why does my dog ask to go out in the garden, then walk out turn around and bark to come in?! or alternativley asks to go out, then when you open the door, she looks at u like you're stupid?! is it just to wind me up?!!!

Maybe she wants you to go out and play with her?  She might be getting anxious if you shut her out - dogs are social animals, they don't like to be left alone.

There's a famous quote by writer Ogden Nash:
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of." :D

So very true Phoebe ;)

My adolescent has done this in the past when she's bored and looking for sport. Usually when she hasn't had her full quota of mental and physical excercise.

One of mine does this. If she decides it's too cold outside she changes her mind. Sometimes I have to say the right words - if I ask her if she wants to go 'in the garden' she'll go; if I just open the door or say 'out you go', then she won't. And I never shut the door until she comes in again - shutting out is the worst punishment I can give them.

i put in a dog door- end of the problem-except when they think they hear something in the garden and crash through the door at 100mph!

My newfi also does this. He barks to go out and then forgots why he is out there, so comes straight back in. 10 mins later he remembers :D

Fortunately neither of mine ask to go out (very rare if they do), apart from first thing in the morning when I go down to make a cup of tea - even then they often don't want to go out :) In the summer the back door is usually open, but in the winter they get four walks a day, so they can last between walks without a problem :)

Daisy

Flo's very efficient at the moment- sits and scratches once on the door to go out- i get up,let her out, then just as i sit down again she's done a wee and back at the door! cant stand the cold and does her business quick, so at present she's in season so we are up,and down alot!

she has just finished her season so maybe thats something to do with it!!

mine goes out, i leave the door ajar and when he is done he just stands there like a lemon in the cold with his nose on the glass waiting for me to open it for him to come back in. he only has to push it with his nose. he can do such clever things but he hasnt worked that one out. he barges the living room door open though. wierd.

my dog has thrown me in the garden a couple of times and slammed the door which i hate so when i get back in i wee in her bed!;-)

:D :D :D

Hi, I'm pretty lucky as my boxer lets herself out, she justs jumps up and opens the door with her paw, shes actually mastered it now and jumps up elegantly and gently puts the handle door with her paw. Just need to teach her to close it now as it gets rather cold at the moment. She opens all our doors like this so we can never shut her out of anywhere. She also opens cupboard doors and the fridge so its not all good.

Mums old Beardie used to do that!!!!
But dad got wise to her. Changed all the handles arounbd so they were either the wrong way up, or round!!!!
Lea :)

Did you, have you, are you training your dog with a treat - eg. they need to go out so you train them with, door open - they do business - come in = they get a treat ?

Giving the treat when the dog comes in will only teach the dog to go out so it can come in and get a treat - the treat should always be given WHEN the puppy is in the act of doing what you want, wether it's sitting, being quite or having a poo or a wee.

Yep - exactly why I asked :rolleyes:   If they have trained the dog with a treat the dog will then use this as an excuse to get a quick snack when they feel a bit peckish.

Mine can do this - but still, it's not a problem as if they haven't done anything they don't get a treat, they soon learn

Arrgh, I hate when the OH does this, just cannot convince him he is training the pooch to simply go in and out, in and out.  Our girl has a big yard and will often spend some time investigating it on her own so I will give her a treat if I CALL her to come in.  If she wants in or out on her own volition her reward is to be let in or out, no treat. 

Poochie girl has us both figured out so she does not go in and out when it's just me at home but if the OH is here she pulls this stunt on him and I just sit and refuse to accommodate.  When I've been away he always complains about how often she wants in and out but he just can't seem to connect it with his giving her the treats.  Obviously the pooch is better at OH TRaining 101 than I am.

no! we used treats for a very short while whilst toilet training her, but we gave the treat as soon as she performed!!