Doggie Door

[Nicole]

Hi All,

We are trying to train Coco (9 months) to use the doggie door (swings on a hinge)....however she is a "paw"er....paws at everything. so what does she do? paws the door and it swings back and hits her in the nose. I have tried EVERYTHING I know to do, but she just won't go in/out the door unless someone holds it open...which sort of defeats the purpose. Any suggestions?????

Thanks,
Nicole

[Bonnie and Kona]

We have the advantage of having more than one doodle. The older one taught the puppy for the most part. I wonder if you have a friend whose dog uses a doggie door and could come over for training sessions. haha. I did spend a lot of time holding the flap open and pushing Owen through though or calling him in, so I did have a part in it, I guess.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Have you tried using treats and being on the other side to encourage her to come out?  Otherwise, invite a friend dog to come over that does use doggie doors.  It is amazing how fast they learn.  We put a door in at my daughter's house and Gracie Doodle knew just what to do because we use a doggie door at home.  Gracie went out and my daughter's Luna followed.  It only takes one or two times seeing another dog do it and they will follow right behind!  If you don't have a friend dog you can use then try it with her food or a treat.  Good luck!

[Linda and "Toby"]

Like Nancie said, having another dog teach her would the easiest! But if you don't have that option, put her outside (using the regular door), and then from the inside of the house, pull the flap back slightly and show her that you're holding a super delicious doggie treat in your hand. You'll have to hold the flap open for her the first couple times so she learns that nothing scary will happen when she goes thru it. Do it over and over, each time giving her less and less assistance with opening it until she learns how to do it herself.  And then go outside and do the same thing, to teach her to use it to go OUT. She'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

I'll never forget how funny it struck me when I bought a large doggie door for my (150 lb) Akita mix and the description on the box said, "For Extra Large Dogs and Small Horses." hahaha!  

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

If your door is the thick rubber that bends here is how I trained our dogs.  None of our dogs had used one before.  I used duck tape to hold it open to get them used to going in and out.  After a couple of days I lowered it a little where it was just touching there backs when going through.  Then lowered it one more time where they could stick their head under and get used to the door moving with their body.  After a day or two of this I lowered it all they way.  I still have one that will push the door with his head and look in before using it.

[Aimee Santa Monica]

That's a great gradual introduction to the doggie door flap!!   I'm glad i read this-  thanks for posting this!  :)

[Nicole]

Thanks for the suggestions...I have used treats and pieces of hot dog...the yummiest treat of all...she just stands on the other side and barks her head off lol...she sounds like she's being tortured...then when I lift the flap up she will cautiously go through. Our previous dog took to it the first night...we'll keep trying. I don't know anyone who has a dog who uses a doggie door....will ask around the next time we're at the dog park! Great idea :) And the idea with the plastic flap was a good one...unfortunately ours is the hard plastic kind on a hinge at the top.

Thanks again!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Here's a site that explains how to get your dog used to going through a hard plastic type door.  Good Luck

 

http://www.collargirl.com/dog-door.html

[Jamie Petro]

I know this sounds crazy, but I can fit throug our doggie door :o). Wrigley was scared at first, so I put some good treats in my hand and crawled through. She followed immediately. It only took me going outside once and back inside once.