tom&dogs

My dog (blond Lab, 3yr old, male w/ equipment) is acting like he can't come in the doggy door. He has navigated the doggy door with no problem for most of his life and still seems to have no problem going out the doggy door. However, when it's time to come in he is frequently sitting just outside the doggy door whining and finally barking until a family member comes over and invites him to "come on in". And, occasionally even after giving the invitation several times he still won't come through the doggy door ; we have to open the adjacent sliding glass door to let him in. This "cow at new gate" behavior has started in just that last couple of months and seems to becoming more of a frequent occurrence and a problem.

I don't believe he has had any negative experience with the doggy door recently that would prompt this new behavior. In fact we have another small dog (female Whippet) and the two dogs play together nicely and until recently follow each other in and out of the doggy door. The Lab still seems to have better success at coming back in through the doggy door if he is following the Whippet, although it is not a 100% success rate - he still will occasionally come to halt and sit and whine at the door.

Has anyone else experienced this cow at new gate / dog at doggy door behavior and have a solution ?

Thanks