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Post by nic on Jun 6, 2007 16:04:13 GMT -5
Hi -
We've had our new grey (4 year old retired racer Fair Maiden aka Barkely) for 4 days. She loves to wander in the back yard, but then won't come in - we usually have to push her butt, or pull her by the collar (and she whines and I feel bad for pulling on the collar) so we have even had to carry her in the door when we are pressed for time. I have been trying to hold out a treat just inside and given her a treat when she comes in, but I don't think the treat is as appealing as the yard! Also have tried leashing her and walking her in the back door but she balks at the door and won't come in.
I thought she might be scared of the door, but when I propped the door open and left a treat on the floor, she ran in, grabbed the treat and ran out. (dog 1, Nic 0 ) I think she just does not want to come in from "recess"!
Any suggestions? We do plan on obediance school, but probably not for a few weeks and I am hoping not to have to carry this dog in every day!
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Post by GreyPoopon on Jun 6, 2007 16:36:49 GMT -5
Better treats. Something soft and smelly, like wiener, cheese, or beef. Use small pieces, and reward interim steps as well as success (for example, when she's at the door and for each foot as it enters). I'd be inclined to do this on leash, so that you have some control.
Even though she snuck in for the treat, it could be the doorway, or the floor inside the door that's bothering her. You might be able to see what the problem is if you are rewarding intermediate steps. Should you discover that stepping on the floor is an issue, you might put down a mat until she gets used to coming in.
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Post by multiplicity on Jun 6, 2007 20:27:25 GMT -5
Even though she snuck in for the treat, it could be the doorway, or the floor inside the door that's bothering her. You might be able to see what the problem is if you are rewarding intermediate steps. Should you discover that stepping on the floor is an issue, you might put down a mat until she gets used to coming in. That is what I thought of right away too. How is she on the floors otherwise? Is there steps or a ledge at the doorway? This can cause problems too if she is having a hard time with stairs. Good luck!
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Post by rocco's parents on Jun 7, 2007 7:17:55 GMT -5
Other than the steps or the flooring, was there maybe a loud noise, maybe something fell in the house that might of spooked her. Are you crating her at the current time and is the crate near you or off somewhere else in the house, if it is off somewhere else than that could be a reason she wants to stay outside all the time.
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genia
Grey Lover
Posts: 672
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Post by genia on Jun 7, 2007 7:30:14 GMT -5
good luck with this. We have two that will come in willingly - the grey and a ridgeback, and two that come if there's something in it for them or they've decided to come in because there's nothing better to do - the borzoi. They will come if we shout 'treats', but only if they're not barking at the neighbour's dogs.
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Post by nic on Jun 7, 2007 11:26:06 GMT -5
We'll try upgrading the treats....
Weirdly she is fine coming in the front door, just not the back door. When we come in the front we've usually been on a walk or coming out of the car....... For the back door she has been 'roaming free' in the fenced yard.
Now yesterday she wouldn't get near her crate on her own when we wanted to crate her at night either, and we had to carry her to the door of the crate. She does not seem upset once in there, but wouldn't go in on her own yesterday...... We always put a treat in there too every time we crate her.....
It's a good thing we don't have bad backs!
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Post by jiffer on Jun 7, 2007 14:50:45 GMT -5
We'll try upgrading the treats.... Weirdly she is fine coming in the front door, just not the back door. When we come in the front we've usually been on a walk or coming out of the car....... For the back door she has been 'roaming free' in the fenced yard. Now yesterday she wouldn't get near her crate on her own when we wanted to crate her at night either, and we had to carry her to the door of the crate. She does not seem upset once in there, but wouldn't go in on her own yesterday...... We always put a treat in there too every time we crate her..... It's a good thing we don't have bad backs! Oh I remember that whole "Get in the crate" fight. Use the same technique as getting her into the house.. really stinky treats. Uber is still in love with his crate and I attribute that to the fact that we've continued to feed him in his crate, rather than in the kitchen with the rest of the pack. I hope you're having less troubles with the back door... the only thing comes to mind is that something scary happened at that back door (ran into the door or slipped on the flooring). They have long memories for things that frighten them... but given time, do get over it.
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Post by nic on Jun 13, 2007 10:02:48 GMT -5
I guess the treats worked - she has been pretty good this week with coming in when called.....
We are still having to carry her to the create - and somehow whe's managed to get out of the crate a few times too!
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