While coming in through doors has gotten easier, he still has terrible fear about going out of doors. We think this might be because going out used to mean escaping, and there must have been quite a punishment for that. He learned deep down to his core that he wasn’t ever to go out through a door unless he was on a leash.
He has been doing so well with his fear that we decided it was time to tackle using the back door. It will be much better access to the yard for him if he's able to learn how to do it. For the last month we have been pulling and dragging Riley through the motions of going out the back door, down the back steps and out the dog door. Every day this has gotten easier. There have been many weird moments, but we’re getting used to that with Riley. In fact, we embrace his weirdness and really love that about him.
Even though it’s gotten easier, it isn’t a smooth process yet. He still won’t go outside unless unless one of us is touching his collar, maybe that reassures him that it’s our idea and he won’t be punished. And until last week he had trouble getting back inside through the dog door. He would get near it, but then panic and collapse and roll around submissively instead of walking through it.
Imagine my surprise yesterday when I was going to go out back to help him come inside – and he had already done it on his own! He came in the dog door all by himself and was waiting at the back door to come inside. As with most things, it’s like a switch gets flipped inside his head and he decides it’s safe. I thought it might be a fluke, but he’s kept it up for a few days now. You can teach an old dog new tricks after all. I am so humbled by his bravery and his willingness to learn new things. And get a load of those very, very happy ears. He is quite pleased with himself!