out the door??

I'd love your thoughts on this, before I do anything and mess it all up.

Thanks to Ssscat (my sanity-saving machine!) I have succeeded in training Sophie to stay away from both my outside doors. One is a back door to the outside, and the other is a front door to my apartment hallway.

She's not petrified of the open doors, but she approaches them very, very slowly, interested in them, but not quite brave enough to cross the line. I figure if I keep training her with the Ssscat, she'll hopefully never find the courage to cross the line, and it will become habitual.

Here's the question:
I'm hoping to start her going on walks with me soon. She's doing well on the leash. I don't want to confuse her with a mixed message about going outside though. So I'm trying to decide how to go about this.

a. I've bought a little bell that I can ring when its time to put on her harness and go out. The idea being, eventually she won't ask or try to go out until the bell sounds. Because its the "bell" that allows her outside, and not me.

b. I'm going to pick her up and carry her outside, so she doesn't have the same sensation of being allowed to "step" outside. Do you think this will make a difference?

I'm just worried the walks will undo the training she's had to not cross the threshold. What do you think?

Also, would you be more tempted to leave for walks by the direct-outside door, or the inside/hallway door? Would it matter? I'm thinking I'd rather her escape into the hallway, than outside. But I'm hoping she won't desire to escape at all. (And honestly, I'd rather go in and out by my outside door...)

any advice??? Thanks

Interesting, that's good to know!

Thanks, yeah, I realize this. That's why I'm posting... to know the best ways to go about doing it for the best chance at success...

Yeah, I'll make sure to be vigilant. It's just me and her, and it's pretty much impossible to lost track of her in my little apartment.

I just had another idea. Maybe I'll put her in her carrier and transport her outside that way for the first couple weeks. As it is, she comes with me to visit my parents every Friday, and we leave through the front door (her being in her carrier). That has had no effect on her desire to escape the front door. There is simply no connection made. And if I do take her for walks via the front door and avoid walking her around back, she might be less tempted to bolt through the back door, because she's never been outside that "way" and so it continues to be unfamiliar to her. (especially if I keep up with setting the ssscat to reinforce the rule).