HELP! Advice on Doggy Door Training?

[Russell Glyde]

So we have adopted an 15 Month old Frenchie and now have had him for about 5 months, So we have had the flap of the dog door stuck up since we had him with the goal of actually teaching him to use it properly which i have started to do as its getting into winter down here in Australia & i need to stop the cold air gushing into my house lol,i have been spending hours and hundred different treats on trying to get him to use it, last night i made a break through, first having it open just wide enough with my fingers at both sides for awhile to actually having him come thru both ways multiple times without assistants, i thought finally i have won and he now knows that using the doggy door isnt scary, problem solved right? NO! My excited partner got home half an hour later to find out that i must have lied cause she did everything to get frankie to come out that flap but no it was like he had never used it before! Is this common? Am i expecting to much from him? Has anyone else dealt with this problem with the dog door?

 

[Jakeyjake]

Jake uses the dog door, no problem. Stella on the other hand will not. She is afraid. I tried and tried just like you did and finally gave up. I personally take her out about 4- 5 times a day. Now I am kind of happy that she doesn't use it because we have coyotes sometimes in our neighborhood and I don't want her outside unsupervised (she is only 20 lbs) My male is 30 lbs.

 

[2bullymama]

We actually had to 'push' our two through a few times while one of us was on either side with a treat and lots of praise. After a few days , they just started going in and out on their own, but it was not a quick training.

Our girl, who we bought the door for... caught on with one show of what to do. Our two boys.... yeah, not so much -- few days of nonstop train and praise

 

[davidh]

Me personally do not like doggie doors, especially here where it gets hot. Unless you are home all the time and can watch them, they can go out and get too hot and die. Plus a good way for them to get stolen if you are not out with them watching them.

 

[2bullymama]

Me personally do not like doggie doors, especially here where it gets hot. Unless you are home all the time and can watch them, they can go out and get too hot and die. Plus a good way for them to get stolen if you are not out with them watching them.

Agreed! Our door is only open when we are home with them and it gies to our deck not down to the yard

 

[SweetAvery]

I don't have yet experience with this. Hope I can find some information about this and I will pas it to you.

 

[Alice Kable]

Our pet door leads out to a fenced "dog yard". It has large shaded areas all day. We have never had a dog that didn't catch on right away. Do you have a neighbor dog that uses a pet door and could come over for a play? Frankie just might learn to use it easier from another dog.