Dog rushes to escape through open door - how to stop?

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

I am temporarily (maybe permanently) taking care of a big yellow lab, Miller, who is 8 years old and pretty much untrained.
I know he will need more formal training, but for the immediate future, he is driving me crazy by trying to escape out the door whenever I try to leave the house. My dogs, Soapie and Buddy, know the command "stay here" and so never rush the door.
Miller doesn't have the slightest clue of "stay here" and doesn't seem to know (or at least doesn't respond) to a simple "stay" or even "sit", etc. He is a very gentle dog who was kicked out of his last home because he growled at the baby several times.
Anyway, does anyone have any quick tips on how to get this dog to stop crashing at the door every time I leave the house? None of my dogs have ever been this aggressive about it. I'm sure that Miller is really missing his family (I just brought him here yesterday) and wants to go with me when I leave in the hopes that I will take him back, but it is very hard to restrain a deterined 130 pound dog (he is also very overweight) you know?

[Judi W]

Attach a 25 to 30 foot long line on the dog and let him bolt while you are holding the very end! Hope he gets a good speed up when he hits the end. Then you go out and say "my, my my look at what happens when you run out the door"! A few experiences of hitting the end of the line and he'll start rethinking that door bolting

[Teena]

In puppy class we worked on the wait command. With his leash on, Axel & i practiced waiting at doorways. Maybe if you practice putting his leash on & standing on it if you have to..maybe he'll get the message. I don't think there will be a quick fix to any of the manners he's lacking. Training & patience..lots, it sounds like..

[ March 17, 2001: Message edited by: Teena ]

[WorkinDogz]

Isn't that the truth Judy! Amazing what look is given...and it works equally as well when a dog has no leash respect.

Every other dog that comes into the hospital for boarding; that is a blithering idiot has an opportunity to give that look.

[Judi W]

Yep, it even worked for two Basingis that I had in one of my classes! Now that tells you something. When a life is at stake (running into the road) I'll opt for shock treatments every time. I also use this for dogs that think a long distance recall is their opportunity to run rampant through the training park. In that case, I measure out the line length and place a tracking flag where the handler is to stand. I stand behind the dog with the end of the long line and a big smile. It usually takes no more than one, sometimes two experiences of hitting the end of the line before they give up that action. This is much more effective than a handler trying to gather up a line while the dog is thirty feet past them.

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

thanks for the advice. i will try everything and anything!

today miller growled at me when i took his pig's ear away.
he needs manners and soon. i hope eight years old isn't too late.