Puppy using catflap!!! (fearful of neighbour's large dogs)

Well, we were almost there with the house training and things were going so well in a relatively short space of time but next door have a boxer and a lab and they have no manners at all. They jump up at the gate everytime someone enters our garden which as you can imagine to a new pup is a little disturbing.

I endevoured to just egnore it to show her that there was nothing to worry about but as soon as Ruby potters down the garden to d oher business they chase on their side of the fence. This has now caused a few problems and set me back with the training.

Firstly she wont come outside when called and just sits in the doorway. If i pick her up to take her into the garden, the minute i put her down she scampers back to the door and lets herself in THROUGH THE CATFLAP!!!! She aint stupid.

The rewards are useless and i am worried that this could be a problem for the future. What am i supposed to do. The neighbours are fairly reasonable and they do take their dogs in if they know we are outside but as they let them come in and out as they please it is hard to make sure they are in when Ruby needs to wee. She is due to start her pup socialisation and training in 3 weeks and i am hoping that this may help BUT for the mean time she is now terrified of big dogs. GREAT!

HELP!??! ANY IDEAS? :smt075

Sorry I can't offer you any advice (not an expert on these things either) but I hope you get it sorted and it hasn't set you back too much. I am sure someone on here will be able to offer you some words of wisdom .

Hi Jakey you really need to ignore the other dogs and pretend they arn't there at all or you will contribute to the 'fear ' of your puppy . Use a happy confident voice when outside , close of the cat flap while you are out there or put your puppy on a lead so that she stays out until you are ready to go in .
Also try higher value treats..small pieces of liver/chicken ..

Thanks Min. Yeah, the chicken would work i think. Will try it.

The lead, the unworried happy voice, and the high value treats, all as suggested by Mini should help If the neighbour's dogs are up-to-date with their vaccs maybe you could arrange for Ruby to meet them, one at a time? Puppy classes will also help her to become confident with dogs of various sizes.

Shut the cat flap and took chicken. Same story... she just wants to get back in. I waited outside for 30 mins as i knew she wanted to go. Kept calling her as she was just scratching at the flap and wimpering.

No luck yet! Will keep trying but she has not been to the loo at all yesterday or today... all in the house. I wait and wait in the garden, and nothing, then as soon as she is inside..... she does it!

Hi Jakey it sounds as if your little one has now got into the habit of relieving herself inside, the only way is to persevere with normal housetraining and the above suggestions but it may take a while to have any effect ..