dog house

    • Gold Top Dog

    dog house

    nobody answered my post under puppies, housetraining etc. so I will try here. how do I get Lizzy to like her doghouse? she loves her crate but she won't go near her house outside. she is never out there long enough to need it but if she ever has to be I want her to use it.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Do you clicker train?  That's what I would do.  I would also feed her in the dog house, play around/inside the dog house and if she has any confident friends, let them check out the dog house so she knows its safe![:D]
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    Good luck, lol.  Most indoor doggies Ive seen want nothing to do with their outdoor house.[;)]
    • Gold Top Dog
    We went through that with both dogs.  I hope this helps: 
    1- we took their favorite toys and played around the dog house
    2- we left a small rug inside the crate at night, then transferred it to the dog house, to show them their scent was in the dog house.
    3- we took their favorite treats and tossed them in as far back as we could every day, several times a day.  Then every time we went outside, first thing, we went to the dog house and tossed in a treat.
    • Gold Top Dog
    thank you guys,  I will try your suggestions. last night I threw some treats in there one at a time at random times. she went in after them and after a while she went in by herself looking for one.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I would try puting an old t-shirt with everones scent on it inside the dog house.
    • Puppy
    We've done pretty much everything listed here.  Transfer the carpet from the crate to the house so that she feels the same comfort and scents.  And reserve certain toys for the house only.  Let her be outside and play with the REALLY good toys and don't let those toys back in the house.  And....if you can fit..... seeing Mommy in the house helps too.
     
    Remember that if you want her to LIKE it, it must never be used as punishment.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Move to Alaska and make her sleep outside. She'll use her doghouse! [:D]



    Though dogs here DO stay outside in all weather here, but we set up the doghouses special for that.
    • Gold Top Dog
    When we moved to this house I thought that absent a doggie door some shelter was needed.  Having access to the garage didn't work since they decided that they could eat their way through my landlords mound of furniture and stuff......so I put some igloo houses in the yard for them.  Not one will go anywhere near them, although they do like to play king of the mountain with them!
     
    We've been having freaky weather lately...bright sunshine and downpours at the same time, so I don't always know that it's pouring until everyone is already soaked......and since we blocked acess to under the deck they don't have anyplace to stay dry that they will use.  What we finally did was put a tarp from one side of the deck and over the fence so that they have a sheltered area, that it layered with straw as dry bedding....oddly they ALL get under there when the sudden downpours start.  Why they won't use the houses I'm not sure, but the open area under the tarp seems perfect to them.....whatever it takes I guess.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Glenda, your dogs probably don't use the dog house for the same reason Max wouldn't use one ... the "dog house" is where we all live. [:D]

    Joyce
    • Gold Top Dog
    The darned fools!  Just a minute ago I glanced out the kitchen window to see, yep, pouring rain again....two of them were atop the igloos while the other 4 were snug and dry under the tarp shelter.......And, the sun was shining when we put them out all of 10 minutes before that..........sigh!
    • Gold Top Dog
    To satisfy my own thinking, I have a doghouse for Shadow, lined with cedar chips. He'll lay out in the frost or snow. I got it primarily to give him a windbreak on a freezing day when we're gone to work. He's used it to hide toys in, now and then.
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    Dogs don't like those plastic igloos. I have never seen a dog really want to use one.

    Here's a picture of Sofia's doghouse. It's up on legs, and filled with straw. The door is offset, so she doesn't have cold air blowing right in at her.

    Ron, lining the doghouse with straw would probably be better for Shadow. Unless he's allergic.



    • Gold Top Dog
    Ace likes his plastic igloo just fine.  He likes it outside better most of the time.  But if he doesn't like the weather or wants to get away, he'll curl up in there. 

    Anyway, does a dog really need to *like* his doghouse if he's inside the human house most of the time?  It's not like a crate where you're going to force them to spend time in there.  I figure he just needs to know it's there and that it's his in case he wants to use it.  If he likes it outside better that doesn't bother me.  He's no dummy -- if he's too cold or wet he'll avail himself of the shelter that's available even if it's not his absolute favorite place.