How do you train your dog to go through a doggy door?

[Mazey]

Hmmm...that seems to sum up my question, yessir.

All right, for those of you who want more details, now that I've figured out how to use the QUESTION part of GQ:

1. There are two dogs, both under a year old. One is 50
pounds; one is 20 pounds. The 20-pounder has been the
bravest to try the doggy door with me standing there,
holding it open. Both are capable of "nosing it open".

2. The doggy door is a PetSafe door with a magnetic catch
on the bottom. It can be pushed open from either out-
or inside, and is made of grayish/clear flexible plastic.

3. It's just been in the door since this afternoon, but I
wouldn't mind hints on how to encourage the dogs to use
it without my having to push it open to get them to go
out, or pull it towards me to encourage them to come in.

My dogs thank you for your replies. I thank you for your replies.

[lswote]

Can you enlist the help of another person on the other side of the door with a treat? You push the door open and the dog sees the treat in the hand of your helper and goes through it. You then hold the treat while the helper pushes the door enough for the dog to see you holding the treat and so on back and forth until the dog becomes accustomed to how it works and more at ease going through it? I have not done this but I have taught dogs other things in the past with a similar approach.

[Mazey]

When the doggy door was being put in place, I enlisted the help of a friend then, but the dogs were really jittery about the remodeled door. I can try enlisting another friend. In the meantime, the smaller dog is getting really brave, going in and out with just a minor opening of the door. The larger, usually braver, dog is cowering, however. I have to push/pull the door fully open for her. Other suggestions out there?

[carnivorousplant]

Mrs. Carnivorousplant, the dog trainer, says to prop the door open, offer a treat or a toy and reward the dog even for just sticking a nose through the door. Repeat.