When it comes to getting your dog their very own home, you may think in the back of your mind that it is going to be the best investment you have made. Your dog is going to love it, so you go out and buy the best dog house available. This sets you back a few hundred dollars but you don’t mind, as you know it is going to provide you with a number of benefits. However, when you get home, your dog turns their nose up and doesn’t like it as much as you thought they would. This can be a horrific situation to face, especially if you have just dropped a lot of money on this dog house.
However, as with all problems, there is a solution here. There are a number of things you can do to make sure that your dog loves their new house, making the investment worthwhile. There is no doubt about the fact that dog houses will provide you and your dog with a lot of benefits, so learning how to help them adjust to their new outside home is essential.
That is why we have put this little article together. Here, you will find out and learn about the many ways you can help your dog adjust to their new dog home. There will be 6 tips and they are all very useful and actionable. So, if you have a stubborn dog, we suggest you continue to read on.
6 Ways to Get Your Pet to Like Their Dog House
There are many different ways you can get your dog to enjoy their dog house. However, some are more effective than others so we have gone ahead and separated the more useful techniques from the bad ones. Below you will find 6 effective ways to make sure your dog adjusts to their dog house with little effort on your side.
Make Sure You’ve Timed it Right
When we reference time, we are not saying that you should train your dog to like their dog house at certain times of the day to boost its effectiveness. What we are really talking about is the time of the year. It will be a lot easier to train your dog to like their dog house in the summer than it would be in the winter. There is no way that a dog is going to willingly leave their warm house to go in the rain and cold. You need to make sure that you are choosing a sunny, hot day to get your dog adjusted properly.
Size the Dog House Correctly
This is going to be an obvious one but you need to make sure that your dog house is sized correctly to suit the needs of your dog. There is no way that your dog is going to want to sit and sleep in a dog house that is slowly compressing them. The size of the dog house will vary depending on the breed of your dog so you need to size them before buying. Measure your dog from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail. However, it is sometimes better to get a bigger crate that has more room.
Give Them Time to Adjust
When you get your dog a new house, it is very important to give them time to adjust to their new home. In this situation, you have to set your expectations low and need to be realistic as your dog is not going to jump for joy when they see their new outside home. This is going to be truer for dogs that have never experienced a dog home before or dogs that already have a house. You need to give them time when moving in and try not to rush anything.
Try To Feed Your Dog inside the Dog House
Once you have given your dog time to adjust and ease their way into the home, it is time to start rewarding such behavior. When your dog enters the home, just like you would do with a pet crate, give them a treat and reward them. Do this every time they enter the home, associating it with a place of pleasure. Again, this is the same procedure you’d do with a pet crate but, in some cases, it might take longer as you don’t have a door you can close on the dog. After a period of time, the dog will associate the house with a place of happiness and your job will be complete.
Place Familiar Objects in the Dog House
Your dog is not going to be happy about moving into an unfurnished new home. If you were to move into a new home without any furniture or comforts, you’re not going to want to stay there, are you? When you get a new dog house, it is important to furnish it with toys and belongings so the dog feels right at home. This will, again, help associate the new house with a place of pleasure and will help when it comes to conditioning the dog to enjoy their new area. Adding their favorite blanket and favorite toys is a must and will reduce their anxiety and improve their comfort.
Don’t Place the Dog House a Million Miles Away
When you buy the new house, don’t go and place the house miles away from the home. The last thing you want your dog to feel is banishment, especially when they haven’t done anything wrong. You will want to place the new home close to the doors of your house. At most, you will want the dog to be able to see into the home, just to reassure them that everyone is still there. Your dog will not feel comfortable sleeping in a new dog house if they feel they’re being punished to do so.
Conclusion
Getting a dog house is a fantastic idea and provides you and your dog with a ton of benefits. They can be used for general use or can be used if you don’t like the dog sleeping in the house at night – as some like to get up to mischief. However, when you get the new dog house there may be a few dogs who might not take too kindly to it. In this situations, we suggest you utilize some of the tips above. Go through them one-by-one with your dog and it may be beneficial to combine a few. With the right persistence, your dog will come to love their new home.
