Kirska

We have renamed little Ellie to Lila. So far only a few minor issues to overcome but I'm really having a hard time getting her to use the dog door.

If I open the flap she goes through it, and likewise she will follow one of the other dogs through it. If I put one finger through the opening she'll push it open, but if no one is helping she just stands there and won't try to open it. I stand on the other side and call her in and she still just stands there and stares at me through the clear flap.

My fear is its getting cold and if she follows a dog out in the middle of the day and can't find her way back in she may be stuck out there for a long time

She is very underweight and I don't think she'd do well in freezing temperatures. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting a timid dog to PUSH on the door?

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Mom to Anabelle and Lila, rescued ladies and Harley, Corgi/Beagle/Basset/?? mutt

"Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

Barney'spal

I trained mine by getting on the other side, opening the door and holding out a treat through the door and bringing the treat through the door. I would do this somewhere around 10 times in a row giving the treat every time he came through....then I would just call him through and give a treat. I was nervous for a couple of days but he never had a problem once he learned. The new pup took it up the first time but neither of these dogs were rescues and didn't have any issues being shy.

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Properly trained, a man can be a dog's best friend.

Esther

wish we could help/
brother charles the rescue is scared of the DOOR door... but only when he human opens it for him. he'll shy away and if he human comes out to encourage him in, he runs. conversely if SHE human opens the door he scoots right in. little smart alleck.

got a call out to a trainer to help to make sure everyone's doing what they're spozed to do and not making it worse.

henry'smum

peanut butter on the dog door so as she noses it she works out she can open it.

Mikey T

What I have done is what is often done when traing the chute ie closed tunnel in agility that is when the dog is passing through the dog door lower on to them when they go through so they get a feel for the resistence and runnong across the back. over time lower sooner and sooner ie closer to the head

next start holding the door open but not so much the dog can get through without pushing the door a little bit again slowly lowering over time.

the other thing that I have noticed is dogs tend to have more of a problem when they try and push with their nose rather than when the lower the muzzle and push with the top of their head most dog do this naturally but not all. you can train the doh to lower it head bu targeting and rewar that behavior when going through the dog door when it is still open ie reward dog for passing through with the muzzle down but not when the muzzle is up

Of course you need to confine the other dog(s) when working with lila made that mistake just once.

Mikey T

I don't think that will work because it encourage a behavior that seem to be at the root of the problem at least for the ones that I have dealt with that is the need to learn to push the door open with the top of the head and not the muzzle.

Jnfr

I've only had a doggie door in one house. We had a Shar Pei, Basset & Wiener dog. All three learned very quickly using food as a lure. We did each dog separately to begin. First, thru the opening (door open) back and forth a few times. Then "assisting with the door" and treats on the other side.

Once they learned it meant "freedom" in the back yard, the three would tear thru the house (sort of a shot-gun house set up) and out into the yard.

The only real problem we had was when Snort (the Shar Pei) had his eyelids done and was wearing the cone of shame. It never occurred to us about the doggie door......

The tear thru the house began... out went Spot (wiener dog), out went RoseBud (basset).. then WHAM! The cone of shame hit the edges of the door and poor Snort bounced backward and landed on his substantial bum! Poor little guy sat there just shaking his head... Whaa Happened???

I felt so bad for him, but at the same time, we were laughing so hard we were crying... had we had a video.... it would have been a money maker!

Just keep this cautionary tale in mind in case the cone of shame comes into play!

Wworm

the wiener dog we had would poke his head through the dog door to check out what was on the other side (ie. standing inside the house, his head would be checking out the backyard & vice versa).

didn't have too much trouble getting Worm to use the dog door too. but i did try to teach Worm to open the door with his nose that was already cracked open this holiday & he did not learn it. he just stood back & whined, even w/a treat.

Charlie Mr. Brown, let us know how it goes with your trainer... we'll b thinkin' of ya.

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see what the Worm is up to: http://bassetworm.blogspot.com/

Mikey T

Mariah solution keep doing it till the cone breaks

Jnfr

With that abrupt STOP we had to retrain Snort with the door... Mariah is definitely hardier than Snort was (kinda a whimpy little guy!)