How to Train Your Dog to Use a Dog Door

For our last blog, we talked about the wonderful dog door.  I realized afterwards that I may have made light of how easy it is for you to use with your dogs.  I am confident that any dog can get used to using a dog door but I also realize that it may take a little effort on your part to train them to use the dog door.  I know I talked about how easy it was to train our dog, but I know not all dogs will be so easy to train.  So, with this blog, I want to give you some tips on training your dog to use a dog door.  

Once you have the dog door installed then you want to give your dog the opportunity to check it out a little by nosing around it.  If they don't just walk right up to it then try to reassuringly ease them to it.  Then it is recommended that you tape the flap of the dog door up so that they can see out of it freely without the flap being in the way.  Next, try to push your dog gently through the door a few times so they can get the idea of going through it.  The last time you push them out, give them a few minutes to see if they come back in on their own.  You can even use a little treat or maybe even their favorite toy to coax them back through the door on their own.  Once they are back inside, whether on their own accord or with a little help from you, then trade places with them and you go outside and try to get them to come out in the same manner you tried to get them to come in.  If you have friends or family members that have dogs that use a dog door then you can even recruit them to help with the training.  If your dog sees other dogs going in and out through the door, then they are likely to follow suit.  You may have to repeat these steps several times before your dog has the hang of it.  Once they do, then lower the flap back into place.  Now with the flap lowered, see if they will still go through.  If not, you may have to repeat all of the original steps until they are comfortable again.  With these simple steps, you will have your dog using his or her dog door in no time.  It just takes a little energy to install the door and then a little patience to train your dog, and then sit back and enjoy the benefits!

If you are interested in finding a dog door for your home then please check out our website at baddogsupplies.com where we carry almost anything you could need for your dog supply and training needs.  If we don't have it, let us know so we can find it for you.  Thanks for stopping by.