2w ago

Help getting my pug through the doogy door

Hey y'all. This is Louie and he's afraid to go through the doggy door. We've had the door in our home for ages and our other small dog uses it all the time. We adopted Louie a week or so ago and so far, he doesn't really get it.

If I put a treat inside there, he will grab it but only if I am holding the flaps up (like in this picture). As soon as the flaps come down, he acts like it's an impenetrable wall. He's seen his bro dog go through so many times but I guess it just hasn't clicked yet how he can push on the flaps to move them.

Looking for any tips and tricks you all might have used to get this process moving. This is Day 4 of him not learning. If the answer is just keep working with him, patiently, I'm good with that but hoping for other ideas if you have any. Cheers,

20 comments

Physically pushing Louie all the way through the door (without lifting the flaps first; like using Louie himself to push the flaps out of the way in a way that mimics how dogs would ordinarily do it) a few times a day couldn't hurt.
Also, if he's only been 4 days, it's likely he's kindof freaked out. It might be that as he acclimates, he'll naturally get the "confidence" to try it out himself.
- I wouldnt push him, if he is scared of it at all then this could just make it worse and it would take longer to train him.
  Just gentle encouragement and treats, like you said its only been 4 days training and only a week of a new home, give the man some chance!
  I'd try holding the treat a little further away each time so he has to reach in further and further, he might eventually follow another dog through after he settles in too.
  
  My dog, an otherwise pretty clever cockapoo, took approximately five years to figure out that the second flight of stairs into the basement could be used just like the first flight of stairs. The only difference is that one's carpeted and the other isn't.
  But eventually it clicked, and now she uses both equally.
  
  Yeah he’s got to do it himself. It might take bacon or sirloin but treats will overcome most fears like this. Maybe try to do this close to feeding time so he’s especially hungry and motivated?
Good! He'll take treats from the tunnel when you hold the flaps up. That's a huge start!
Boil some chicken and do the same treat thing you've been trying. Then, show him you have the chicken. Place some shredded boiled chicken into the tunnel and tell him to stay. Close the flaps and then tell him to get it. He'll likely whine and poke his little head against the flap. Give him 5-15 seconds before you help him by lifting the flap a tiny bit. More and more until he takes the chicken. Then, lift the flap less and less until he grabs it from the tunnel on his own. DON'T LET THE INNER FLAP CLOSE!!! Keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't get his head stuck trying to step back from the tunnel. If he has real cause to freak out, you're gonna lose a lot of progress.
Got him eating from the tunnel? Awesome! Now leave him inside and go outside and call him out with you. He won't love it, but you'll have your secret weapon: shredded boiled chicken. Reach through the doggy door to show him you have this high value reward and then leave a BIG pile of it outside. If that doesn't encourage him to go through, have someone start giving him a little push through. When he accomplishes it, HIGH PITCHED HAPPY PRAISE! YAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!! Lots of happy pets and scratches and play! Keep trying this, he should pretty quickly enjoy hopping out on his own pretty quickly.
Now, for the final step. Go outside with him. Go back inside without him. Call him in. Call your other dogs and offer them treats. Send them outside and call them back in, and then just hang out. If he starts barking, call him in. Don't help him. At some point, your new boi should magically appear inside the house and you'll be so excited for him that all the puppies get treats, YAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!
At least, this is what worked for me when I installed the new through-wall dog door with the double sealing flaps. Then, I adopted another pound dog who'd never seen a doggy door before and whose veins flow with anxiety and cocaine.
- That rescue dog guy on TV lifted the flap and gave a treat on the other side several times before lowering it some, treat, repeat, treat, lower, treat, and so on until the dog got the idea.
I am not an expert, but I think you have the right idea to just be patient. I am completely confident Louie will eventually figure it out himself! (Side note: Louie is the best, like every dog and I love him.)
- Hi and yes, thanks. We'll keep trying. Now I'm wondering if this is his way to get more than the usual treats each day...
  
  And you think he's slow!
Bacon
- So he's totally food motivated but even that's not getting him moving yet. He may be a little ... slow. :)
One of our dogs was mentally disabled so it took him a few days to figure it out. Don’t give up just yet. It took some treats, which I noticed you’ve used as well, and some occasional re-teaching, but he used the flaps plenty.
Just remember that learning takes place after need and want are established. The first time he came inside through the doggy door was when he was given no other option. It was a pleasant day, so he was simply left outside for 20 minutes and watched as I ate popcorn in front of the door, occasionally offering it to him.
Maybe put a transparent flap?
- Should have include that pic -- the flaps are transparent. They're a bit worn but he can see through them. Just still won't budge.
Tape the flap halfway or 3/4 up until he goes through it regularly. Then decrease the amount it's open until he's comfortable with it again and rinse/repeat until he gets it.
Takes some time and patience. Other posters have given tips on how to encourage the dog to go through, that helps also.
- Yah, trying that but he's still not going when the flap is partly down. And yep, will keep trying. Thanks!
Poor little inbred guy.
- Yes, they shouldn't be bred, but this guy is already in the world, so we have to take good care of him <3
Can you use a rope/string with some treat attached to it, and try to lure him in that way? The other thing would be to put his meal right by the flap a couple of times.

20 comments