[JTMadison]

The things I buy for my furbabbies! My old landlord wouldn't let me install a doggie door so I went out and bought a house that already had one (and a much bigger yard for the pups to play in).

The problem is that Buddy hasn't seen a doggie door since I adopted him four years ago and Daphne has never seen one before (and doesn't really want anything to do with this one).

Is there a way to train these kids to use the door? I don't mind letting them in and out when I'm home but I'd prefer it if they would let themselves out when they decide they've had too much to drink at 3:00am.

Any suggestions?

 

[shallhb]

We've had several, over quite a few dogs, and they all learned to use it fast. Can't recall the exact sequence, but it went something like this. Held the door open with one hand, had hand with food right next to the opening where they could see it, pull hand through as they go for the food. Then, I'd just put the hand through the opening so the food showed, and pull it back as they went for the food, so they had to come through the closed flap. Graduated to throwing the food through the opening with the flap held open, then standing on the other side of the opening, calling them through and giving them food when they got out. Repeated on the opposite side so they had experience both ways. Final step was calling them through the closed opening and giving them a treat when they showed up. They got the idea in a matter of minutes (used very excellent treats)

 

[Shermie's Mom]

Ditto basically on the previous post. Sherman learned it in two days. Once they get the hang of it, and know they can come and go as they please, and it won't hurt then, they'll love it.
Boy, i thought my dog was spoiled, but buy a house for him? I've not gone quite that far....lucky dogs you have.
Trust me, they will learn quickly with the food incentive.
Sally and Sherman

 

[Dozer-Digger]

My two learned quick, but I didn't have to use treats to get them to use it. I just had to show Dozer where it was. Of course his breeder had a shed with a doggy door to an outside pen, so he kind of knew already. When I got Digger a few months later, he just followed Dozer everywhere, so he found out right away.

 

[Mikey T]

The things I buy for my furbabbies! My old landlord wouldn't let me install a doggie door so I went out and bought a house that already had one (and a much bigger yard for the pups to play in).

The problem is that Buddy hasn't seen a doggie door since I adopted him four years ago and Daphne has never seen one before (and doesn't really want anything to do with this one).

Is there a way to train these kids to use the door? I don't mind letting them in and out when I'm home but I'd prefer it if they would let themselves out when they decide they've had too much to drink at 3:00am.

Any suggestions?
[/b]

Hold the door open call dogs through reward with treat and praise. repeat 3-10 times minimium or until the dogs go through the opening without hesitation. Next call dogs through door but while they are passing through the opening slowly lower the flap onto them again repeat until the dogs do not hesitate. Next, start lowering the door sooner and faster. Next hold flap only partially open and call dogs through reward as before and final with door completely closed. One big secret to successfull dog training is to make the dogs sucessfull don't move to the nect step until they are fluenent with the first,