Dog not using dog house

joejoe87

My dog is a 14.5 year old terrier mix. He always used his little house but now he's not and has been sitting at the other side of the garden against the hedge, even when it's raining. I've moved his house to where he's been sitting and now he's just sitting beside it and not going inside! He's only outside during the day and comes inside every evening until the following morning. It's really weird, why has he stopped using his little house?

Fakediamond

Maybe a tomcat or fox has scent marked inside it and he's not happy about that. Poor little man, he must have been miserable today with all that rain!

joejoe87

Fakediamond wrote: »

Maybe a tomcat or fox has scent marked inside it and he's not happy about that. Poor little man, he must have been miserable today with all that rain!

I do have two cats and when I moved the house today one of the cats was looking inside, you might be right. I'll wash his cushions and give the inside a clean.

aonb

Glad he's inside at night OP, but for an elderly dog it would be kinder to allow him to be indoors during the day and especially during a very wet day.

So many things can put a dog off - a wasp/bee might have been in there , a branch might have fallen on the roof of it while he was inside - who knows with dogs!

Rubberchikken

Is he in good health? Poor little fella must have been miserable in the rain. Hope he's ok.

joejoe87

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Is he in good health? Poor little fella must have been miserable in the rain. Hope he's ok.

Ya he's in perfect health and plays like a young dog, you'd never guess he was 14

joejoe87

The routine his whole life has been to go outside at about lunch time and to come in at dinner time, he has a massive garden and wants to go out, he knows his routine. He's always used his house for naps, it's only the past few days that he's not been using the house.

aonb

Just a thought - does he have to jump up to get into his house?? Our arthritic dog could no longer climb/jump up even little steps when he was particularly stiff/sore - especially on wet/cold days...

Hes a cutie

mistybluehills

joejoe87 wrote: »

My dog is a 14.5 year old terrier mix. He always used his little house but now he's not and has been sitting at the other side of the garden against the hedge, even when it's raining. I've moved his house to where he's been sitting and now he's just sitting beside it and not going inside! He's only outside during the day and comes inside every evening until the following morning. It's really weird, why has he stopped using his little house?

Poor oul divil.
Older dogs can go a bit senile, it could be that
Very sad images him sitting in the rain

joejoe87

mistybluehills wrote: »

Poor oul divil.
Older dogs can go a bit senile, it could be that
Very sad images him sitting in the rain

It's dry where he was sitting with tree cover, it's not as depressing as it sounds

joejoe87

aonb wrote: »

Just a thought - does he have to jump up to get into his house?? Our arthritic dog could no longer climb/jump up even little steps when he was particularly stiff/sore - especially on wet/cold days...

Hes a cutie

Not really , it's raised maybe 6 inches or less off the ground. He did go in when I told him but was reluctant to stay in there. He's fine jumping onto the bed or couch but sometimes takes a few attempts these days. I'd say it has something to do with the cats because he loved his house before.

aonb

any rats about? check the undercarriage of his house to see if theres any sign of rats using it too...

coathanger

joejoe87 wrote: »

Ya he's in perfect health and plays like a young dog, you'd never guess he was 14

God, he's gorgeous, cute happy little fella, tell the cats to sod offer & find their own accommodation 😄

joejoe87

aonb wrote: »

any rats about? check the undercarriage of his house to see if theres any sign of rats using it too...

I don't think so, the cats bring back the odd mouse or bird but never a rat. Could be foxes around and there is a stray tomcat that appears every now and then and fights my tomcats so could be him soiling the house or something.

mistybluehills

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Is he in good health? Poor little fella must have been miserable in the rain. Hope he's ok.

Oh good.

joejoe87

I washed his blankets and scrubbed the house, he's using it again in its original location. Something must have scented there