Dog Door

The temperatures at home have been dipping into the mid 30's. I know that it doesn't compare to our friends living in colder climates but it's Southern California! I feel like it's getting colder and hotter each and every year -- must be the depleting ozone layer :S

We had a couple of days of horrendous weather (rain and cold). It was bad and since we don't have a patio cover yet, the dogs really don't have a place to hang out. We had been leaving the garage-to-yard door open to allow them to hang out but the garage still felt like a sub zero freezer (not too much better).

So for Christmas, Santa brought the dogs a top of the line insulated doggie door. I was set to install, Carlos on the other hand had his reservations (You see, Trinity we've come to find out loves card board boxes - she's not about creating a fort or a play house, she likes to rip them to shreds. We've come home to cardboard box confetti. So Carlos was uneasy about leaving them in the garage UNSUPERVISED.)

I understood but they were so cold and shivering, I can't imagine keeping them in their dog coats all day. It not right. After some gentle persuasion from me and my Abuelita, he gave in. We installed the door but unbeknownst to us - running in and out of dog doors isn't instinctual. The dogs refused to use it. For the first 3 days, we spent hours forcing and shoving dogs through the door and using various dog treats and peanut butter (they're favorite) as bribes.

Now they're finally more accepting of the door and Ripley no longer waits for Trinity to always walk in first nor does she paw the door and sliver in with her eye closed. Oh those two!