He doesn't like the new dog house...

[BigNewbie]

here's the scoop. I decided that I would get one of the really nice Xtra large dog houses that are built by some amish folk in the area. It's gorgeous and it cost me a pretty penny too. Well, my dogs don't care; they won't spend any time in the thing at all. I put in food, toys, cheesebugers, they go in get the goodies and come out. How can I make them love it??

[SABELLESMOM]

You can't. There are far too many interesting things going on outside. You can hardly expect them to know how special this place is, in styling, etc. To them it's a shelter from the coldest, most miserable, windy, wet, icy nasty day when they'd most likely be in the house in the first place.

Yes, they still have to have shelter, a dry and warm place. My girls have those molded insulated type resin (?) houses? The only time they go in while in the play yard is to chase the cocker out for a game of tag. Poor baby is 12 and he has to put up with such nonsense! Imagine, being interrupted from your elderly...well needed nap!

[Judi W]

Maybe it isn't that they don't like it, but rather that they don't think they need it. If its time to curl up and nap, I imagine they'd rather be inside with you. If its time to frolic in the yard, they can't throw a party in the dog house.

[rotnhouse]

I'm glad to see this thread. My situation is a bit different.

I have a neighbor that keeps their dog, a Catahoula, outside all the time. I am thankful for the assistance of Animal Control in at least getting the poor guy off the chain he had to endure for the first 6 months. Anyway, since they have little knowledge or concern for the dog, I bought them a dog house last summer that he could use in rainy or cold weather. At my suggestion, they have also tried food and treats in the shelter, but he absolutely refuses to go in, but instead curls up in a tight ball on the freezing concrete.

Any suggestions for how we can get him to use the dog house? Obviously, convincing them to let him inside is not an option here.

[rotnhouse]

Does anyone have advice on how to get him to use the dog house?