As some of you will remember James and I installed a (cat) flap for Ellie in our back door a few weeks ago. Well, to begin with she was terrified of it and would just flat out refuse to go near it, but then she started to get used to it being there. Eventually she would go out of it but not back in. So we decided that in order to get her using it both ways we'd stand one inside, one out and post her through and give her a piece of ham when she did it; she loved it and started racing through it at top speed! But then as soon as whichever one of us was outside with her comes in she stops coming through! ARGH!!! I dont know how to get her to do it! It is driving me insane!
Jess, darling, I'm soooooo sorry that I cant help you here!! LOL. I went to a party with Chimi, and the house had a doggie door to go out into their back yard. My mom's one eyed dachsund ran through the thing, and chimi wailed on the other side of it when I walked into the yard... he just stood there and howled like he was dying!!!
Chimi says "Dont run through it Ellie!! It's EVIL!!"
What I would do, choose which ever way she is worst (like if coming in is hardest for her) put her out and go inside, both of you. Do somethg that really excites her, (for my dogs canned food) I open it where she can see, and set the bowl somewhat in front of the flap.
Then there are 2 options, the coaxing, where u sit there and call her to you or the walk away and watch form over the wall option. Where she doesnt she you and wants food so bad she comes in.
One other option is to hold the flap open for her, then a little less each time, untill she gets it.
We have used cat doors on some of our internal doors (none of our pets go outside, we don't have a fenced yard). Rufus doesn't get to use them, they are for cat access only.
But we do have to train the cats to use them. It's a sort of gradual desensitization technique - reward with a treat when they touch it or go through even part way, hold the flap open and let it touch their back until they see it won't hurt them, etc. It takes awhile with most cats but after a week or two they get it.
Don't know if the same technique would work with a chi?
www.dogster.com/?418420
Visit Rufus at www.dogster.com/?350768
