How do you get a dog to use his dog house? He will not sleep in it unless I tie him to it and I don't want to have him tied up. Help!! Jamie

-- jamie (jamie@nowhere.com), December 27, 2001

Answers

Response to dog house

Our "free range" German Shepard does the same thing every winter, but when it gets cold enough, he starts using it again. Try putting an old item of your, or the dog's favorite persons clothing, in the dog box, that might help attract him to start using it.

Also, try tossing a few dog biscuits in it every time you pass by it, way in the back!!!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), December 27, 2001.

Response to dog house

JAMIE....IF YOU KEEP LETTING HIM IN THE HOUSE HE WILL AVOID THE DOG HOUSE.I BELIEVE ITS BEST TO TIE UP A DOG UNLESS YOUR YARD IS FENCED. GEAR UP A DOG RUN OTHERWISE WITH A CLOTHS LINE AFFAIR.HE CAN RUN AROUND THE YARD AND STILL BE BASICLY FREE. WHEN HE`S LOCKED OUT AND ITS RAINING HE WILL SEEK OUT DRYER QUARTERS.PERHAPS THROW AN OLD WORK SHIRT OR JACKET OF YOURS INTO THE DOG HOUSE.I HAD A BULL TERRIOR THAT WAS REALLY STUBURN[SP?].HE WOULD STAND AT THE CLOSEST POINT TO MY BASEMENT DOOR.AND WAIT FOR ME TO UNHOOK HIM.HE WOULD THEN RAM THE DOOR WITH HIS HEAD AND FORCE HIS WAY IN.I ONLY LEFT HIM OUTSIDE A FEW HOURS A DAY.EVENTUALLY HE MADE USE OF THE DOG HOUSE. I HAD ONE DOG THAT WOULDN`T USE HIS DOG HOUSE....THERE WAS A HORNETS NEST INSIDE.PLUS LEAVING YOUR DOG OUTSIDE ALL THE TIME CAN LEED TO PROBLEMS. [1]BITING INSECTS[CONSTANT IRRITATION AND DISEASE] [2]FROST BITE [3]ATTACKS BY WILD ANIMALS [4]CONSTANT BARKING [5]DEHYDRATION IN THE SUMMER

CORDWOODGUY

PS:IF THE DOG IS GOING TO BE OUT IN COLD WEATHER [1]PUT A LIGHT BULB UNDER THE FLOOR [2]INSULATE THE DOG HOUSE [3]BUILD THE DOG HOSE WITH AN "L" ENTRANCE.HE HAS TO WALK AROUND IT AND LAY DOWN.IT WORKS AS A WIND BREAK TO KEEP HIM WARMER.

NOTE:I`VE SEEN DOGS FREEZE TO DEATH IN SOME NICE DOG HOUSES.

-- CORDWOODGUY (cordwoodguy@n2teaching.com), December 27, 2001.

Response to dog house

One of my basset hounds does not use his house, unless it is raining or very cold (below 10 F). He will slept coiled up under a pine tree.

He does use his house to hide from the birds. He hides and waits for them to come down to steal his food then pounces at them. Every now and then he gets one! Keeps him occupied for hours.

As long as the dog does get frost bite, why force him to use the house. I personally love to slept outside looking at the stars.

-- Rich (pntbeldyk@wirefire.com), December 27, 2001.

Response to dog house

We had the unfortunate situation in that a hornet nest was in our dog house, so check for that. We throw straw in the dog house and Goldie has a great time stomping it down to make a nice bed. Try throwing an old garment of yours in it after you've worn it a bit. Make it fun for him to go in the dog house.

-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), December 27, 2001.

Response to dog house

I agree with Ardie. Check to see that nothing else is using the dog house (hornets, etc.). Tossing in some dog bones might help. My dogs only use the dog house in the worst weather. Yes, we get bad weather here in New Mexico too, we're at 10K feet altitude. I use cider chips for them to lay in. Keeps the bugs out, and the dogs can honker down in them and stay warm. Can't make them use it if they don't want to. I had a really nice barn built for the horses. They never used it. Just stayed out in the rain, wind, snow and ice storms. They would turn their backs to the wind and stand together. Felt safer that way than in the barn. Maybe you dog just likes being out. Good luck...

-- Ellen in N.M. (histepper47@aol.com), December 27, 2001.

Response to dog house

I am wondering why you want your dog to sleep inside? perhaps he doesn't like it because he can't see all around. Chaining your dog to it may make him feel trapped and being inside not making a sound is better then being trapped outside.

As long as you have provided a place for him I certainly wouldn't worry about it. Building a dog house that the dog has access to from all four sides and can see everywhere, Flat roof so he can jump on top (where mine sleeps!) and under lined with straw for warmth.

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), December 27, 2001.

Response to dog house

I don't believe that short hair dogs were built for the cold outside. They are not like horses and burn hay to keep warm. Bring them indoors when it's below freezing.

-- Susan from almost Northern MI (smb7705@aol.com), December 27, 2001.

Response to dog house

My dogs don't always sleep in their house..one of the huge dogloos. They sleep in a pile (there are 2 bassetts and a weinerdog ) If it rains...no problem. One dog alone may get awfully cold outside. I agree. I live where it dosn't snow or get down below freezing very often, but still bring them in when its real cold. They are all shorthaired. I don't tie the dogs up ever (mine are not smart enough to handle that even if I wanted to) but they do have a fenced yard all their own, which is their safe place to play. They are only out loose if we are with them. I used to have a malamute who just laid in the snow to sleep. He would hate it if I tried to get him to sleep inside (lived in Northern Minnesota then) and would lay by the back door with his nose to the crack under the door waiting to go back out.

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), December 27, 2001.