Oreo will not sleep in his doghouse. We have tried everything from moving it to putting his food in there. Putting his food in there finally got him to go into it, but he won't sleep in it. He won't come into the house. We can't put hay, because he would make a horrible mess with it. We've super glued carpet in it, and he took it out and tore it up. He dug himself a hole next to the porch, and he sleeps there. It's dry in that spot so he won't get wet or snowed on. Does anyone have any suggestions? He has to stay warm. He has a lamp in the house to keep him warm. My husband is suggesting to put some dirt in it. Will that work?

__________________

Thank you Caitlin for my siggy!

I had a large male doggy that I found as a stray and he never would house train thus he became an outside doggy. He would never use his igloo doghouse se we got him a large square shaped dog house, he still wouldn't use it. He would sit outside in thunder storm and get rained on, my poor boy so we took plywood and made a shelter instead it was big and had a back, sides, top, bed no front. He was nervous to go into anything box like, but since the shelter had no front and was big (tall and longenough that 4 of him could have fit in there) he felt confortable. It kept rain out and block wind pretty well. It was the best we could do since he wouldn't use a dog house. We added saddle blankets and a carpet to the floor of the shelter. It worked out for him. When we moved homes, we then had a nice large covered patio. So we then put a couch on the patio along with an electric blanket during winter, he loved that. All he needed then would have been a tv he lived to be 12 years old. I had to get him put top sleep last October but he was an amazing big boy!

__________________


Thank you for my lovely siggy Caitlin!

If you did decide to use an electric blanket, be cautious that the cord would be in a very dry place. And if he's a chewer its not a good idea since he might chew the cord and electrcute himself. I am sure you already realize that tho.

__________________


Thank you for my lovely siggy Caitlin!

Why don't you have him sleep in a crate inside or in the garage? You put him in there at night to sleep and he can do what he wants during the day.

I agree... I understand some dogs don't enjoy being house pets; but if you can't put him in a crate or in the garage is there any way youcan build a utility shed on the property, with a dog door?? I know that sounds like a lot; but I mean it can still come in handy for you as the owners if you use it to store tools in or something. I'm talking about those little 8 x 10foot shed things they sell at Farm & Fleet or menards.. the kinda thing some people use to put lawnmowers in or something. Some look really nice too, like mini-barns so it wouldn't be an eyesore. Plus since it's large enough to have a front door and everything, so long as he adjusts to using a doggy door there's no reason he should be uncomfortable in it. Since they have a wooden floor too, you can always throw in old rugs or blankets and sheets from Goodwill or something for him to keep warm in. Just a thought; I know not everyone has the ability to put up a huge shed like that "for the dog" but if you're able to make it happen I'm sure your dog would appreciate the gesture haha. Plus it's not like it wouldn't still have other uses down the road.

__________________
~*~*~*~*~*~*~

facebook.com/rescutopia

Thanks for that idea. We have a covered porch so we will try that. Can't use the blanket cause he is a chewer. But we can put the drop light right over the couch. When we can get one.

__________________

Thank you Caitlin for my siggy!

This is just my experience Dylan has a dogloo (or whatever they are called igloo shaped dog house) we keep cedar shavings in there year round and yes he does make a huge mess with them sometimes but they just rake up pretty easy we tried hay, blankets, you name it but he didn't like any of those. He will go in there if it's bad weather IF no one is around, but if we are home or he thinks some one is watching I don't care if its a freaking monsoon he will sit out in the weather waiting for someone to take pity and let him in. That being said he does spend most of his time with us be it in the house or outside he goes where we go, if its nice weather he stays outside while we are both working. Chances are you think it's dog house weather way before Oreo thinks it is try not to worry and be patient if he's cold he will go in, if you want to spoil him he will probably let you do that too.

I bought sleeping bags from the Goodwill and made a nice den for my two outdoor dogs inside their two dog houses (one they can share). They come in at night, but it does get cold here during the day. They also have three layers of carpet on the bottom of the house. It's quite nice.

__________________