice with several toys, one at a time.

Choose a basket with low sides, so that it is easy to drop toys in. Use soft, easy-to-carry toys, in a size that suits your dog's mouth. If your dog is hesitant, start with an easy toy that they love. Reward heavily at first, and fade as the behavior becomes reliable.

If your dog does not pick up toys at all, begin by rewarding any interest in the toy, then touching it, then taking it in the mouth. Shaping, in which you reward small steps toward the behavior, works well for these skills.

If your dog loses interest, shorten the session, and use better treats. If they chew toys instead of dropping them, practice drop it separately, with a trade. If they are frightened by the door, introduce it gently, without closing it fully, and use a soft surface. Keep everything safe, and avoid forcing your dog.

Above all, enjoy the process. These tricks take patience, but the result is a dog who is a helpful and happy member of the household.

• Keep sessions to five minutes.
• End on a success.
• Use treats your dog loves.
• Practice in a quiet place first.
• Stop if your dog seems stressed.

Before you teach a door-closing trick, check the surroundings. Use a door that is light and moves easily, and make sure there is no risk of trapping your dog's nose, paws, or tail. Avoid doors with glass panels, or that slam in a draft. Teach only on interior doors, and never on doors that lead outside or to a road. For tidy-up, use a basket that is stable, and toys your dog can carry easily. Stop if your dog begins to chew or tear the toys, and do not leave toys and the basket where the dog can swallow small parts.

Practical tricks work best when they are part of a routine. Ask for tidy up at the end of a play session, or before dinner. Reward each toy placed in the basket, with a treat and praise. As your dog improves, ask for several toys before rewarding. For doors, ask your dog to close the door when you come in with your arms full, or when it is time for a calm period. A short, consistent routine keeps the trick fresh, and gives your dog a sense of purpose.

Small dogs may need a lighter door and a smaller basket. Large dogs may find it easier to push with their nose than their paws. Dogs with joint problems should avoid jumping or twisting, and do the trick at ground level. Shy dogs may need more time, and a quieter environment. If your dog has no interest in picking things up, use shaping, rewarding any contact with the object, then mouthing, then holding. Go at your dog's pace, and keep it fun.