Training Your Pet To Use Your New Pet Door

Training Tips & Guidelines

• Limit training sessions to no more than 10 minutes at at time.
• Coax your pet through with a treat, then praise and reward him for going through. Never scold or punish - it's counter-productive and makes the process much more difficult.
• Do not force or push your pet through the pet door.  This is a new experience for him and he needs time to adapt.  Hold the flap open for your pet all the way at first, then less and less so that he gradually gets the idea of pushing against it to get to his treat.
• Wait until your pet wants to go outside to use the pet door for the first time.  At this time, bring your pet to the pet door, go to the other side of the door and open the flaps toward you. (It may be helpful to have a second person with you so one of you can be on each side of the door or wall.)  Gently coax your pet through the door by using his favorite toy or treat.  Use the same method in reverse to bring your pet back inside when he is ready.
• Each time your pet comes through the door, you should hold open the flaps a little less and let him begin pushing on them.
•  If your pet has trouble or hesitation opening the flap, try removing the magnet for a while so the flap is easier to push. Our Endura Flap based pet doors allow for all magnets to be removed to facilitate training if needed, as do all Hale Security pet doors. You may also be able to remove the magnets from other flaps, though you could damage the flap in the process.
• Electronic pet doors all make a sound when they activate, and that can spook a nervous or timid pet. If this sound bothers him at first, try disabling the electronics for a week or so while he becomes accustomed to the flap.
• After repeating the above process once or twice, gently lay the flaps on your pet’s back when he walks through the door. (This will get him used to the feeling of the flaps on his back and also get him used to the idea of pushing on the flaps.) 
• Show your pet that the flaps are easily movable and not an impassable barrier.  Do this by gently flipping the flaps open. 

If you experience trouble during the training process, please call us at 205-982-5196 for free advice and suggestions.