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- Aug 14, 2009
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My parents just installed a dog door.
The dog, naturally, is terrified of it.
We've tried tempting him with treats - my mum lifted the flap and I went outside and tried to lead him further and further out, but he refused to put more than two feet outside. With the flap down he won't go anywhere near it (clear flap so he can see me outside waving the bacon!). We've been doing this for a good 7 days now but no progress beyond that.
We tried it the other way, too, put him outside and lifted the flap and tried to coax him in hoping the cold + treat would do the trick, but again - no more than the two front feet. We're really quiet so it's not like anything is scaring him from outside - he just won't go!
He's a 4yo mix of chow and shephard, if that tells anyone something! He's generally not very scared of stuff - he's fine with fences and open doors and slipping underneath the baby gate into the kitchen if we raise it a little, but he doesn't like larger boxes. He's also usually amazingly receptive to training with food - he'll do all sorts of acrobatics on command for a biscuit or peanut butter bone, so this is very odd!
Does anyone have any ideas or advice on how to get him to realize the big bad bogeyman won't get him if his hindquarters pass through? How long should we keep trying the same thing before we try something new?
Thanks PSers!
ETA: it's a cutout in the door with a rubber flap, nothing fancy. It leads to a wooden deck - the floor is the same height, no big step outside or anything.
The dog, naturally, is terrified of it.
We've tried tempting him with treats - my mum lifted the flap and I went outside and tried to lead him further and further out, but he refused to put more than two feet outside. With the flap down he won't go anywhere near it (clear flap so he can see me outside waving the bacon!). We've been doing this for a good 7 days now but no progress beyond that.
We tried it the other way, too, put him outside and lifted the flap and tried to coax him in hoping the cold + treat would do the trick, but again - no more than the two front feet. We're really quiet so it's not like anything is scaring him from outside - he just won't go!
He's a 4yo mix of chow and shephard, if that tells anyone something! He's generally not very scared of stuff - he's fine with fences and open doors and slipping underneath the baby gate into the kitchen if we raise it a little, but he doesn't like larger boxes. He's also usually amazingly receptive to training with food - he'll do all sorts of acrobatics on command for a biscuit or peanut butter bone, so this is very odd!
Does anyone have any ideas or advice on how to get him to realize the big bad bogeyman won't get him if his hindquarters pass through? How long should we keep trying the same thing before we try something new?
Thanks PSers!
ETA: it's a cutout in the door with a rubber flap, nothing fancy. It leads to a wooden deck - the floor is the same height, no big step outside or anything.