Dog House question

samatthe

How do you teach a dog to use an outdoor dog house?

My dog is approximately 8 months old. He's a lab mix and likes being inside the house as well as being outside. I recently bought him a dog house to protect him from the elements while I am at work. But he refuses to go in. I've placed food, toys, treats, etc inside the house. He will go in and get what he wants out. But he will sit outside at the back door when it begins to rain or when it gets cold.

The house is the proper size (not to big, not too small), with his favorite bed. Why won't he just use the house?

Bleuracer

Im no expert and Im new with my first dog, hence Im here. However, maybe one thing you could try doing in placing the new dog house indoors for a week or so and get him to sleep in there at nights, or tie him up on a medium lead outdoors where he cant get to the back door but easily rest in his new cold plastic den.

DogAdvocat

Since he likes being near the back door, which makes sense because that's where he last saw you disappear (assumably), why not put the doghouse near the back door where he waits. Make sure he can see the back door if he is laying inside the doghouse.

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