I got a new dog last week and it freaks out when I open a door.?

Question

It barks and growls when anyone come to the door or if a open it. It seems afraid of it. It won't go through the dog door unless I hold the flap open even when it watched the other dog go in and out. Today I couldn't even get it to go outside through the door to use the bathroom. He hasnt' gone all day! Help!

I pet the dog and comfort him when someone is coming and then he forgets to do it. I say no and shhh when he barks and put my hand over his mouth to keep him from growling, that usually works. He is a 3 year old sheltie that i got from a shelter. It's owners gave him away because he supposably nips and herds your feet when you go through the door. He hasn't done that to me, nor would I let him if he does, but I want him to go out and go potty. I have some water inside but I have a screened in porch that i keep his food and water outside so he has to go out to get food and water.

Answer 1

This dog has had a traumatic experience or has experienced abuse. You should check with the people or the shelter from which you got this animal to find out if they were aware of the problem, and what caused this fear response.

A fear response is experience-based training. You can train him out of this (by carrying him out the door and reassuring him; my putting him on a leash with the other dog and leading them both through the door at the same time, reassuring him all the time and rewarding him with a treat when he does it properly), but it would be helpful to know what happened in the first place If you can find out, great, but whether you figure this one out or not, you really should consult with a vet and let him make suggestions. Or if you know a dog trainer, talk with him.

Basically, this is a scared little guy. It sounds like someone stood outside a door somewhere in his past and terrified him, or hit him or hurt one of his buddies when they went through the door. If the person was sadistic, they made going through the door an apparently appealing thing to the animal, and then creamed him when he went for the food or the treat or the toy. I'm afraid I have kind of an experiential experetise in the effects of sadists on people and animals. If it is a flap and he has to squeeze through it, maybe he got into a drainpipe or something like that and got stuck, or saw a buddy stuck or saw something that terrified him this way.

Bottom line, you can train him out of this. It is a learned behavior, and with time and patience (the greater the trauma, the more time and patience), persistence and consistency, he can learn new behaviors that work better in his new, loving environment.

Right now, he's holding it. Frightened animals will not go to the bathroom, as that releases scent and tells their enemies where they are. He is telling you a little bit about how frightened he is.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Put him outside. He will go. And when he gets hungry he will have to figure out how to come in. And then you need to start working on this behavior. This is not acceptable and you need to let him know that. Break him of this now or you could have serious problems in the future. Start with telling him no when he barks or growls (or whatever it is he is doing that you don't want him to). Unfortunately the other dogs are going to feel like they are in trouble too, but you need to get the new dog trained. Be sure you are correcting in a firm voice and sticking with it- they will keep it up if you are not (mine are trained shrink to the floor as soon as they hear the tone of voice- doesn't even have to be no in my house. They know when they are in trouble!)

Answer 3

he just sounds pretty anxious. did you adopt him? they always need a little extra understanding, because they are usually neglected and misterated. it messes with their little heads. it is in their nature to bark as a signal to all that something has happened. especially if it freaks them out. the doggie door will probably take a little getting used to. i have had my guy for 8 years, with no doggie door, and it literally took him 3 days at a friends' house, watching her dog go in and out all day for him to not be freaked. i bet alot of patience on your part, and some treats, will help him learn to accept the way things go in your world. after all ,you are the new alpha dog...let him learn that, but give him a break too. imagine if your entire life and surroundings changed one day...it would probably suck. remember that they are soooo intelligent..you just need time to figure out how to read each other..it will come. don't quit on him. go to cesar milan's website, or rent a couple of his videos......be knd and gentle and firm...he'll catch on...good luck!

Answer 4

Call him in a reassuring voice, then give him a treat and lots of praise when he comes outside. Is there another animal that spooked him last time he went out?

Answer 5

specific to the two. there are lots of individuals who have been wonderful geniuses, composers, philosophers, artists etc who have been misunderstood or maybe demonized. They weren't usually respected, yet actual they did have some understand for his or her very very own expertise and for this reason themselves. There are additionally lots of individuals who understand others, who they do no longer even somewhat understand plenty approximately, in basic terms using fact they carry potential or are wealthy. Your quest for self understand finally has to return from interior. you may % to understand your self, to stay a existence that incorporates love and understand for your self and others (no remember how badly you're dealt with or they have been abused).

Answer 6

How old is your dog? Eight weeks is when the puppy goes through its fear stage. Have you slammed a door or creaked it open or anything that may have frightened him? That would be a serious problem...

Answer 7

take him to get trained or to a dog park or even on a walk just to get used to thing s

Answer 8

try to give him some treats and maybe he'll listen