After installing a doggy door, most dogs can adapt to one easily, but others might take a few days to learn to use it. Of course, there may be some dogs that’ll sniff around the door to check it out or others that’ll just look and zip through it. Most dogs will require a certain amount of time to see this new door as their new way of going out of the house and coming back, and you need to help your dog understand this idea.
A Few Training Tips
It is not very difficult to train your dog to use the doggy door, but take into account that it might be something new and strange for your dog; the manual that comes with the door will tell you how to make the door more familiar to your dog. Remember that when you install something new and movable, like a doggy door, it will make sounds that your not familiar with, and that your dog might find scary.
The first thing to do with a dog that’s reluctant to go through the door is open the flap with one hand so that the dog can see the outside of the house, and gently push it with the other hand. To make this more effective, it is recommended that a person stands on the other side of the doggy door with a piece of food that the dog likes or the dog’s favorite toy.
Another approach that you can take is use your dog’s playfulness to train it. Throw a toy through the doggy door and urge your dog to bring it back to you by making him go through the door. Your dog will go through the door to fetch the object, but it will hesitate to go out again if someone doesn’t hold it open. That’s expected, but eventually, he will go out after some time. You can help your dog by pushing it gently after he has caught the toy.
When outside, try to get him inside by repeating the same process. Never scold or punish your dog because he hesitates to use the doggy door, all you’re going to do is make it think the door is wrong or bad. Dogs are like human beings; they need attention and will learn by means of rewards.
If you know of any relative or friend who uses a doggy door for their dog, it’ll be helpful for your dog to see this other dog, and this will speed up the training process. Often, when a dog sees another dog doing something, it will tend to imitate it and you’ll finally have a trained dog.
A doggy door makes life easier for you and your dog. Just take note that your dog may need to be trained. Fortunately, this is easy and your dog will be enjoying the doggy door in no time.
