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Training your dog to use a doggy door – if you’ve just installed one – shouldn’t be too difficult; in fact, it may take only a few days or even a week. Every dog will react differently to a doggy door, with the most adventurous ones going through it immediately and with more wary ones trying to avoid it. However, most dogs will take a little time to adapt to this new way of going in and out of the house, and will need your support if they’re found backing away from the doggy door.

Some Simple Training Tips

Actually, it’s not difficult at all to train your dog to understand that a new door has been installed, although it may take some patience of your part, just follow the instructions that come with the door on how to install it and train your dog. Keep in mind that this door is new and will make some funny sounds.

You can start your dog training by pushing the flap of door open with your hand to show that he can go through it. This is even more effective if a person that the dog is familiar with stands on the other side of the door with something that the dog likes.

You can also train your dog by playing with him. If your dog likes to play fetch, throw a toy or a stick inside the house through the doggy door, which will be held open by another person. As your dog goes into the house, the other person should let go of the flap, which may make the dog hesitant to open it on its own. This will happen a few times, but then its playfulness will win in the end. You can speed up this process by holding up the flap and pushing the dog gently.

You can also take advantage when your dog needs to eat or rest to make it go inside the house through the door. Never scold or punish your dog because he hesitates to use the doggy door, all you’re going to do is make it think the door is wrong or bad. Try the reward system instead.

If you know of any relative or friend who uses a doggy door for their dog, it’ll be helpful for your dog to see this other dog, and this will speed up the training process. Generally, if a dog watches another dog doing something – that will push him to do the same and you’ll soon have your dog fully trained to use a doggy door.