Quote: angelique cadogan

 Quote: robbinmann

However, if I am to teach pack structure how am I to do this when my dogs run out the doggy door before me?

Robbin are you serious?
Try going out the doggie door first..........just kidding.I wouldn't worry about that if I were you, that's like people who feed their dogs before they eat, I mean common I don't think the
pack structure is being broken.You have 2 dogs that have beeen going through your doggies dog for how long, and now that you have a third it's a concern? I wouldn't make an issue about this ,really, not a pack leaders worries..

It kinda stopped me in my tracks too (heh-heh-heh). When it's time to go out with me, there's a lineup: "Sit" before the leash is clipped on, or, if it happened that it was a no-leash trip, "sit" until the door is opened and they are released.

But even if this wasn't convenient for me for some reason, I'd figure out other ways to enforce structure. Example: Everyone waits at the top of porch steps until I go first...... something like that.

But what I wanted to add was kind of in line with what Al posted. My sister with a doggy door came home from work one day to find her dog entertaining -- big party, house full of dogs.

Well we have a doggie door , my 16 year old fits through prefectly when he forgets his keys It came handy when my male yaggo had the runs all the time from kibbles :sickthat's when I fed 50/50kibble and raw, no longer do kibbles .But in the summers it was a pain when the dogs would jump in the pool and come running in through the doggie door and chase each other throughout the house.
SOO a doggie door is great IMO but it depends where you live and the acivities your dog can do outside.Our dog have access to the pool 24/7

I never even considered putting in a doggie door because I know someone that had a skunk use it to enter the house (and of course was chased around the house by the dogs that usually used the door). It wasn't a very pretty picture!

Well first of all I want you all to know that having a doggy door has always been a concern of mine. I never would have gotten one if my gf mom didn't have one lying outside her house just begging my hubby to ask about it. As far as pack structure, I was never educated enough about it to think it might be an issue until now. I have owned dogs all my life. None of them small breeds, all of them large to xlarge breeds. I have never had so many questions about dog care until I found this site and started researching gsd's. You know the old saying "ignorance is bliss?" Well, I believe it. The more I learn the more I question everything that I used to think was right. Can you say information overload? It's not that I am stupid or don't have any common sense, I just want to make sure that I'm approaching things in the right way. Just because I have owned dogs all my life doesn't mean that I am an expert. I'd like to think that I am still humble enough to ask questions so that if someone has come up with a better way of doing things that they might shed some light for me. It's just the way I am.

 Quote: robbinmann

.... I have never had so many questions about dog care until I found this site and started researching gsd's. You know the old saying "ignorance is bliss?" Well, I believe it. The more I learn the more I question everything that I used to think was right. Can you say information overload? It's not that I am stupid or don't have any common sense, I just want to make sure that I'm approaching things in the right way. ....

And I say GOOD FOR YOU to be absorbing info and asking questions and SHAME ON ME for giggling about the doggy door.

It was kinda funny when my sister's dog used it to host a bash while she was gone.

In Phoenix, I'm a bit paranoid about having a doggie door. But used to have one when we lived in the mountains and loved it. My husband installed it after our downstairs door got all scratched from our dog wanting in. Guess it depends on your dogs and where you live and other such stuff.

Understand about the info overload. Sometimes it's good to step back and examine what you've been doing with your other dogs that has worked so well in the past and continue with those things. Always with the thought like you said that someone might have a better way of doing things, something you hadn't thought of before. With 3 dogs now instead of 2, there may be some different dynamics going on that you would want to be aware of as well. But I do understand about the info overload.