Installing a Wall Pet Door In Freezing Temperatures.
Posted: Wednesday, January 06, 2010
by Kevin Schmidt
Pet Door Express
The big day was here. Our pet door arrived via mail on a Tuesday afternoon all packaged in a large box. Barely able to withhold the anticipation of the freedom that it will bring our family, I immediately had to call my husband with the good news. The excitement could be heard through his voice that the long awaited pet door had arrived. Our family dog, Klink, curiously sniffed the box and could have cared less what the contents included. Due to the forecast and my husbands work schedule, the day of install was going to be the following Saturday morning. During the meantime, the box was opened, installation instructions were studied and thoughts of Klink heading in and out the pet door swirled around in my mind. Finally the weekend had arrived and we both were up early and ready to begin. We had a break in the weather where no snow was in the forecast and we only had to deal with having a hole in the wall in freezing temperature for the time that it took to finish the installation. After reading the instructions from beginning to end for the third time, we estimated a total of 4 hours from start to glorious finish.
My part of the install was to voice words of encouragement and offer food and beverages when the need arose. In about a 3 hour window, my wall went from thoughts of what the door would look like to an actual dog door installed and ready for use.
In a time frame of less than three hours with occasional breaks to sit and chat, the moment had arrived to give Klink the go ahead and journey through her world of freedom. Dog treats had been included with our pet door purchase to entice Klink to enter and exit her new found door to the outside world. I will give my dog credit as she mastered the door in a matter of minutes or until the treats were no longer offered. Next came the cheese treats. Klink will do pretty much anything if a piece of cheese is offered as a reward. Again, in and out she goes, munching on cheese each time she pushed the door open with her nose and proceeded to go through the door. I think we should have stopped there as Klink was aware of what it took to go outside and quickly return, each time with the cheese handed to her so freely.
The small mess was cleaned up, the door was completed and we still had the remainder of the day to enjoy. Later that evening as we were sitting in the family room chatting, our stuffed and bloated Klink, stood up from her bed, looked out the slider and proceeded to head to the pet door, push it open with her nose, and proceed outside without waiting for the cheese to be offered as a reward. Our training had been successful and she was on the road to freedom.
Come bedtime, Klink has a habit of "burrowing" under our bed to sleep. As she has grown into adulthood, we have had to install risers for the bed frame lifting it up 4" so she was able to fit her expanding frame comfortably. Off Klink heads to bed, and there lays my husband and I content with the job completed and commenting on how smart our beloved pet was for mastering the pet door so easily. Then it hit us, this most putrid smell. All the cheese that had been so freely given during Klinks pet door training, was playing havoc with her intestinal track and she was releasing the most horrific gas imaginable. Klink was given the command "Away" knowing that she needs to head to the family room to lay on her feather bed for the remainder of the night. A good laugh was shared by my husband and I as we talked about any future plans on training Klink might be wiser to stick with verbal praise and stay clear of any form of cheese as a reward!
Kevin Schmidt, owner of www.petdoorexpress.com which offers pet doors and patio pet doors.
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