Most dogs can learn to use a dog door within minutes of installation. A few bits of hot dog or several toys make the training fun; but some dogs, for various reasons, find a doggie door frightening. I was motivated to write this article after training to train a very timid rescued Airedale Terrier to use a pet door for three weeks with very little results. I scoured the internet for information on training a shy dog to use a pet door, but the same doggie door training advice seemed to be repeated over and over again. Here is a list of the small training steps that eventually worked to produce a dog that now confidently runs in and out of her own door.
Like many rescue dogs, Annie's issue with the dog door was both an issue of being "trapped" inside and the popping noise of the "PetSafe" brand door's magnets snapping the door closed. She wouldn't press her face against it to move the flap- let alone go completely through- for any reason!
These steps in this training should be spread out over several days (or for extremely anxious dogs, a week or more). Many dogs will be able to skip steps (especially step 3), while others may need to repeat earlier steps. Because this training requires leaving the doggie door open or partially open, it is best to do it during a temperate time of year or several nice days.
Step One - No Cover
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. In the case of a dog like Annie, for whom even going through the totally clear opening is frightening, there are two options. 1. Using really high quality 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'll think coming in was a bad thing)
Step Two - Cloth Cover
With the flap still detached or (in the case of the pet safe) 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.
Step Three - Cardboard Cover
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 pet door but should 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.
Step Four - 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.
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