Dutch Shepherd Forum

Hi

I live in southern Ontario. Winter is coming a little earlier then expected. No snow but cold. We have a dog house in the yard, we noticed Dutch ( 4 months) does not use it. He just pulls stuff out into the yard. He's only outside during the day (8 hours). It's a day time high of 5 or 6. How do you train him to go into the dog house? How cold can you leave him out for?

In another month when he's a little more house trained (no accidents) I'd like to start leaving him in the kitchen while I'm out

Thx
Heather

I wouldn't leave the dog out in those temps, even with a dog house. I suggest a crate while you're out at work, or any time you can't supervise.

alspyce wrote:I wouldn't leave the dog out in those temps, even with a dog house. I suggest a crate while you're out at work, or any time you can't supervise.

Agreed. 4 months is very young for him to be trying to sustain his body temperature. A crate inside will keep him warm and keep him from destroying everything in your yard when he gets board.

If outside in the dog house is his only option, I would look into a plastic heating mat that can be put in there to make it more pleasurable. Then feed and water only in the house so that he starts to see it as a pleasant place to be.

I would also bring him into the house and start crate training ASAP! Don't wait till he's older and hope he'll be house trained by the time it gets cold. How is he going to get house trained when he's not in the house??? It's not some thing that just magically occurs with age, it needs to be actively trained.

I also would not be using a kitchen confinement as a puppy plan for a 5 month old Dutchie. Crate train him! It's a life saver in so many situations and applications and does speed up house training.

I still need to know how to train him to use hie dog house. We have started leaving him in his crate when we're out. Started last night. I'm out now. He's in his crate. I feel better knowing he's more comfortable.

Thx
Heather

HeatherH wrote:I still need to know how to train him to use hie dog house. We have started leaving him in his crate when we're out. Started last night. I'm out now. He's in his crate. I feel better knowing he's more comfortable.

If outside in the dog house is his only option, I would look into a plastic heating mat that can be put in there to make it more pleasurable. Then feed and water only in the house so that he starts to see it as a pleasant place to be.

Also, perhaps buy/rent the DVD "Crate Games." By teaching him skill sets in the dog house, you will be reinforcing that it is a pleasant place to be.

this jerk is taking over the forum

I would n't let the dos outside during the winters. I live in Canada and here the winter is really hard and extreme. So once winter comes Max get's inside. And I would have done the same if he was a long haired dog.

BrianNo wrote:I would n't let the dos outside during the winters. I live in Canada and here the winter is really hard and extreme. So once winter comes Max get's inside. And I would have done the same if he was a long haired dog.

Hi Brian, the post you replied to is about 4 years old.