My daughter has a 12 year old mix breed. He is very much an old man-dog, he is very white where he used to be dark grey and black, he seems to move alot slower, and his hearing and vision are bad. This winter I got him so hay for his house so he'll be warm, although it has been a mild winter. Since then he has only been seen in it a couple times. The neighbor dog is a younger female who sometimes lays in there during the day, I have chased her away and spoke to my neighbor about it. I work nights and when I come home in the early morning hours he is asleep on our porch. Why won't he sleep in his hay filled dog house? Is it because he is old and maybe forgot? I can't imagine that the open porch is warmer than his house. I think the female next door is partly responsible but I think maybe he doesn't like the hay-we used to bag up leaves from the fall and put the leaves in his house throughout the winter. Any thoughts? Moving him indoors is NOT an option.
2007-03-01 15:29:36 · 9 answers · asked by gus_zalenski 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Dogs know so much more about the weather and conditions than we do... He is a very smart old man.. leave him alone. He is guarding that door so no one can bother anything... this is his job and he wants to do it well.
A happy dog always has a job..
Now, smile and stop worrying about this old fella...
AIN'T IT GREAT???
2007-03-01 15:37:32 · answer #1 · answered by H.O.T. Dog 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This may sound stupidly simple, but for the house door....(how can I describe it?) does he have to step up into it? If he does, (I really am having a hard time describing what I'm talking about), like if there is a rim/thin board at the bottom of the house doorway in which he would have to step up and over the doorway to get into the house, try removing it so that it is made so that he can just walk right into it. I wish I could post a picture here to show you what I mean, LOL!
My dad keeps dogs outside too, and when they get elderly, like past 15 years of age, he has had to adjust the house, because I'm guessing the dog gets stiff joints and can no longer step into the house, and won't sleep in there. As soon as he removes this board on the bottom of the doorway of the house, and the dog is able to just walk into the house without having to step over it, they immediately start sleeping in the house again.
Try that before removing the hay. Hay is so warm, and my dad's dogs love it when it's cold. It's so warm that as soon as the weather breaks the least little bit, they kick it out of the house, because then it's TOO warm!
(P.S....I wish you could reconsider keeping him inside.)
2007-03-01 15:54:25 · answer #2 · answered by marcelswifeee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dogs are very smart and resourceful. If left alone, they pretty much take care of themselves. Since he is older, he may be experiencing some problems that humans also suffer from. Dogs are capable of getting diseases and disorders that humans have, albeit they usually have a tremendous immune system as opposed to ours. They can eat things that we would die from and rarely get infections or viruses. If a dog is used to being outside, chances are that his coat is thick enough to provide him with enough warmth to make it through most winters. He will go inside when he gets cold. If you are worried about him, put a blanket on the porch where he lies down or even a doggie bed. If he sleeps there already what harm is it going to do. If he just started this behavior, he may just want to be close to you and your family. I have had many dogs and other animals. Although, I don't believe all the psychic mumbo jumbo people say about dogs being telepathic, I do beleive that they have more keen senses than we do. They can sense when something is wrong with their masters, so it just seems logical that they would know if something is wrong within themselves. If he has arthritis or other age related illnesses, he may be comforted being closer to his family. The few times my dog has been sick or when it is going to storm, she climbs in my lap and will not get down. She knows something isn't right. She may not know what, but she knows something is off. Take him to the vet and make sure he doesn't have anything going on and then just let him be. That's the way I want to be when I get old, just let me do what I want to do as long as it makes me happy. Don't we owe that to our "best friends"?
2007-03-01 15:47:01 · answer #3 · answered by helpme06 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take an old unwashed t-shirt (that has been worn and still has your body scent on it) and put it in the dog house. Maybe he just wants to be near the family. This will make him feel like part of you is with him.
2007-03-01 15:35:57 · answer #4 · answered by DOT 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The igloo type canines house is a difficulty for quite a few canines. they do no longer in basic terms like the form and with some canines, it extremely is been extensive-unfold to reason "Igloo tail," donning the hair off the backside of the tail. classic type canines properties are lots greater useful as long because of fact the hollow is shielded from the climate and that they have got astounding bedding to place on interior.
2016-11-26 23:30:14 · answer #5 · answered by samas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my dog dose nt like to sleep in his house too he like to sleep near my window lol i think you should change the hay to somthing like old clothes and tell your neighbor to get there dog it's own house
2007-03-01 15:39:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take out the hay and try pine shavings. The hay may be prickly and he doesn't like it.
2007-03-01 15:34:13 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most dogs will not sleep in a dog house that is inhabited by another animal...
mine are the same way..
I got my dog house from my grandparents, who had three other dogs...
and my dogs wont touch it unless it is raining or snowing...
try building a new one...
2007-03-01 15:33:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is there any harm in letting the dog sleep where he wants to?
2007-03-01 15:36:45 · answer #9 · answered by regwoman123 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋