The Freedom of a Doggie Door

Our youngest dog hated having overnight accidents — a new dog door was just the ticket

Winnie trying to decide if she should join us in the garden. Photos: Geraldine Murphy

We installed a dog door in our kitchen that leads into the back garden. I was reticent at first — one of my dogs, Murf, is a large Border Collie which meant the flap would have to accommodate him, and so that meant it would also accommodate a burglar.

A ‘Failed’ Sheepdog’s Beautiful Recovery From Trauma

Still, we went for it anyway. Holly, a small terrier, is a youngster with a small bladder, so there were quite a few accidents right beside the back door at night. What I hated most about it was seeing her face looking so sad over it in the morning. When a house-trained dog is forced to pee on the floor, they really hate it!

We got a dog door from a local pet shop, took out the drill and the jigsaw from the shed, cut the requisite sized hole and installed the flap. We admired it and hoped the dogs would admire it too — and use it.

Then the training began. Murf, having overcome trauma from his previous life, is as tough as old boots so we knew he would be fine. It is…