Practical Projects for Self-Sufficiency: DIY Projects to Get Your Self-Reliant Lifestyle Started / Peterson, Chris

Pet doors are available in a variety of styles, colors, materials, and mechanisms. Install one and your dog can go outside whenever he wishes with nary a lift of a nger from you. But don’t even consider installing a dog door to the outdoors if you don’t have a securely fenced-in yard. To avoid the potential for someone opening the gate in your yard and unintentionally letting your dog loose, locked gates are also a must.

One of your biggest decisions when faced with the plethora of dog door styles will be choosing between the electronic and the manual dog door. If cost is a factor, you’re going to lean toward the manual; if security is your greatest concern, then your best bet is the electronic door. The electronic door is made of hard plastic or Plexiglas, and it responds to an infrared signal from a key attached to the dog’s collar. It can emit a hum when activated, which is disconcerting to some dogs at rst. When shopping for an electronic dog door, pay attention to the specs; some electronic doors open in only one direction.

Before you install the ap, take the one item that is most irresistible to your dog and go to the other side of the door. Slowly wave the goody just under your dog’s nose and lure him toward you through the door. Give your dog the come command in a cheerful and encouraging manner. Once your dog is stepping through the dog door like it’s no big deal, install the ap. Go to the side of the door opposite your dog, pull the ap toward you just a bit, and lure your dog as you did when the door was wide open. Do this a few times so your dog gets used to the feel of the ap against his body, then just call your dog to go through the door, ap and all. Any time you hit a snag, go back to the last point your dog behaved reliably, and train slowly from there.