What do we think of Dog Flaps?...

[Katy13010]

I am tempted to get one installed for my 5 month working cocker pup. She likes to go out ino the garden, then back in, then wants to go out again, and I am not sure it's good for the human/dog psychology (where I am trying hard to be the leader, not her!) to be at her call whenever she chooses! She doesn't need the loo this often, sometimes she just stands at the back door since I have opened it and doesn't even go into the garden - and I'm sure she thinks I am a fool for doing it!...

Anyway - my main concern is a small but VERY vocal dog next door. She's a lovely dog - but outdoors most of the day and I guess likes to protect her owner's property. I haven't got problem with her (next door) barking, but would rather prefer my nice, quiet dog stayed that way, and not to become like the loud dog...

Do you think she'll end up adopting the other dog's behaviour if she spends as much time as she fancies outdoors (courtesy of dog flap) when I am out of the house for a few hours or so?... At the moment my dog doesn't spend much time outside alone, she'd rather be with me indoors.

Just wondered if you have any advice/experience on this.

Thanks everyone :)

my main thought is a flap bg enough for a dog is big enough for a person.

I got one when my dog was very young. It really helped with the toilet training but it can backfire a bit as it gives her the entire run of the house and back garden. It is difficult (and unkind) to disable it so I can never shut her either in or out.

I sniggered at the title too.

I have been wondering about getting a one when we move, so that our dog can go out, but I am a bit worried about someone stealing her so would not want her to use it when we are not home.

Hee hee me too nicks!
We have a dog flap and I love it, best thing ever. Have had it since we moved to a flat with a garden when my dog was 1.5. She is also very very quiet which we love and the difference of course is she was much older (more established behaviour?) and we don't have a barky dog next door (well only one that visits once per week) I purposely got one that we could 'lock' without it seeming cruel, it has a white cover which goes over the clear flap so it is very obviously open or closed. We never really need to lock it (sometimes when watering the garden as dog like to be involved a bit too much) and she'll whine but I think she'd do that anyway if we were in the garden 'playing with the hosepipe' and she was indoors.
Then again, I suppose it may have a bearing on your training ethos if you are establishing a leader type relationship... from a tiny, just toilet trained, pup we taught ours to ring a bell when she wanted to go outside (as had no garden or flap and wanted her to be able to communicate her needs without barking, whining or scratching which has massively paid off, for us)
On the security side, I can fit through it so that does need taking in to account.. we have a really soppy tough looking dog, an English Bull Terrier so rely on the sight or her being enough to deter people, she'd certainly bark and shoot outside if someone climbed the fence!
Sorry for garbled post, I hope it still helps!

We were having similar problems with our dog constantly pestering to go out and not knowing when she actually needed a wee or not. It was an absolute life saver to get a dog flap! She doesn't really hang out in the garden now she's got it - just goes out for a quick wee and back in again. She does run outside barking sometimes if she hears something 'suspicious' coming from the front of the house but she doesn't go out there barking if we are out (confirmed by videoing her!).

The only downsides are (1) the security issue, although we live in a country where there is very little crime, and (2) I think she's probably forgotten how to ask to go out, so that would be an issue if she ever went to stay at anyone else's house.

Ours goes to stay with a friend whilst we are visiting DH's family (plane journey) about once every 9 months but is able to go back to ringing bells/staring at door whichever they have in place for her!

I wouldn't have one because I don't want the dog coming and going at will with dirty arse paws. Also, I'm pretty sure we'd get cats coming in too.

I've always had a flap for my dogs. They don't spend hours in the garden just because they have access. They only seem to use the garden to toilet, or sometimes if they hear a noise or see a strange cat then they all dash out. Sometimes I do lock mine when I am letting our cats have the garden to themselves (long story) and sometimes I forget I've locked it and it's been locked for hours. The dogs didn't seem bothered to be honest... just accepted it and held on! Also, we have a caravan, and when there they have to adjust to coming and whining a bit at us when they need to go out. We haven't had to teach them this. The best thing about flaps is you don't have to get up early just to let them out for their first you know what!!!!

we have a utility room that leads onto a paved yard at the side of our house.. We have put a dog flap in so that if we are out our terrier & spaniel can still access the yard

there is a safety gate on utility room door, so no muddy paws getting everywhere. would not be able to have a dog flap onto our actual garden because our 1 year old spaniel would eat everything in sight if he was out there unsupervised for more than 5 minutes!

a person would not get in the flap..

Hahaha!! Why did I not think of the title?... Perhaps I am too angelic, lol..

Anyway - everyone, thank you so much for your input. It's a tricky one!...

We already have a cat flap - but only big enough for her to poke her head through, it's actually quite a cute way of her saying 'hello! I'm done now/ready to come back inside!' :) No cat mind you - we just inherrited the current one.

I don't really have a security issue - I don't think, but agree that if I lived in a town/city it's not something that really worth the risk. She's only a small-ish dog though, so the flap certainly wouldn't be human sized!

Thank yo for your input and suggestions, and err.... sorry for (unintentially) lowering the tone!

xx

Haha, just mine that's human sized then? I live in London too!

I had one for my first dog. The house we moved to had a cat flat and she tore that out leaving a hole big enought to get through. As she had been so enterprising I thought she deserved a proper doggie one.

i think dog flaps are great. particularly when dog isn't well and needs to go alot.
particularly in winter when you can't leave the door open.

i can't say if they will go out to join in with next doors in barking, some dogs prefer to stay in if they can....some don't

i have got into one house using a dog door though i think a house breaker would be unlikely to take that route, as, after all, there may well be a big dog on the other side of it..they do have locking things on them too.

i wish we could have a dog door in this house..difficult with double glazed rear sliding doors.