6
Training
1. Use a handful of your dog’s favourite treats, get your dog excited about
the treats by letting him sniff and lick the treats without actually giving
him one.
2. Before starting your training, assess whether your dog would be more
motivated to come in through the dog door or go out through it. If your
dog loves being inside the house, you should start this training with him
outside. If he’s always excited to get a chance to get outside, start with
him inside the house.
3. With your dog on one side of the pet door and you on the other, lift the
flap of the pet door all the way up and call him, using an excited voice
and lots of animation. Wave the treats so he can see them on the other
side of the pet door. Reward any attempt to come toward or through the
door with lots of verbal encouragement, but don't let him have the treat
until he makes it the whole way through.
4. When he comes all the way through, pet him, praise him and let him have
some treats! Then, leaving him where he is, go to the other side of the pet
door, lift the flap and repeat the same exercise. Do a few repetitions going
each way then take a break. This training can be stressful and exciting for
your dog, so you should do short sessions to avoid burning him out.
5. After your dog has had a break, repeat the exercise. If he's coming
through with no hesitation, repeat the exercise holding the flap up only
halfway. Your dog may be troubled by feeling the flap touching him, so
you'll need to use lots of verbal encouragement to convince him that's no
big deal.
6. Once he's going through with the flap halfway up, continue doing short
sessions with him, gradually lifting the flap up less and less, until you're to
the point where he's pushing through the door on his own.
7. Now try to get him to do it without you calling him and offering him
treats. You can do this by leaving him on one side of the door and
scattering some treats on the ground on the other side of the door. If
your dog comes out on his own, you'll know he's getting the idea. Repeat
this for a few sessions, and you'll soon find that your dog's using the pet
door on his own.
