Use of dogflap

Question
My 8-year-old Yorkie/shih tzu bitch has been with me from 6 weeks. She only has one 'behavioural' problem, and that's in the use of her dogflap.

She knows how to use it, and does so successfully. But every so often, she thinks she can't without help - whether that be encouragement, or holding the flap open. I understand the basic principles of training, but she won't respond to my normal methods with regard to her dogflap.

The problem is that, if she doesn't charge through the flap but, instead, paws at it, it swings back at her. She's naturally (and I do mean naturally) a timid dog, and the flap swinging back at her puts her off a second attempt. Her next attempt will always be more reserved, causing that too to result in it swinging back.

Instead of simply going out when she wants, she'll look through the transparent flap at imaginary cats, growling at them. If she's not particularly determined, I have to encourage her by saying, angrily "Get those pussy-cats!" This always works.

I say I 'have to' encourage her because, otherwise, she'll keep growling angrily indefinitely. If I didn't encourage her in this way, she'd stay in till she emptied her bowels on the kitchen floor. Even though she knows that's wrong.

Similarly, she needs encouraging to come in, as otherwise she stays out indefinitely. Twice, I've simply left her out there, gone out and returned 5 hours later to find her still outside, shivering.

My dog doesn't realise that she has to charge through the flap, not just paw at it. Even when not feeling particularly determined. It's been like this on-and-off for all 8 years. She has spells of using it properly and not doing. It's maybe the bad experience of the flap hitting her nose that begins a period of not using it properly.

What do you suggest?

Answer
Dear Andrew

It's impossible to diagnose behavioral problems by email but I can give you a starting point. Yes it is concerning that your dog  has a problem with the door. I needed to ask one of my colleges about this issue and here are some suggestions
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# 1. Change the door/flap

# 2. Stop using it for a minimum of one week. then re-train her with food to quickly go in and out, using a different word.

# 3. When it comes back to slap her, maybe she's just looking out - sticking her nose out and doesn't really intend to go out originally ?

# 4. After all this time it seems like a habitual game : Dog goes to flap, appears scared, human opens the flap. Who's who in this relationship ?

#5 change to a flap that is opaque or black

#6 begin a basic obedience course and establish a different relationship with the dog. I recommend Psychological Dog Training by C.W. Meisterfeld


James Webster