Training your dog to use the dog door
Most dogs will learn to use the dog door almost at once but there are a
few who may be a little nervous at fi rst. The following tips will help your pet
to take full advantage of the outdoor freedom and indoor comfort - which
you want for your dog – and which your new dog door provides.
The most important rule is to be patient with your dog. Don’t be in a hurry.
Let your dog work out for itself that it can go in and out of doors. Don’t
force it through the fl ap or it may become frightened.
Many dog owners install dog doors when they move house. If this applies
to you, make sure that your dog is familiar with his or her surroundings before
you fi t the dog door. Take it on supervised trips outdoors on a leash and make
sure it also feels secure and comfortable in its new indoor environment.
Once you have installed your dog door, leave the fl ap open for some time.
You can do this by using a long strip of masking tape; open the fl ap and
use the tape to keep it held open by fi xing the other end of the tape to the
surface above. Make sure that the fi xing is secure so that the fl ap can not
fall down accidentally. Let your dog become familiar with it and go in and
out freely. Establish a motive for your dog to use the door.
Dogs can be trained to use the pet door in a matter of hours. Dogs
respond to encouragement, repetition and especially play, so why not use
the door as part of a game? E.g. throwing a ball through the pet door. Pat
and congratulate the dog when the pet door is used appropriately. Repeat
several times congratulating the dog every time he uses the pet door.
If this is something new to your dog, it may take some patience to teach
your dog how to use it. When your dog makes progress give him a lot of
praise - he’s earned it!
Training your dog to use the Infra-red
collar key
Before allowing your dog to use the dog door, it is wise to acquaint your
self with the operation of the Infra-red lock. You fi rstly need to power up
both the dog door and the collar key and then program the Infra-red collar
key to the dog door.
From the outside of the
house take the ‘powered’ and
‘programmed’ collar key in your
hand and then move it towards
the dog door. You should hear the
locking bolts “click” and see them
retract into the dog door.
9
