Jan
07
How can I get my dog to use his dog house ?
ByHe’s a 7 year old Dalmation and we got him a dog house when he was 2. He’s kind of spoiled by having access to the house and the entire basement. His house is nice though: carpeted, he can lay down inside and be completely sheltered, roof has shingles. But he won’t go in, even if it’s cold.
17 Comments
January 7th, 2010 at 9:35 am
try put his food in the dog house!!!
January 7th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Your dog is not going to use his house. He has your house…basement. He is obviously not stupid…
January 7th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Maybe you should go in it yourself and see what he does.
January 7th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Throw his favorite toy in there so he will get used to going in there. Also try putting treats in there. Last resort get in there with him!
January 7th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Dog houses are more for when you leave a dog outside more often. Your dog doesn’t really need to use the dog house if you let him in every night.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Try with treats. It’s going to take time especially since he has not used it in a really long time. Command him to go in, when he does give him a treat and praise him. Try this a couple of times a day. Then you can add an extra command; when he has gone in (no treat) have him sit (treat). It will then progress into him using his house when told to with out any treats. Again, be patient because it will take time.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
get an indoor dog house and get him used to sleeping in that, after about 2 weeks move it outside. however, if the dog is used to being indoors he may not appreciate the cold nights.
January 7th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
my dad bread and raised German Shepards and had that same problem. Remember Pavlov’s study on Classical Conditioning?
If your dog’s house is realitively easy to clean inside. Place a piece of newspaper in the corner and start by feeding him there. Oh, don’t forget water too. He just might get use to being in there…
Rood Ruck…
January 7th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Have you tried putting a light in? I have a Rottweiler that is scared of the dark. She has to have a nightlight on or else she will panic at night. Yes, this scaredy-cat is my great protector.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
no food!! hell she it as a place just to eat and it’s not a goood start. Start by hanging around the dog house with him, play with hinm near there. Toss toys in there, make it look friendly and comfortable so he knows their nothing wrong nor anything bad about beeing in it.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
u should put his favourite things inside it or u can put it outside of the house when it rains so it cannot enter and it have no choice but to stay in it’s dog house. i hope that helps
January 7th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
it will do if u get ur dog trained!
January 7th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Maybe he never will – I know I guy who had a very expensive bungalow built and he had a dog house built in the same style for his dog – the dog NEVER took to the place and preferred a blanket in an old shed.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
find out what ur dogs fav treat is and put one in his dog house and when he’s in there praise him and give him another treat do this 1-2 times a day.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
As some one said, and I agree, why should he use his house when he has yours?
Make him stay outside more.
Depending upon the ease of entry, you might think of putting his water in it, as far as his food.
If he sees you put the water in, and you feed him a dry food, in the meantime you remove all the other water around. We will go in to get a drink.
If he stay’s outside enough and there is no place else for him to lie down maybe he will use his house.
Something else you can try, perhaps in combination, is to take a towel or something that has your smell on it and put it in there. If he has a towel that he lies on in the house, use that.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
try to put dog food in it if that doesn’t work let your dog have time let him settle in if that doesn’t work I can’t help ya out mate.
January 7th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
try getting in it with his favorite toy and intice him to come in with you…use a treat if you have to but to teach him to use it you will more then likely have to get in there to let him know it’s ok…and it may take more then once to do it…spend some time in it with him…sounds funny i know but it works