Help - New Doggie Door - YorkieTalk.com Forums

zcb · 03-12-2015, 05:47 PM

I had a new doggie door installed in the porch screen. The old one was a clear plastic soft door but this one is a hard white door. Well, Scooter cannot figure out how to use it. I've gently pushed him through from both sides, I've held the door a little open so he can see it's really a door, I used food as a bribe but he simply won't use it. I propped it open and he used it but without it being open he wants no part of it. He took to the other door right away but.....any suggestions?

ironmike86 · 03-12-2015, 06:26 PM

Where does the doggy door lead to?? You want him to go in and out not supervised in the backyard?

Lovetodream88 · 03-12-2015, 06:48 PM

It's not going to a fenced in backyard where he will be by himself is it?

matese · 03-12-2015, 06:55 PM

Can you remove the hard plastic door and replace it with something more flexible? Take a picture of it, go to Home Depot or Lowes, see if they can suggest a substitute.

ironmike86 · 03-12-2015, 07:00 PM

What was the reason for replacing it? He may just need another soft see through. Maybe he feels like he's walking into a wall?

zcb · 03-12-2015, 07:00 PM

The door goes to an outside fenced in yard where he plays with Bitsy his Llasa sis. He goes out all the time and it's completely safe for him. I guess I'll take a picture of the door and see if it can be replaced.

Lovetodream88 · 03-12-2015, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcb

The door goes to an outside fenced in yard where he plays with Bitsy his Llasa sis. He goes out all the time and it's completely safe for him. I guess I'll take a picture of the door and see if it can be replaced.

Small dogs should not be alone outside because they are prey for so many animals.

zcb · 03-12-2015, 07:04 PM

The fence is wood and 7 feet high. I spend a lot of time outside and have never seen another animal other than lizards which they both love to chase.

matese · 03-12-2015, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcb

The door goes to an outside fenced in yard where he plays with Bitsy his Llasa sis. He goes out all the time and it's completely safe for him. I guess I'll take a picture of the door and see if it can be replaced.

Great idea...... my doggie door is clear plastic.

ironmike86 · 03-12-2015, 07:08 PM

Hawks. My vet just tried to save 2 dogs attacked from them this year alone. Fence won't stop them

matese · 03-12-2015, 07:13 PM

I would check with Home Depot or Lowes, I am sure it would not be hard to replace.

Lovetodream88 · 03-12-2015, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironmike86

Hawks. My vet just tried to save 2 dogs attacked from them this year alone. Fence won't stop them

It won't stop thieves either and yorkies are on the money maker list

maxdog · 03-12-2015, 07:23 PM

I would never leave them outside unsupervised

matese · 03-12-2015, 07:26 PM

You can also google doggie door replacement ideas.

Magnus · 03-12-2015, 08:02 PM

Does your other furbutts use the door? Maybe if Scooter sees Bitsy use it, he'd be more inclined to use it himself? Or.. try to make it a game using the door? How are you using treats to encourage him? Giving him a treat if he comes through? Leading him with the treat to get through the door? How about giving him treats for being near the door then gradually touching the door with his paw and then to pushing the door?

Sorry for all the ???, I'm just throwing out suggestions.

As for safety... We have big birds flying about from time to time. I live in a corner house so we don't have a back yard. Ended up fencing a part of the patio for them to potty at times. But b/c of those birds and other reasons listed by others above, I specifically supervise any time they're outside.

As safe as it might seem, I don't think it would hurt to take extra percussion... How about some sort of sensor that'll sound an alarm around the fence?

03-12-2015, 05:47 PM	#1
zcb YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 509	Help - New Doggie Door I had a new doggie door installed in the porch screen. The old one was a clear plastic soft door but this one is a hard white door. Well, Scooter cannot figure out how to use it. I've gently pushed him through from both sides, I've held the door a little open so he can see it's really a door, I used food as a bribe but he simply won't use it. I propped it open and he used it but without it being open he wants no part of it. He took to the other door right away but.....any suggestions? __________________ “My little dogs ... heartbeats at my feet.” ― Edith Wharton -

03-12-2015, 06:48 PM	#3
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,249	It's not going to a fenced in backyard where he will be by himself is it? __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

03-12-2015, 06:55 PM	#4
matese Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa. Posts: 69,270	Can you remove the hard plastic door and replace it with something more flexible? Take a picture of it, go to Home Depot or Lowes, see if they can suggest a substitute. __________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog

03-12-2015, 07:00 PM	#6
zcb YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 509	The door goes to an outside fenced in yard where he plays with Bitsy his Llasa sis. He goes out all the time and it's completely safe for him. I guess I'll take a picture of the door and see if it can be replaced. __________________ “My little dogs ... heartbeats at my feet.” ― Edith Wharton -

03-12-2015, 07:04 PM	#8
zcb YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 509	The fence is wood and 7 feet high. I spend a lot of time outside and have never seen another animal other than lizards which they both love to chase. __________________ “My little dogs ... heartbeats at my feet.” ― Edith Wharton -

03-12-2015, 06:26 PM	#2
ironmike86 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,628	Where does the doggy door lead to?? You want him to go in and out not supervised in the backyard?

03-12-2015, 07:08 PM	#10
ironmike86 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,628	Hawks. My vet just tried to save 2 dogs attacked from them this year alone. Fence won't stop them

03-12-2015, 07:13 PM	#11
matese Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa. Posts: 69,270	I would check with Home Depot or Lowes, I am sure it would not be hard to replace. __________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog

03-12-2015, 07:23 PM	#13
maxdog Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brownstown MI USA Posts: 18,650	I would never leave them outside unsupervised __________________ Max & Sasha's daddy

03-12-2015, 07:26 PM	#14
matese Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa. Posts: 69,270	You can also google doggie door replacement ideas. __________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog

03-12-2015, 08:02 PM	#15
Magnus Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 3,192	Does your other furbutts use the door? Maybe if Scooter sees Bitsy use it, he'd be more inclined to use it himself? Or.. try to make it a game using the door? How are you using treats to encourage him? Giving him a treat if he comes through? Leading him with the treat to get through the door? How about giving him treats for being near the door then gradually touching the door with his paw and then to pushing the door? Sorry for all the ???, I'm just throwing out suggestions. As for safety... We have big birds flying about from time to time. I live in a corner house so we don't have a back yard. Ended up fencing a part of the patio for them to potty at times. But b/c of those birds and other reasons listed by others above, I specifically supervise any time they're outside. As safe as it might seem, I don't think it would hurt to take extra percussion... How about some sort of sensor that'll sound an alarm around the fence?