How To Teach a Dog "Go Home"

Sometimes it is easier for a dog to go to a particular place instead of a person. “Go Home” is a cue asking the dog to race to your front door.  Most dogs will consistently go home as your front door won't give your dog a bath or clean out his ears! 

1. Get a treat. Leash dog up for a walk.
2. Go out front door and show the dog you have a treat but do not give it to the dog. Instead, put the treat on the doormat.
3. Go for a walk.
4. Upon returning to your house say, “Go Home” just before approaching your front door.
5. Let dog reward himself with treat on doormat.
6. Do this for several days randomly increasing the distance when “Go Home” is said and the dog rewards himself with the treat on the doormat. Be sure to always practice the cue “Go Home” when the house is within visual sight.
7. Eventually the dog will hear “Go Home” and associate good things with the front door. Most dogs will start running toward the door at this point.
8. After doing this for several weeks, don't put a treat on the doormat. Instead ask your dog to “go home” and when dog runs to front door, get really excited and praise like crazy and immediately treat your dog after you open the front door.
9. Keep up the practice about once a week.