dog house issue

aaronturnzi

Hello . to try keep this short and to the point .

-3 year old female retired greyhound

-Stays outside for a couple of hours during the weekdays while in work.

-Bought new garden shed for her and converted it into a large doghouse , insulated it , laid down hay , has radio and bed

-loved it for the 1st month , no bother going in and would happily sleep and stay in it for hours

- during the storm that happened a few weeks ago , the latch that keeps the door only open half way snapped off while i was in work , potentially cause the door to swing open and close at rapid pace , causing large banging sounds and potentially causing major distress to the dog.

- ever since that , the dog seems to ignore the shed and does not go in on her own , meaning she just stays outside during the day , no matter the weather .

-only way to get her inside is if i gently lead her on , she will not fight it what so ever and when she is inside there is not a bother on her , but she will leave straight away once i leave .

-even putting food in there doesn't motivate her - came home and her breakfast would be untouched completely

-she just seems to completely ignore the shed now , doesnt even go near it or sniff. Its like it is not even there.

Has anyone got any tips that could help her in this type of situation so i can get her going back into her shed again , instead of sitting out in the cold ?

Thank you all very much in advance

Does anyone have any tips on how i can get her to

charlietheminxx

Is there a reason she can't be in the house? I understand how frustrating it must be when you've put work into making somewhere nice for her, but she was out there in a storm, cold and scared and you can't blame her for having a negative association with it.

Obviously greyhounds feel the cold more than other dogs and they really shouldn't be outside unaccompanied at this time of year... You said it's for a couple of hours while you're at work - it it literally a couple of hours or is it most of the day?

aaronturnzi

charlietheminxx wrote: »

Is there a reason she can't be in the house? I understand how frustrating it must be when you've put work into making somewhere nice for her, but she was out there in a storm, cold and scared and you can't blame her for having a negative association with it.

Obviously greyhounds feel the cold more than other dogs and they really shouldn't be outside unaccompanied at this time of year... You said it's for a couple of hours while you're at work - it it literally a couple of hours or is it most of the day?

Thanks for the reply.

Just in regards to the shed. I have tested it out myself on the coldest of nights and sat in it for a fairly long time . It is just as warm and sheltered as a regular house would be. Thats how well kitted out it is . Inside while at work isnt really an option due to many reasons , hense why i invested in this shed and have done a ton of work to make it what is it.

Issue is she has gone from loving it , to completely ignoring it.

so solution im looking for is how to re-train her to love it again

Graces7

This is ??avoidance?? after she was so badly scared by the door banging like that? is there some gradual way of desensitizing her to that as we would treat a phobia which is what this resembles?

charlietheminxx

aaronturnzi wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

Just in regards to the shed. I have tested it out myself on the coldest of nights and sat in it for a fairly long time . It is just as warm and sheltered as a regular house would be. Thats how well kitted out it is . Inside while at work isnt really an option due to many reasons , hense why i invested in this shed and have done a ton of work to make it what is it.

Issue is she has gone from loving it , to completely ignoring it.

so solution im looking for is how to re-train her to love it again

For the moment, you might need to make it an option. You can get her to like the shed again, but it's going to take time. For the moment, could you leave her in the kitchen or something at least? I've no doubt that an insulated shed is all good generally, but it must have been cold with the door open in a storm and if she isn't going in right now, then that means she's sitting outside and it's far too cold for that.

For a long term solution, maybe consider fitting a dog door to the shed. This means the main door can be fully closed and won't blow open again. Spend time sitting in the shed with her. Teach her how to use the dog door by sitting either side of it with treats. Loads of praise. Just spend an hour each day out there with her over the next few weekends, give special treats that aren't part of your normal routine. Play games in there. She needs to feel like it's a happy/safe space and extended quality time with you out there should be helpful.

aaronturnzi

charlietheminxx wrote: »

For the moment, you might need to make it an option. You can get her to like the shed again, but it's going to take time. For the moment, could you leave her in the kitchen or something at least? I've no doubt that an insulated shed is all good generally, but it must have been cold with the door open in a storm and if she isn't going in right now, then that means she's sitting outside and it's far too cold for that.

For a long term solution, maybe consider fitting a dog door to the shed. This means the main door can be fully closed and won't blow open again. Spend time sitting in the shed with her. Teach her how to use the dog door by sitting either side of it with treats. Loads of praise. Just spend an hour each day out there with her over the next few weekends, give special treats that aren't part of your normal routine. Play games in there. She needs to feel like it's a happy/safe space and extended quality time with you out there should be helpful.

Thank you again.
Yea i have done a little bit of that where i would sit inside with her . maybe need to do it for longer . Once she is in she is grand. Its just she will not go in on her own at all , needs to be encouraged . But i will give it a bigger attempted with treats and stuff like you mentioned indeed

Graces7

aaronturnzi wrote: »

Thank you again.
Yea i have done a little bit of that where i would sit inside with her . maybe need to do it for longer . Once she is in she is grand. Its just she will not go in on her own at all , needs to be encouraged . But i will give it a bigger attempted with treats and stuff like you mentioned indeed

Perfect!

em_cat

Desensitisation has to be done very slowly & gradually as a small step backwards will cause a more heightened fear response, this goes for any animal that isn’t accustomed to storms, cold and noise sensitivity.

TBH you thinking a place is warm & comfortable isn’t the same as an animal that doesn’t reason like humans.

Greyhounds, lurchers & whippets are known to feel the cold, they also tend to developed noise sensitivity as they have erect ears. Would you not consider getting the largest crate you could, kit it out with treats, blankets, brain games and train her/him to happily use it while you are at work? Obvs keep it on the kitchen or somewhere inside.

It’s a better option to leaving the poor thing in a shed with hay.

aaronturnzi

em_cat wrote: »

Desensitisation has to be done very slowly & gradually as a small step backwards will cause a more heightened fear response, this goes for any animal that isn’t accustomed to storms, cold and noise sensitivity.

TBH you thinking a place is warm & comfortable isn’t the same as an animal that doesn’t reason like humans.

Greyhounds, lurchers & whippets are known to feel the cold, they also tend to developed noise sensitivity as they have erect ears. Would you not consider getting the largest crate you could, kit it out with treats, blankets, brain games and train her/him to happily use it while you are at work? Obvs keep it on the kitchen or somewhere inside.

It’s a better option to leaving the poor thing in a shed with hay.

so you honestly think leaving a dog in a crate , where it cant move and would have to toilet in the same area , would be better than a large garden which she can run around during the day and a large sheltered area is better???

yea good one there

Graces7

aaronturnzi wrote: »

so you honestly think leaving a dog in a crate , where it cant move and would have to toilet in the same area , would be better than a large garden which she can run around during the day and a large sheltered area is better???

yea good one there

She has the run of the garden when you are out? So many dogs get stolen like that. Or escape.

tk123

A happy dog is going to sleep all day. I think people have a romantic idea of their dog off frolicking in the garden while they're at work exploring and playing when often this isn't the case. My friend's dog is always in the same place when she gets home lol - she hasn't moved all day.

em_cat

aaronturnzi wrote: »

so you honestly think leaving a dog in a crate , where it cant move and would have to toilet in the same area , would be better than a large garden which she can run around during the day and a large sheltered area is better???

yea good one there

OP you might want to reread the post. No where have I suggested shoving her into a crate for the time your out. I suggested crate training as way to provide her with a space inside her home that is safe from the weather and gives her a place of her own inside, instead of assuming she prefers to be treated like livestock.

My own sleep inside on our bed, their own beds, the sofa or wherever they want because they are part of the family.

Graces7

em_cat wrote: »

OP you might want to reread the post. No where have I suggested shoving her into a crate for the time your out. I suggested crate training as way to provide her with a space inside her home that is safe from the weather and gives her a place of her own inside, instead of assuming she prefers to be treated like livestock.

My own sleep inside on our bed, their own beds, the sofa or wherever they want because they are part of the family.

Thank you, I did not read the full implications of the shed.

Moznips

Same happened to us a good while back. Our dog refused to go back into his kennel in the back garden after a storm. The wind blew our shed (its only plastic and at the time hadnt much weight in it) close to the kennel.
Dog got a fright and refused to go into the kennel for about two years even when it was lashing raining.
just to add he's an indoor dog and we only put him outside if we have guests that are fearful of dogs or if are having a party (he likes to go for weaker kids/ adults and steal their food) We love him but he's a nutter!

OP it may take a while for your dog to 'trust' the shed again but be patient.

em_cat

Graces7 wrote: »

Thank you, I did not read the full implications of the shed.

At first I too was confused. I know that greyhounds are infuriatingly still considered livestock by legislation but my mind boggles that someone would think a shed outside with hay for bedding and a radio is sufficient housing for what I had assumed was a pet. I was reared with a working breed, however they slept and lived inside with a dedicated space near the fire or the range. When on ‘duty’ they still had access to a heated hearth that was connected to the hen house. When retired they lived a life of luxury sleeping wherever they wanted.

SuziXX

I think it’s totally reasonable for her to have the run of the garden during the day and have her use the shed for sleeping and playing. Is she in the house then when your at home? We might do something like that for our dog in the future as she can be destructive if left alone in the house unless she’s tired.
Crate training doesn’t work for all dogs, we tried it ourselves under the guidance of a trainer but she hated it to the point it felt like abuse, we only got it for her to sleep in and to house train we never would have put her in it during the day. She wouldn’t wake up after sleeping all night and go to sleep again for the day, she’s a young dog. The garden/ shed would be a far better option in my opinion.
I don’t know what you can do about it op it will likely just take time. Spend a good while with her in the garden at weekends? Sit in there with her while she eats? Give her chicken or special dinners in there? It’ll be easier in the summer to just let her at it but it’s the few months till then and now I know you’d be worried about her being cold

Doctors room ghost

Get a screwgun and take off the door altogether and hide it somewhere.dog will run in and out and be more accessible looking to it.prob brighter too.
You won’t need the door if you’re not locking the dog in and be nice and cool for summer.
Maybe feed the dog in there too for a while.

charlietheminxx

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Get a screwgun and take off the door altogether and hide it somewhere.dog will run in and out and be more accessible looking to it.prob brighter too.
You won’t need the door if you’re not locking the dog in and be nice and cool for summer.
Maybe feed the dog in there too for a while.

That would be just as cold and miserable for a greyhound as sitting outside. They don't have enough body fat to be in the cold for an extended period.

Graces7

em_cat wrote: »

At first I too was confused. I know that greyhounds are infuriatingly still considered livestock by legislation but my mind boggles that someone would think a shed outside with hay for bedding and a radio is sufficient housing for what I had assumed was a pet. I was reared with a working breed, however they slept and lived inside with a dedicated space near the fire or the range. When on ‘duty’ they still had access to a heated hearth that was connected to the hen house. When retired they lived a life of luxury sleeping wherever they wanted.

I am still confused. Where does the dog sleep at night? In the house? Or in the shed outside? Loose in the garden at night?

Doctors room ghost

charlietheminxx wrote: »

That would be just as cold and miserable for a greyhound as sitting outside. They don't have enough body fat to be in the cold for an extended period.

It was left open anyway if it was banging in the wind so no difference in removing it for summer

AryaStark

aaronturnzi wrote: »

so you honestly think leaving a dog in a crate , where it cant move and would have to toilet in the same area , would be better than a large garden which she can run around during the day and a large sheltered area is better???

yea good one there

How long are you leaving her for if you think she will be going to the toilet in her crate? Longer then a couple of hours? Dogs dont usually go to the toilet in their crates (it would be very strange if an adult dog did and would usually mean that there is a problem). Is she not toilet trained?