just put in a dog flap in the back door. any suggestions on how to get the dogs to use it. they will come through it if i hold the actual flap up. but as soon as i let it down they wont come near it. help

Lots of treats either side....we have one it's great!

Karen ;-)

Remember to check your house contents insurance! If your dog flap opens into the main house your insurance could be void!

I fastened mine open for the first day & released it on a night. I did have a cat flap that the cats & one dog used before getting the bigger door. The collies only took a couple of days before they could use it with no help & my puppy who came home at 6 1/2 weeks of age took three days & a bit of tuition from my cavalier to use it. One of my cats actually played a trick on my puppy, when the dog flap was first put in the cats had to get used to a heavier dog that needed to be pushed just at the bottom, he was next to Wukee as Wukee tried to use the door & started pawing at the top of the door, so Wukee copied him & Reg the cat sat back with that expression that only cats can have as Wukee failed to open the door by pawing at the top(copying Reg the Cat)fortunately Joedee one of the Cavaliers went through the door opening it properly & Wukee then followed. Reg was clearly very amused to have seen Wukee trying to open the door. The two cats often sit outside with their paws on the bottom of the door stopping the dogs from getting out.

All of my dogs, save one, learned to use a dog flap simply by showing them how it works and then gently coaching them through it the first time or three.

My Rudi was the exception, he is very noise sensitive.  On his first visit to my home I showed him the flap, opened it slightly and he went through it with no problem.  Later on his breeder/owner and I were standing in the kitchen (where the dog flap is) with Rudi. Abby (my other dog) came zooming through the dog flap like a torpedo.  The flap shut with a loudish clang and from that moment on Rudi was afraid of the dog flap.

A few weeks later Rudi came home to live with me for good.  Many months later and £160 pounds poorer I invested in a flap which makes virtually no noise.  Sat it in the living room so Rudi would familiarize himself with it.  Spread pate on it.  Lick, lick.  Stuck chicken where the door opened -- Rudi would not go near it.   Installed the dog flap in the door .... one month later I got fed up with every positive reinforcement technique in the book, Rudi was still terrified.  I shoved him through the door. Eventually he accepted he had no choice.  After a couple of weeks he worked up the courage to go through the flap himself, with me standing ready to eject him.  :-)  Shortly after that he was zooming in and out of the flap by himself at top speed.   Would I recommend this approach ... never! 

As to home insurance - the flap I bought is heavy plexiglass.  It has a key that allows you to lock the flaps.  In addition, if you are away for an extended period of time there is a steel plate which slides into the opening and screws closed from inside the house.  It's more secure than any of the windows in my home.

Hi
Can I ask what make the dogflap is that you have?  I have the bog standard Staywell, but yours sounds tons better.
Tx.

Sure, they are made by Plexidor.   The door is so well made it even stays shut in howling gales and also is great at keeping the cold air out of the house.

If you click "International" on their web page it shows the UK distributor.

http://www.plexidors.net/

Brilliant!  Many thanks.  They look TONS better than anything I've seen to date in the UK.