Teaching your dog tricksPart of · Teaching your dog tricks

Teach your dog to close a door or drawer

Q: How do I teach my dog to close the door?

First check that they know how to touch a target on the word "touch". Then stick that target onto the door of a light cupboard, mark the touches with your marker word ("yes!"), then only pay the ones that make the door move. Once it closes reliably, add the word "close".

Q: Do I need a clicker to teach this trick?

No. A short marker word ("yes!"), said right as the door moves and then shuts, does exactly the same job. What matters is the timing of the marker and the treat given from your other hand, not the tool.

Q: Does my dog need to know other tricks before this one?

Just one, really: the touch on a target , solid and confident. This trick is only a transfer of it onto something that moves. It's an intermediate level, but physically harmless, within reach of most dogs.

6 min read

Your dog can learn to nudge a cupboard door or a drawer shut with their nose, on the word "close". The idea: they already know how to touch a target, so you stick that target onto the door, then you only pay the touches that actually make the door move.

Why this trick is worth it

This trick doesn't teach a brand-new movement: it transfers a movement your dog already knows, the touch, onto something that moves. Your dog discovers that their action has an effect on the world, the door swings shut, and along the way they learn to control their force. It's also the first building block for assistance tricks, like switching on a light or ringing a bell to be let out.

Nothing special, you probably have it all already.

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How to teach "close"

Only one criterion goes up at a time: when you make one harder, you ease off the others. Keep sessions short, and always finish on a success.

Stick the target onto the door

The sticky paper goes at nose height, on the handle side, away from the hinges: that's where the door moves most easily.

Transfer the touch onto the door

Ask for "touch" on the target on the door, mark any contact and give the treat from your other hand. At this stage you're paying the spot, not the force yet.

Only pay what moves

Change the rule without saying anything: only the touches that make the door move, even by a centimetre, get marked. Soft touches no longer pay. If they fail twice in a row, drop back a notch before building up again.

Aim for a firm close

Raise the bar until the door swings shut. Jackpot, several treats in a row, on the very first full closes: the sound of it shutting becomes their landmark.

Fade the target

Cut the paper in half, then to a quarter, then take it off, one step at a time. If they get lost without the target, put a small piece back for a few tries before fading again.

Name it, then vary it

Once they close reliably, say "close" just ONCE, right before they set off. Only then should you vary how far it's open and their starting position.

For a drawer, pick a low, light one with a stop, left open by about ten centimetres, and stick the target onto the front. Work through the same steps. Some dogs push with their nose, others put their paws on the front: keep whichever style they offer naturally, as long as the furniture is stable and the floor isn't slippery. Each new surface takes a little relearning, that's normal, not a step backwards.

To go further

guideTouch: the targetThe foundation trick to master before this one.Read the guide guideTurn off the light, ring the bellThe logical next step: the same target transferred onto a switch or a bell.Read the guide

AVSAB — Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (2021)

Frequently asked questions

How do I teach my dog to close the door?

First check that they know how to touch a target on the word "touch". Then stick that target onto the door of a light cupboard, mark the touches with your marker word ("yes!"), then only pay the ones that make the door move. Once it closes reliably, add the word "close".

How do I teach my dog to close a drawer with their nose?

Same method as for the door, on a low, light drawer fitted with a stop. Stick the target onto the front and work through the steps again. Some dogs push with their nose, others use their paws: keep whichever style they offer, as long as the furniture is stable and the floor isn't slippery.

Do I need a clicker to teach this trick?

No. A short marker word ("yes!"), said right as the door moves and then shuts, does exactly the same job. What matters is the timing of the marker and the treat given from your other hand, not the tool.

Does my dog need to know other tricks before this one?

Just one, really: the touch on a target, solid and confident. This trick is only a transfer of it onto something that moves. It's an intermediate level, but physically harmless, within reach of most dogs.

My dog now slams every door, what do I do?

It means they've worked out that slamming pays. Once the word "close" is in place, only reward the closes you ask for, and ignore the rest. You can also manage the environment by keeping shut the doors you don't want slammed.

How long does it take a dog to learn this trick?

There's no fixed timeframe, it depends on the pair and on how solid the starting touch is. Very short, spaced-out sessions work better than one long session a day. You raise a single criterion at a time and you stop while they're still asking for more.

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