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Minor problem here. Any ideas?


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How do I stop Joey from banging on the back door?

 

Dogs are so different. Both the older dogs really like to stay outside. And sometimes Joey will stay out for quite a while, too. But he likes to be in the house with me.

 

So out he goes. And then a few minutes later he starts banging on the door to come back in. Bang, bang, bang. Stop for a minute, run up the lawn and back, then bang, bang, bang.

 

He's really good natured and funny so I don't want to do anything very negative. Once he's in the house for a little while he gets bored and wants to go back out again. It's a whole lot more interesting outside.

 

Tommy and Zeke only bang on the door when something upsets them - like thunder or fireworks. Then they really bang on the door to get in. Theirs is more of a wham, wham kind of thing.

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Good question. I want him to stay outside a little longer. One thing that works is for me to fill his water tub so he has something to do out there. He loves to play in water.

 

I don't think I have ever had a dog that is so attached to me. I think he just wants to be wherever I am. If I am outside he would stay out all day. He just doesn't like to be outside without me being there.

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Many people have success hanging bells on the door for the dog to ring to go outside to potty. Maybe you could just reverse that and teach him to ring bells to come in? That won't help with the goal of him staying out longer but maybe less annoying/destructive way to request your presence? I don't have any suggestions on how to get him to desire your company less.

 

Or, possibly install a doggie door. Then he could pop in for a quick check to make sure you're ok and then head back out woth his friends.

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I think that's a situation that will find a way to become a problem, however you try to solve it :) Not to be negative, but to the best of my knowledge there is no cure for love.

 

Is there a way to allow him control of his comings and goings? A doggy door? A two way screen door? Is there a reason you don't want him around you so much or is it just a case of being cranky with the constant in and out?

 

If you just want some time without the little fellow, you probably need to train some sort of time out into his program. I used a trick with my young one who has the same issue (if she could figure a way to attach herself to my presence and stay there 24-7, she would be happy) which was, "you be good, I'm running to the store" at which point I shut the door and go inside and do whatever. She sometimes waits by the door, listening for me to open it, and sometimes she wanders off and chases frogs or whatever. But she does know now that I am not going to answer the door and won't until it opens again and I say "I'm home!".

 

Otherwise, why not try and find a way to let him go in and out at his own whim?

Edited by CMP
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I agree that if possible a doggy door would be a perfect solution. As far as getting him to stay out longer, you could structure the time outside more so that he knows he gets to go outside at certain times of day/after certain activities but once he comes in he can't go out again. He can be out as long as he wants but once he's inside, that's it.

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If you don't want or can't have a doggy door for some reason, perhaps you could approach it another way by asking yourself whether Joey is doing this because it's a form of 'separation anxiety' or whether it's a game for him to get you to open the door?

 

If it separation anxiety, could you use similar methods that others use to extend the time that a dog accepts his handler is away?

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When he is in the house with you does he want to be in the same room or does he wander around the house? If he wants to be in the same room all the time then maybe I would think separation anxiety but maybe he is just doing it because he is getting what he wants by doing it. Have you tried ignoring him when he does it the first time and see what happens?

 

I have not had a dog do that so i am not sure what you would need to do.. I do know my daughter's dog does this when she wants in, she will butt the door hard with her head until she has literally popped the door open. It will be interesting to read what suggestions you do get on this.

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Although separation anxiety is definitely a possibility, I also have dogs that can never decide whether they want to be inside or outside. They just like both (thankfully they will just wait quietly by the door when they feel like coming in).

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Yes, well. I wondered if it was a game for Joey, but I think you would manage this differently from separation anxiety. So first you need to identify the cause, before finding a solution... Which is why I asked my question to the OP.

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You're right, it definitely needs to be asked, and answered. I just wanted her to know that it is a behavior that presents itself in dogs without separation anxiety (as well as those with it). Good to see both sides.

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Put all the dogs on your schedule, not theirs. They go outside when you want them to, and come in the same way. When I had 3 dogs, they all went outside at the same time, unless was someone had a case of dire rear and needed to go out more often.

 

If this is separation anxiety, I don't think he'd go outside without you. I think it's possible that he's trained you to be his doorman, and you do a very good job at that. ;) It will take some willpower on your part, to stay consistent with the schedule of in and out, but you can do it. I know your job is variable in the schedule, but your dogs can adjust, too.

 

Good luck!

 

Ruth and SuperGibbs

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I think I'm the one that is trained. He bangs and I let him in. Instead of Pavlov's dogs it's Pavlov person.

 

. He comes and sits with me for a while and then he gets bored and goes back out. I don't think he has separation anxiety. He has to stay home in his crate when I'm out working. I just think he likes to come and go. And if the weather is good I just prop that door open and that solves that problem. And I can hear what the dogs are up to out there a lot better with the door open. If their squirrel chasing gets out of hand they have to come back in for a time out.

 

It's not a big deal. We can't do a doggy door. I have a metal back door.

 

This is off topic but years ago I used to get up at 4 and walk my dogs. In my neighborhood there was no traffic that early and they could be off leash safely. A crippled girl up the street had a border collie and a retriever. Those two dogs would go for our walk with us. And that border collie used to come up and knock on my front door every morning at 4:15 to let me know they were ready to go. The retriever was shy and he would stay back and wait in the street. It was the oddest thing.

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If you door opens in I would consider putting something on the stoop in front of the door. Something big, but light, and easy to move like a cardboard box that a TV came in. If he can't reach the door to whack it, he may just go back to his buddies in the yard and forget about going back in.

 

If he really is having separation anxiety he will probably try to dislodge the box.

 

Maybe he's really a cat. Cats are always on "the wrong side of the door." They also hate closed doors. Their idea is that doors are for going in and out of, so they should be open at all times! ;)

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It's not a big deal. We can't do a doggy door. I have a metal back door.

 

Just FYI, they sell pet doors that are designed to be installed through the wall. That's what I did in my current house because I have french doors out to a deck. In my case, I had to relocate both plumbing and electrical lines to make room. But I feel the sense of autonomy they give dogs is really good for them. Plus, not having to manage their comings and goings makes life a lot easier. :)

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I have several customers that have had really neat doggy door setups. They do work well.

 

Around here you have to be careful about raccoons using them. But I think raccoons stay away from areas where there are dogs. I have seen them come in houses with catdoors. They would just come in the kitchen to eat the rest of the dry catfood, wash their paws in the drinking water and get it all muddy and then leave again right out the catdoor.

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