Doggie Door troubles?
We like to keep the patio door open so Sidney can go out onto the enclosed patio while we are gone for fresh air, plus he seems to like to wait for us out there when we are due to come home. Since the warm weather is starting we've had flies and mosquito hawks coming in, so I thought we cauld put in a doggie door for him.
Well we installed it and he seems to be terrified of it. He's nine months old. Should we give him some time to get used to it, or just try to return it and deal with the insects? Have any of you gone through a new doggie door with your corgis? We've tried to have a person on either side with yummy treats but so far it has not worked; he just backs away. Any advice on training him how to use the door would really be appreciated!
Well we installed it and he seems to be terrified of it. He's nine months old. Should we give him some time to get used to it, or just try to return it and deal with the insects? Have any of you gone through a new doggie door with your corgis? We've tried to have a person on either side with yummy treats but so far it has not worked; he just backs away. Any advice on training him how to use the door would really be appreciated!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Charlie on
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Sidney should be able to figure it out, and save you from the insects. While you have a person on either side of the door with treats, have you pushed the door open with your hand so that Sidney sees that it opens? You might try feeding a long leash through, press the door open with your hand, and have the other person gently draw him to the door with the leash. If he totally panics, you'll want to stop and try again later. There was an episode on Dog Whisperer recently where they installed a dog door, and the dog took a while to get used to it. They did hold the door open until the dog would go through it, then started lowering the door for the dog to realize he needed to push a bit to open it himself.
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Permalink Reply by Kalia and Charlie on
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My Charlie is afraid of everything! But my parent's house has a dog door that at first he was afraid to use, but now likes to poke his head through sometimes just to see what is going on, on the otherside. He also goes in and out of it. He did have a bunch of other dogs using it in front of him to show him that it isn't that scary (9 other dogs to be exact!). I find that with Charlie always being afraid of things the best way to get past them is to just make the dog do it over and over with you and eventually they will do it on their own. I don't mean force them where it is going to traumatize the dog. Charlie used to be afraid to walk past the bathroom door on our first floor, I don't know why, but he loves to play fetch, so I kept throwing the ball closer and closer to the door and eventually past it. At first he would come to me whining because he didn't want to go, but I would go to the edge where he would stop and take one step and call him then another and another until he was all the way there. We would do this over and over until he would go himself without any hesitation. Lots of encouraging words, praise and a ton of patience and I think you will get your Sidney in and out of that dog door no problem. :)
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Permalink Reply by Mochi The Corgi on
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Mochi Loves her doggie door, it gives them a sense of freedom i think... Anyways we purchased a doggie door that is see-thur plastic door, i'm not sure if that might be the problem, he can't see where he's going to end up on the other side?
We also did it in steps: we installed the door, but taped the flap of the door open.So Mochi could see us.
She go the idea right away, but maybe you can leave the flap up for a couple of days for him to get used to the idea.
And have 1 person on each side with REALLY yummy treats. don't overwhlem him do it a couple of times each day.
Then after you get him to go through with the flap up, try to do it with the flap down. again with the treats. Hopefully he will get it in no time. Make sure he's hungry too that always helps make the treats better. If treats aren't his think try toys!
But definatly try with the flap open first.
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Permalink Reply by Geri & Sidney on
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When the kids and I got home from school today, we taped the clear plastic door open. Then we made a VERY tasty grilled cheese sandwich. Mmmm! Daughter and I sat on either side of the door and passed the sandwich back and forth through the door. Didn't take long for Sid to follow the sandwich through at all! We'll try this over the course of a few days but I think he'll get the hang of it. Then we'll try again with the flap down. Thanks for the encouragement and advice!
Oh, daughter and I ate most of the sandwich ourselves, but Sid did get a few tiny bites to reward his efforts.
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Permalink Reply by Sylvia & Timmy on
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I think you should up the anty to go through the door. Start by taking something absolutely delicious out, my suggestion would be some liver or cooked chicken or left over steak. Or if he's a ball fanatic like Timmy, grab the tennis ball. Show him what you have, go outside, close the regular door and then sit in a chair a few feet away from the doggie door and just make the most delicious noises about how good the treat is, or toss the ball back and forth. Just wait, don't coax. He needs to know that he will have to jump slightly and push the flap at the same time. Takes a lot of concentration!! Also, he's in his adolescent period and sometimes can get easily frightened of something new. (Timmys was plastic bags, cause they moved at the slightest breeze). I'm sure that with the proper motivation, Sidney will get the hang of it. Please make sure that the kickplate is low enough, you wouldn't want him high centered!!!!!! LOL
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With the door taped up, he now hops in and out freely. That was fast! Corgi's are smart little guys, aren't they!
How long should we keep the door taped up before we work on it down?
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If he is happy to jump through with it up, then I would take the tape off. You may still need two people to stand on each side and push the door halfway open for him, with more grilled cheese on the other side...in case you get hungry. : - )
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i'd agree, now that he knows its ok to go through the hole with the flap open, try it with it down just to see if he will be comfortable. If not try with the flap open for a couple more days!!
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