Dog Door

[claudiav]

How would you teach a new senior grey, and a bit stubborn, to use a double dog door? it's taking a bit longer than I thought.... he will NOT go OUTSIDE at all thru the dog door... he will begrudgingly come INSIDE if I hold the flaps up for him, but if I don't hold them up, he will not push them to come in. and it's been 4 days so far...

 

steps/examples please....

[dante2zoe]

If you figure it out, let me know! Brady has been with me 11 months and will not use the door. He also has early LS and damage to a hind leg from an attack (not on my watch, thankfully) and I believe having to lift his legs up to clear the door is more than he wants to do. I am grateful he has a cast iron bladder!

[Guest kahjul]

I'm no expert. In fact, I posted similarly 6 months ago when we put in our dog door. This is what I've learned. For the first few days (3 or 4) I taped the flaps all the way up and open so they could get used to going in/out the hole. 1 of my 3 would lay in front of it (both in and out) and wait to be told come in or go out. I swear she just doesn't like the fact that she no longer has a personal doorman/butler. They all got the hang of coming inside faster than going outside. After the first few days, I let the flap down (mine is only a single flap, so you might try each flap in stages). The 2 normal ones have it mastered. The diva obviously now uses it-we haven't had any accidents in the house. If she hears something interesting in the backyard shes out like a flash, but she still lays on either side and whines to be asked in or out when we are home. Makes my husband crazy!

[claudiav]

I could take out the flaps entirely, for a few days..... but that would allow all kinds of bugs to enter (mosquitos, flies, beatles)....

 

Do you think it would be cruel / mean to shut them in the 10' x 10' room with the doggie door? only for a few days, and only while we're at work.... it's their bedroom and has a twin bed, a couch, dog beds, drinking water, running a/c..... I'm hoping the senior will learn by seeing his sissy use it. Currently, he stays in the living room and doesn't see her when she goes to the bedroom to go outside and come back in...

Edited July 24, 2013 by claudiav

[Guest kahjul]

Not cruel at all. As long as its not too hot/cold in the room, I think its perfect. Most dogs stay in a dog run, crate, bedroom, bathroom, etc. Its not all who have free rein and a doggy door.

[FiveRoooooers]

IIRC, when Larry arrived at Adrianne's, her son showed Larry how to use the dog door Great kid, that Seth, and Larry was a quick study

[Guest Adrianne]

IIRC, when Larry arrived at Adrianne's, her son showed Larry how to use the dog door Great kid, that Seth, and Larry was a quick study

You do remember correctly, Miss Jan. Seth was a very patient teacher.

 

 

 

 

Larry was a little scared and hesitant.

 

 

Yay! He did it!

 

And lots of love and praise when he got it.

[claudiav]

Ha! look what I found looking for the biggest dog doors online

 

[fsugrad]

I crawled through the doggie door to illustrate. I coaxed them through the other side with tostitos as I held the door open for them. Gradually I closed the door and made them go through to get their treats. Lots of treats and praise!! I just kept at it til they got the hang of it. We have had 3 greyhounds and all 3 of them mastered the doggie door. I remember thinking that they'd never learn, but they did. Just keep at it!

Edited July 25, 2013 by fsugrad

[Guest Trammell]

We had to walk through ours too (or at least we thought we needed to). I also used cheese, held the flap open, then closed it with the cheese sticking through the bottom to lure them through. Sure enough they followed the cheese. I think they were scared of the weight of the door. My tiniest dog (10 lbs) still won't use it, but she is small and the door is huge, I think it has to do with the weight.

[Neighsayer]

I got two eight year old brood moms in February. They came from a breeding farm and had no dog door history. They came with cones after being spayed, and both tried to use the dog door with the cones on. They were great from day one. I got Ace and CeeCee in March after their owner died. Four year old Ace just followed the others out the door. Seven year old CeeCee still won't use it. When I call the dogs in, she runs after the other four, but puts the brakes

on at the door. If I hold the flap open she will sometimes come in. I only have the center flap on, so bugs are coming in around the edges. I bought some screening to try. I'll replace the heavy flap with light weight screening that she can see through. I tried treats, and went through a pack of hot dogs in two days...just rewarding any progress. I tried putting pieces on the floor just inside the door. She did fine as far as her neck would reach, but refused to put a foot through.

Four previous greyhounds, and four other breed dogs used that door with no problem. My current four greyhounds had no issue with it. CeeCee has just decided not to use it. I have to count heads when I go out or go to bed, because I have left her outside by mistake.

Hope your dog figures it out soon! Let us know if you find something that works!

[gracegirl]

We have the dog door for Fenway who learned it in a few days. We still had Grace when we moved into the rental with the dog door and she knew how to use it from previous places she stayed while I was on vacation. He learned from watching her.

 

With Jackson, our 6 year old Airedale, we figured he'd never use it on his own. He once came in from the yard when I was cooking bacon and we used to try to get him out the dog door with cheese, his favorite. We figured he'd never use it on his own.

 

After living here for 14 months he started using the dog door. It was after we had to let Grace go, I think he was just mad that Fen could chase the squirrels so out he went one day. Now he uses it all the time.

 

***just a side note, we only keep the dog door open when we are home. It's mostly for Fen needing to pee in the middle of the night.

Edited July 27, 2013 by gracegirl

[Guest k9soul]

You've gotten some good advice. I have a dog door and all of my dogs have eventually gotten comfortable with it, even my parents' collie whom I dogsit on occasion. The way I start is just getting them used to that being the entry point and leaving point first. I lift the door flap up for them every time at first and coax through. Usually coming in from outside is easier for me at first as they are always eager to come back in and get a treat. Then when they seem comfortable going in and out, I lift the flap and when they come through start letting it brush their back as they come through. I work my way to the point of lifting it part way so they push the flap up the rest of the way and also gradually work up to getting them used to the flap swinging a bit after it goes back down. Usually getting them to nose open the flap completely on their own is the step that takes some time. I think witnessing my other dogs using it helps some too.

 

Some dogs have taken more time than others but eventually they have always gotten it and seem to really enjoy that they can come in and out as they please.

Edited July 30, 2013 by k9soul