Rocky was always an indoor dog until about 1 year ago, when we moved house and I decided it was time for him to stay outside, as he is a Pitbull and I just cannot risk him in the house with DD.
He loves it outside, won't even come inside if I ask him to anymore, but it's getting cold, and I see him shivering, and the yard has no shelter. He does have a brick kennel, which he's a bit scared of and never used it.
How can I convince him to use the kennel?
What do you guys do to keep your dog warm in Winter?
(He has a cosy warm dog bed but it gets wet when it rains.)
Mum's dog, a jack russell mix has a Drizabone dog coat, wool lining but it's waterproof oilskin on the outside so she doesn't get wet. Would he wear something like that without tearing it off? You can also get Weatherbeeta dog rugs, like a horse rug but dog size.
Have you tried enticing him into the kennel with food? We used to feed our dog in his kennel so he got used to it. Or maybe putting an old sheet/blanket inside so it's not quite so hard to lay down in?
Failing that..if he chooses not to use it and gets wet and cold that's his fault..lol.
Where is his kennel? If it's miles up the back of the yard he probably wants to sleep closer. My dog likes to sleep right by the door and she only uses her kennel if it is there or under a bedroom window.
You can get him a warm jacket and a trampoline so he is off the floor. My dog uses her kennel but she still wears her PJ's in winter.
our dog wouldn't even go near her kennel until we moved it right outside the back door so she can look inside when she is in it. the day we moved it there she suddenly started using it so it may just be cos he wants to be able to see you. being a brick kennel though may be a little hard. are you able to put him in the laundry at night or when it's raining maybe.
My dogs won't lie in their kennels unless they are next to the back door ... a waterproof coat is an option, but will require training to keep it on the dog. Put it on the dog and feed the dog, or take the dog for a walk so the dog associates the coat with good and not evil. I have an oilskin with flannel lining for my terrier x kelpie. She hates it, but she doesn't shiver ...
Dear Dog is Freezing!
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