Jasper and the dog door

[Cataholic]

I take full responsibility for the confusion!! I was too wordy.

Jasper WILL go in and out the doggie door. But, he is always told to go out, and always invited to come in. So, my problem seems to be that he will do this only on instruction. I want him to do it on free will. LOL.

I don't go overboard anymore, as he has gone in and out a lot now. BUT, he always gets a cookie coming in, and expects one. Just won't come in unless I invite him in. He is kind of freakishly obedient.

Does this help?

[Freedom]

Sure does!

Now we can swap -- I'll take "freakishly obedient" Jasper and you can have Free Spirit Willy.

Deal?

[Cataholic]

I knew it would sound like that!! I love Jasper, and his 'problem' is such a total non issue. I am thankful for his obedience, he is totally remarkable. I can walk him off leash, he responds to me 95% of the time, he knows all these hand signals, understands the word, "porch", moves off the bed on a snap, etc. I wish I had more ambition to train him, perfect him...I don't.

I just have these high hopes when the fosters are gone (I keep saying it hoping someone says, "Oh, I know someone that wants a kitten: ), that I can leave the door open and he can potty when he wants. I hate that he is inside from 8ish to 4ish...without a potty break. But, if he won't come in on his own, no way would I risk leaving him outside all day long in this cold.

Did I mention he is also a low producer? He is content to potty 2 times a day. I can let him out at 6 or so, and when I put him back out at 8 or 9? He hangs on the porch, staring inside. LOL. Not coming inside..just staring. He doesn't wake me to go out (in fact he never moves off the bed until I snap my fingers at him!).

He is a dream, I love him desparately, and am thankful for his problems. So, IF anyone can give me a pointer...point away!

Otherwise, I am happy to live with this problem.

[Cataholic]

Grace, I think you are right. I didn't see that until I typed it out the first time. It is so fitting with his personality.

[Cataholic]

No joke. Jasper just came back in through the dog door. The thing is, I didn't put him out, Jonah did. Jonah doesn't usually do that, I can't think of any time but 1 that he has. Odd. I will see how things go from here.

Thanks for simply allowing me to see my thought written out.

[lizbud]

No joke. Jasper just came back in through the dog door. The thing is, I didn't put him out, Jonah did. Jonah doesn't usually do that, I can't think of any time but 1 that he has. Odd. I will see how things go from here.

Thanks for simply allowing me to see my thought written out.

Sometimes that all that it takes to see a "problem" more clearly.

Sounds like a very smart pup. Just "thinks" differently than humans do.

ps. Have you shared a pic of Jasper before? If yes, I must have missed it.
I'd love to see him.

[Cataholic]

Well, Jasper didn't come in this morning! I think Jonah putting him out last night was the reason. I am the pack leader (LOL, or so I think!).

Liz- I can't figure out how to post a picture on here. BUT, if you are on Facebook? LOL...I can do it on there. :0

Jasper is a shep mix...has beagle markings, shep body style. Just adorable.

[Grace]

Jasper WILL go in and out the doggie door. But, he is always told to go out, and always invited to come in. So, my problem seems to be that he will do this only on instruction. I want him to do it on free will. LOL.

I think you hit it right, here. Since he is told to go out, he wants to be polite and not come in until told/invited. I think, once those foster cats are gone, and he has totally free access, things will improve. but even then, it will take time for him to unlearn the current routine.