The new dog door was NOT met with the enthusiasm that Steve expected and in analyzing the potential causes for the unhappiness, we decided that maybe the White Dog Army did not like that the threshold of the new door was a bit higher than the old one making the step in and out taller.
So, we ordered wheelchair ramps to fit on both sides of the swinging door. Now the WDA could just walk up to within 2" of the threshold, step over and walk down on the other side to the deck. Easy, convenient, some might even say luxurious. But then you probably would not be a White Dog.
Nilla, our oldest in the pack, trotted up and down, in and out with glee. Sachi made a game of racing up the ramp, leaping through the door and letting momentum carry him down the other side. Bella also found the new arrangement perfect for full speed zoomies both in and out. Pearl and Opal acted like this had always been the plan and continued on in a normal fashion.
The others, led by our darkest White Dog, suddenly stood at the bottom of the 4" ramps and whimpered. Thye touched the ramp with a toe and then turned tail. From the outside they would stretch their necks from the side of the ramp to knock the door with noses...to let us know they wanted to come in. A couple of times, left I am certain in rebellion, we found puddles at the base of the ramp.
Steve fell for the game a couple of times. He even suggested that maybe the ramps were a failed solution and that we ought to remove them. Zsofia, in particular voted with her dad.
"CA Stormer is the only one who has a legitimate complaint," I said in the momma voice. "But he was already having difficulty with the old door. His back legs are just getting too arthritic for even such a low step over." Steve agreed but wondered how to foster acceptance of this seemingly user-friendly addition to the WDA's environment.
"I am afraid this is going to be a battle of wills. They ARE White Dogs, after all. We are going to be those mean parents that passively ignore their furbabies' complaints and refuse to acknowledge that there even IS a problem. Sort of sink or swim. My bet is that getting no response or coddling, that the pack will use their smarts and in no time will just take the ramps in stride."
Steve considered my draconian suggestion and I could tell he was struggling. "Believe me, reinforce the potty manners rules and that is it. OUTSIDE to potty. They KNOW that is where they need to go. Don't watch them. Don't direct them. Don't tell them how easy the door is. They see the others using it. It is time to end the temper tantrum."
"But," he began as Sachi slammed through the door, ran down the ramp and LEAPED onto the bed. Zso lifted her head and watched him. "See? Now make a fuss about Sachi the good boy and throw a toy for him. Ignore Zso."
Steve took my advice and Sachi charged after the stuffy proudly returning it. He and Steve continued to play as our darkest White Girl stepped out of her crate, stretched deliberately. She stood with two feet on the ramp and pushed her face against the flap to look out. She turned to see if she was being watched; Steve continued fussing over the Little Man.
Zso sighed and stepped through the door.
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| Look, Dad, I am going out! |
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| And now I am coming it! Here I come! Get ready to play! |
1 comment:
Good job by all. It sounds as though This ramp solution is going to work out after all. :)
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