A few weeks ago, my 70-pound labradoodle was coming in from outside.
As I closed the door, I accidentally caught part of his body on the
door -- I guess I started closing it before he was fully in the
house. It may have hurt a little, but he didn't seem injured from
this. Ever since that time, I've noticed that he's a little bit
afraid to go through some doors. When he comes through the same door,
he'll often pause for a while as if to make sure that the door won't
shut on him. He also sometimes won't come through the door to our
bedroom, where he has a bed and normally sleeps (a treat can sometimes
woo him into the room).

My guess is that the experience of having a door close on his body
really scared him and now he's afraid of doors in general. I'd
appreciate suggestions to help him get over this fear. Will it
disappear over time, or are there some things I can do to get past
this stage?

Thanks.

On 22 Feb 2007 08:46:28 -0800, wrote:

A few weeks ago, my 70-pound labradoodle was coming in from outside.
As I closed the door, I accidentally caught part of his body on the
door -- I guess I started closing it before he was fully in the
house. It may have hurt a little, but he didn't seem injured from
this. Ever since that time, I've noticed that he's a little bit
afraid to go through some doors. When he comes through the same door,
he'll often pause for a while as if to make sure that the door won't
shut on him. He also sometimes won't come through the door to our
bedroom, where he has a bed and normally sleeps (a treat can sometimes
woo him into the room).

So can OBEDEDIENCE TRAINING.

My guess is that the experience of having a door close on his body
really scared him and now he's afraid of doors in general.

I don't think so. But even if it is, it can be overcome with many
POSITIVE experiences walking through doors (provided you stop closing
doors on him).

I'd appreciate suggestions to help him get over this fear. Will it
disappear over time, or are there some things I can do to get past
this stage?

One thing you can do is to begin OBEDIENCE TRAINING. It will go a
long way towards building up his confidence, and his *trust* in you.

Another thing you can do is to make sure that your *own* behavior
isn't contributing to his hesitancy to walk through doors. Be
confident, self-assured, and matter-of-fact, when walking through the
door. If you're nervous, antsy, unsure, etc., it's likely that he'll
pick up on it, too.

Patience. Patience. Patience.

--
Handsome Jack Morrison

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On Feb 22, 9:17 am, Handsome Jack Morrison
wrote:


I don't think so. But even if it is, it can be overcome with many
POSITIVE experiences walking through doors (provided you stop closing
doors on him).

Thanks for the advice. Could you please give some concrete ideas of
the "positive experiences" you're talking about?

wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for the advice. Could you please give some concrete ideas of
the "positive experiences" you're talking about?

Depending on how nervous the dog is, if it were my dog, I do something like
this:

Open the door. (*Make sure it will stay open*.) Walk with the dog through
the door, assuming that the dog will come through the door with me. If the
dog hesitates, I would call him from the other side. Coax him through -
keeping my attitude as positive as possible. When he comes through, whether
bravely or nervously, I'd celebrate. BIG party! Lots of cheering and play
and smelly treats.

If your dog is used to a leash, I'd try it with a leash on. Walk the dog
around the room on leash and then go through the doorway. Same celebration
when he does it.

Try playing, romping, wrestling, tugging - whatever your dog will do - and
then continuing it through the doorway. Celebrate on the other side.

I might try having someone hold the dog on one side of the doorway while I
went through and stood on the other side with smelly, jackpot treats (or a
toy or whatever gets your dog excited). I'd show the jackpot to the dog,
while the other person is holding back on him. (Even if the dog isn't
straining to get away, I'd have the person act as though he is.) Then have
the person release the dog as you are calling excitedly. Again, big reward
for coming through the doorway.

Do not drag the dog through the doorway. I probably would not stand with
the dog and throw treats or toys through the doorway.

Do any combination of the above that works for your dog. Lather, rinse,
repeat as many times as possible over as many days as necessary.

I'm assuming that the dog will go through some doorways - he certainly is
going outside, isn't he? He just doesn't trust you or the door not to
close - and rightfully so! So go back to getting him through a doorway that
will NOT close on him. Dogs do have memories - especially for things that
scare them - but a flood of positive experiences will help him push the
memory away from the front of his doggy brain.
--
Judy
Spenser - Carbor Talk of the Town, AX, OAJ, NAC. NJC, NGC, TN-N, TG-N
Sassy - Can CH Carbor Back Talk, OA, AXJ, NAC, NJC, TN-N

On 22 Feb 2007 09:50:54 -0800, wrote:

On Feb 22, 9:17 am, Handsome Jack Morrison
wrote:


I don't think so. But even if it is, it can be overcome with many
POSITIVE experiences walking through doors (provided you stop closing
doors on him).

Thanks for the advice. Could you please give some concrete ideas of
the "positive experiences" you're talking about?

Yes, by just walking though doors (the more the better) without having
you close the door on him, ought to do the trick.

He'll quickly forget all about his one negative experience.

Unless you keep reminding him of it, by acting anxious.

RELAX!

--
Handsome Jack Morrison

Obamination?
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wrote:

Thanks for the advice. Could you please give some concrete ideas of
the "positive experiences" you're talking about?

He's walking through some doors, right? I've found that, in similar
situations, ignoring the dog's fear response as much as possible
works best. Whatever you do, avoid coaxing and babyiny, because
that only tells the dog that there *is* something to be afraid of.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

Shelly wrote:

He's walking through some doors, right? I've found that, in similar
situations, ignoring the dog's fear response as much as possible works
best. Whatever you do, avoid coaxing and babyiny

Gah. Babyin*G*.

That said, there are times when "positive experiences" (what I think
of as "making happy") are called for. I don't know if this is one
of them, but from the description, I think not. Making happy, for
me, involves laughing off a dog's fear response instead of
comforting the dog. Comforting the dog reinforces the fear.
Laughing it off, or making happy, will help the dog to associate
good things with the fear trigger.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

Thanks for all the advice! Right now, it's just happening in two
doors, but I'll try the advice and see what happens.