Doghouse Aversion
Question:
I have a one year old Dachshund mix who, for the post part, prefers to stay outdoors. When we are away from home, we also let him stay outdoors during the daytime. He has an igloo doghouse with bedding. The problem is, he WILL NOT go in it. He drags his bedding out and lies on it. The problem is, especially this time of year when our weather changes quickly, if it starts to rain, he lays out in it. Any ideas, what the aversion to the doghouse might be? We are considering building him one to see iif that helps. Sherry
Response:
>I have a one year old Dachshund mix who, for the post part, prefers to stay >outdoors.
Since dogs are ’social animals’ I find it hard to believe your little dog would rather spend all his time outside in the yard ALONE vs. come inside and be with his people. I can’t help but wonder why someone would have a dog at all if they stick it outside and don’t allow it to become a member of the family. Most times the answer is the same: they buy the dog and never get around to training it. The dog pees on the rug…the dog gets booted outside. -The dog gets a second chance…pees again (despite having his nose rubbed in it TIME AND AGAIN)…stupid dog…OUTSIDE! -The dog is left alone inside and chews up shoes or digs in trash…can’t have that…OUTSIDE! (stupid dog!) Bottom line is out of sight out of mind is easier and quicker than training the dog. You want the dog protected from the elements so you buy a shelter. Dog wants YOUR shelter. How about this? YOU spend one HOT summer day in that igloo and YOU spent a week alone in your own back yard in the heat, the rain etc. and you tell ME how much YOU "prefer bing outdoors". You sound like a million other heartless, lazy dog-OWNERS. You aren’t a dog lover.
Response:
>>I have a one year old Dachshund mix who, for the post part, prefers to stay >outdoors. >Since dogs are ’social animals’ I find it hard to believe your little dog >would >rather spend all his time outside in the yard ALONE vs. come inside and be >with >his people.
Read the post again, this time with comprehension. The post said "When we are away from home, we also let him stay outdoors during the daytime." I have no intention of forcing a dog to stay cooped up indoors when we are away in the daytime. >I can’t help but wonder why someone would have a dog at all if they stick it >outside and don’t allow it to become a member of the family.
Read the post again. The dog does NOT live outdoors. >Most times the answer is the same: >they buy the dog and never get around to training it.
Read the post again. I "bought" a dog? What exactly is the market for dachshund mixes? If it’s any of your business, which it isn’t, he is a Humane Society rescue. My favorite kind of dog, thank you very much. Do YOU ‘buy’ dogs? The dog pees on the >rug…the dog gets booted outside. >-The dog gets a second chance…pees again (despite having his nose rubbed in >it TIME AND AGAIN)…stupid dog…OUTSIDE!
Read the post again. This dog is over a year old. He has been completely housebroken for months. >-The dog is left alone inside and chews up shoes or digs in trash…can’t >have >that…OUTSIDE! (stupid dog!)
Where did you pull that one from? >Bottom line is out of sight out of mind is easier and quicker than training >the >dog. >You want the dog protected from the elements so you buy a shelter. Dog wants >YOUR shelter. How about this? YOU spend one HOT summer day in that igloo and >YOU spent a week alone in your own back yard in the heat, the rain etc. and >you
A week?? A hot summer day? Honey, today it was sixty-five degrees. Read the post again. It said, "in the daytime". That’s a few hours, not a "week." >tell ME how much YOU "prefer bing outdoors". >You sound like a million other heartless, lazy dog-OWNERS. You aren’t a dog >lover.
And you sound very much like someone who reads three words of a post before lambasting the poster, with no intention of offering any "advice." Sherry
Response:
Sherry, my dog likes to "camp out" from her crate. (OK, she has to "camp out" indoors because I’m in a condo and don’t have a backyard). She will sometimes take her blanket out of the crate and move it into the living room to nest. Why? Who know, because she’s a dachsy! Have you tried putting a special treat in the doghouse so he has positive associations with it? Or maybe he doesn’t like the closed in feeling (if he’s not used to having this type of bed inside) he gets from the doghouse you bought. Just a couple of thoughts. Dorothy, owned by C.C., a very spoiled dachshund
Response:
>Sherry, my dog likes to "camp out" from her crate. (OK, she has to "camp out" >indoors because I’m in a condo and don’t have a backyard). She will sometimes >take her blanket out of the crate and move it into the living room to nest. >Why? Who know, because she’s a dachsy! Have you tried putting a special >treat >in the doghouse so he has positive associations with it? Or maybe he doesn’t >like the closed in feeling (if he’s not used to having this type of bed >inside) >he gets from the doghouse you bought. >Just a couple of thoughts. >Dorothy, owned by C.C., a very spoiled dachshund
Dorothy, thanks for the reply. It’s nice to know there are some people who are here to share information. I’ve already tried the treat-in-the-doghouse route. The Igloo house was given to me, and although we washed it thoroughly, I wonder if there are some residue "doggie smells” that he doesn’t like. I think you may be right about the "enclosed feeling" — The plan now is to build him a more open shelter. It doesn’t have to be really elaborate or enclosed. The purpose is just to keep the rain off him. He likely won’t be left outdoors for any length of time in the winter anyway. He’s an outdoor doggie for sure though. If he’s left indoors, he throws himself against the door wanting out. He spent at least eight hours yesterday running behind the tractor, or hitching a ride in the cab. You should have seen him — he was one tired Doxie last night. I don’t think a bomb would have woken him up. Sherry
Response:
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