4 Steps to Teach a Sensitive Dog to
Confidently use a Doggie Door:
1.
Teach Dog to Go Through an Uncovered Pet Door
Completely remove the flap covering the door. In the case of
the Petsafe Doors, which are not removable, use heavy packing tape to tape the
flap completely up out of the way. Make sure the opening is 100% open and the
dog can see outside. Bait the dog through the door with treats, toys, or
affection until he or she runs through it with no problems.
Still too scary? Two suggestions.
1. Using really high quality stinky treats like cheese or meat, sit on the opposite side of the door, and coax her to just put her head through. or
2. Leave the dog outside, set food inside, and wait, very patiently, for the dog to get the courage up to come through the door. When it does finally come through, praise, praise, praise and play for 5-15 minutes before putting her out to do it again. (If put back out immediately, she may think coming in was a bad thing)
Still too scary? Two suggestions.
1. Using really high quality stinky treats like cheese or meat, sit on the opposite side of the door, and coax her to just put her head through. or
2. Leave the dog outside, set food inside, and wait, very patiently, for the dog to get the courage up to come through the door. When it does finally come through, praise, praise, praise and play for 5-15 minutes before putting her out to do it again. (If put back out immediately, she may think coming in was a bad thing)
2.
Creating a Soft & Silent Partial Door
With the flap still detached or out of the way, and the dog
willingly going through the unobstructed opening, hang an old dishtowel or hand
towel so that it covers ¼ or ½ of the pet door opening. Work with the dog
entering and exiting the door with the opening partially covered. You may have
to use the two methods described above to show her the covered door is still
useable. Gradually move the dishtowel down until it covers more and more of the
door. When your dog is entering and exiting the petdoor completely covered by
the cloth you are ready to move on.
3.
Cover Doggie Door with a Cardboard Flap
(If your dog is doing great this this point, you may try
skipping this step) Step three involves a covering firmer than the cloth in
step two and is more like the actual flap of your dog door. This flap will
ideally be identical to the experience of going through the normal dog door but
will lack the snapping or popping sound of the closing mechanism. Whatever you
use- plastic or flimsy cardboard- cut to size so that the covering can swing
back and forth through the door and attach covering to the dog door so that it
is covering ¼ or ½ of the pet door opening. Gradually lower. When your pet is
completely comfortable entering and exiting through the silent doggie door
cover, then continue to step four.
4.
Modified Flap
Reattach (or, in the case of the petsafe, untape) the dog
door flap. And coax your dog through. If you are having problems, tape the flap
so that the bottom half or even just a corner is lifted and shows daylight.
Your pet, used to this method, should readily go through and after a day or two
of the partial taping should be ready to use the standard dog door flap in the
normal way.
Congratulations! You should have a pet that is happily using
a dog door now. Now that your dog has a pet door he or she can use, it will
give your dog a sense of confidence and freedom from having to worry about
being left outside or stuck inside.
