[jeandecker76]

Hello!

I've been teaching my dog to get out to the backyard/garden to do her business by pushing the screen door ( this is very light). Have you guys done this? She knows how to knock though, we are still trying to teach her to get out by herself by giving treats but no luck yet. This is what I have done with her siblings and she's the only one who can't go out. She stops in front of the door and calls us by call meaning she pulls our hand by her mouth going to the door.

Our backyard is secured and the dogs won't be able to get out of the premises.

 

[jeandecker76]

is there a way to get rid of the screen door for training sessions? She may not like it rubbing aginst her back, and she needs to be desensitized to it.

Ohhh!! I have never thought of this!! There is a stopper though, when it is open she can go out in a sec! That's what I am trying to figure out.

 

[jeandecker76]

So she isn't even touching the screen door yet? Have you tried teaching her to target something like a sticky note with a nose or paw and transferring it to the door so she makes contact, then rewarding for firmer/harder contact?

I will try this! Let's see if it works! When it is closed, she never tries to push it so it can open but when it is open, she goes out in a sec.

 

[jeandecker76]

My other dogs never had a problem with it. They see me going in and out then they figured out that they can too. Hahaha =))

 

[jeandecker76]

Ah! So she's not going through it when it's propped open? I still think targeting would be a useful behavior here. If you can get her to target your fingers, or a marker stick with a ball at the end (like this picture here, easy to make your own but you can also find inexpensive ones in a lot of stores with a good training supply selection), you work up to her walking to the target to do her nose touch. At that point it becomes a super useful tool to direct any dog to move where you want - onto a scale, on or off furniture, or - yes - through a door.

This is so helpful!!! I will try to make our own and try it!! Thank you!! Let's see how it goes!