Hello all. I am getting ready to get a new doggie. He is about 4 months old and he is a Shepherd/Rottweiler mix. I bought him from the Humane Society. He will be here on Wednesday after he is neutered. I am so happy. Anyway, my question is this. How easy is it to train a dog to use a dog house? EVERY dog I have had in the past refused to go into a dog house and would just stand there and get wet when it rained. Also, if there are any other training tips that would be very helpful they would be much appreciated. I haven't had a puppy in quite sometime and I want him to be gentle yet playful. I also want him to be smart and calm and healthy. What is the best food for him? What flea and tick stuff is the best? Please help. I want to treat my new puppy the best I can! Thanks.

That's great to hear :) especially that you got your new puppy from a shelter.
I personally have never made my dogs sleep in a kennel, they are all bed dogs... much to my partners disgust when he gets booted off the bed by a poodle :p

My suggestion would be to make being in the kennel fun! Have some toys or treats set aside that he only gets when he goes in the kennel and make sure there is a cosy blanket to lay on.

I'm not sure if they would have this product where you are but I use Advantage for flea protection, its just a drop on the base of their neck and it lasts for 3 months.
If you plan to have a collar on your dog maybe a flea collar would be a good idea?

Also, I just googled kennel training and came up with this site... it basically has a set of guidelines and rules to follow when kennel training :)

How to Kennel Train a Puppy | eHow.com

Thanks a bunch!

I've actually never kennel trained any of my dogs either. I never needed to. I did however buy a very fancy... and achem... expensive dog house for my Nikster. Well, it is now a storage house for her toys. Lol. I tried everything to lure her in, with no luck. I never leave her outside unattended for long though, but if she does somehow get stuck out in the rain for a bit, she has shelter under my patio umbrella, and there are always toys underneath there, to keep her occupied and dry, till mommy realises it's raining... hellooo! ;)

Are you planning on leaving him out for extended periods? This is really not the best idea, but if you have to, you will really have to work on getting him used to that dog house. He will need protection from the heat also. Dogs can sunburn too. There is sunscreen that you can buy specifically for dogs. Always make sure to have plenty of fresh cool water out for him. Another good idea is to buy a kiddie pool where he can go to cool off.

When it comes to food, do your research. I myself don't feed my dog any of the supermarket or any of the pet store varieties, although I'm not saying all of them are bad. I like the holistic and organic blends. Pay attention to the ingredients, and focus on the amount of fillers and by-products.

You've got a mix of two very powerful breeds to deal with, so you are going to have to start working with him right away. They are both working breeds, so he will have a ton and a half of energy. He will require lots of daily exercise. This doesn't mean playing in the backyard. Do you bike or rollerblade? You could probably teach him to run alongside of you. If not, fast paced walks at least twice a day for a minimum of half an hr. This doesn't mean a stroll around the block, where he wanders and sniffs. It's a walk where he is on a mission.

This is not only good for his health, but you will have less training issues, and bond to you faster, if he is kept busy, and feels like he has a job. I also really like the doggie backpacks you can get and put some weights in the pockets, while walking him. Nothing too heavy, even something like a couple cans of veggies or something will do, and give him an extra workout, in a shorter amount of time.

This is a site that I really like. You might want to check it out. There is lots of good info. You might want to buy the book. It's pretty inexpensive. It will help you with many questions you may have.

The Puppy Whisperer - new book by Original Dog Whisperer Paul Owens

I hope you have a great time with your new pup, and I think it's wonderful of you to rescue a shelter puppy, and that he is getting neutered. You will have less behavioural and health issues with him.

Good luck!

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I thank you for your wonderful insight! It's been quite a while since I've had a dog. And yes, he will be forced to be kept outside due to my inside house cats. That is why I want him to learn to go in the dog house because my husband and I work. There will only be 2 hours out of the day when no one is home with him but I worry that it will rain and he'll be stuck out there. I want him to use it for that and for when it gets really sunny and hot. He will be exercised At least once a day and ocne a week he will be taken out for an extensive period to play and exercise (like to the park for an hour or two). I was thinking of Nature's Best or Science Diet for the food as I have used both for my cats and they seem to respond. He's already 4 months old and I know by talking to the lady at the Humane Society that he has not been handled much and is a little shy. We hope to break him of his shyness and make him playful and happy-go-lucky and loving life. I already have his first vet appointment schedule for a month from now.

Also, inside of his doghouse you both mentioned to put a pillow or a blanket. What about a doggie bed? Like one that you can buy from Petco or somewhere. Where's the best place to keep his food? His doghouse will be under a tree. Beside the house? Near the back door?

I don't think this is very fair to a new puppy, to be forced to be kept outside. Why can't you socialize him with the cats? It takes a little work, but it's definitely do-able. If you don't socialize them, you are going to have aggression and jealousy issues with your dog, and you will have bonding issues.

If he is forced to spend his time alone outside in a yard, you are only asking for trouble. Especially with a Shepherd Rottie mix. A fenced yard is nothing more than a "fishbowl" to them. They need interaction with their family/packleaders, and again a bonding experience.

You have picked a mix of two very intelligent, head strong, energetic, and a strong mixed breed with a likelihood of becoming aggressive, if not socialized and brought into the "pack" at a young age.

If he's left outside, the rain is the least of your worries. A dog without a cool place to go, can die of heat exposure in a matter of an hr.

This reminds me of a true story, where a woman who loved and did everything for her dogs. There were Rottie's. She always took them on business trips out of town with her. On one trip, she decided to pull over at a rest stop. It was a nice area, a cloudy day, not too hot, so she thought she would stretch her legs for abit, and enjoy the scenery.

She let the dogs out for a pee, and then put them back into the car. She thought since it was cloudy, that the dogs would be fine for 20 or 30 minutes. She came back, and both dogs were dead! They died of heat exposure. She was devastated.

So my point is, that if your dog is out in hot temps. or even on a cloudy day when you think everything is just fine, for even 2 hrs. a dog house or a shady tree, just might not protect him!

This is the reason I suggested the pool, but you need to make sure he knows to go to the pool. Leaving a sprinkler going is also a good idea, and if you do get him to go into the doghouse, a doggie bed is fine, but you might also want to wrap a towel over a big bag of ice, lrg. Soda bottles that you've frozen, or gel ice packs. These should be wrapped in towels, so he doesn't get an ice burn on his sensitive tummy etc.

You should not leave food out for him to eat at his own will at all outside. If he is going to be outside, he needs a schedule. This also creates bonding. He needs to be fed small meals, likely three small meals a day for his age, and then he needs a bit of exercise shortly afterwards, to get his bowels moving. This is the only way you are going to determine if everything is going fine with him. Look at his poop after he goes. Does it look normal? Is it runny? Is there any blood, worms, or anything else that looks abnormal in his pee or poop.

An outside dog is a ton of more work than an inside dog. Please do your homework on this. There are many parasites and many other things he can be susceptable too, or so many other things like other animals that can sneak in, being an outside dog. Just for example, I spent a ton of money last yr. for emerg. Vet visits, because skunks kept on getting into my yard. It wasn't fun for my dog or me. I don't know what kind of critters you have in Indiana, or the area in which you live... but trust me, they WILL come around, and it can get very pricey! I spent over 2 grand last yr. with my little fur girl, and that is not at all counting her normal shots, deworming, or food etc. She is an inside dog, and she is only out for short periods on her own. Things happen in a split second that you aren't even prepared for. Veterinary health insurance for your dogs and cats is a really good option too.

You really need to do your research here, if he is going to be outside. I don't agree with it, but I'm only giving you the facts if you want to have an outside dog, you need to be prepared with the knowledge you need to make sure he is happy and healthy. I would still consider socializing him with your cats.

Can't give you good rep yet Starbuck but very good answer.

Why is it that you do not want the dog with the cats? Are you afraid the dog will hurt them? If taught from a young age then cats and dogs can quickly become use to each other, if not pals. My two huskies and my cat have gotten along great and with the recent adoption of two kittens they have taken them as their babies. Like starby said, the world is riddled with dangers for an outside puppy from heat to serious situations brought on my boredom or curiosity. You seem to be taking a very serious interest in your puppies health which I am very glad to see, but it would be wise to reconsider the outside only restriction.

As of right now, the issue with him being inside is completely out of the question. He will be kept outside. That is why I am asking for advice on how to properly care for him outside. Not saying I won't let him inside every now and then to play and stuff... but his primary home will be outside. I have a VERY old and feeble cat who gets sickly and hurts very easily. She's been with me for 17 years.

There are also other reasons I want the dog outside. He is going to be big. My house is small. Too small for 2 cats and a dog that lives outside. Believe me, I am going to do my research and take care of my dog the way I am supposed to. That is why I am asking on here. I have always taken care of my pets. I will put him on the same feeding schedule as my cats that way to make it easier on myself. I know to always have him cold water available and to walk him after every meal. I have made sure to put his doghouse in a shaded area under a tree. I know it won't entirely help with the heat but it can't hurt. I also like the suggestion of the frozen soda bottle with a towel wrapped around them. I hadn't thought of that. Believe me, he will be well taken care of. I understand your concerns, however being inside is not an option right now. Thank you for all your suggestions.

Maybe a dog is not an option right now?

Well, we held off on getting a dog for 2 years. We have wanted one for so long. And now our schedule is open enough for us to have time to play with him and exercise him the way we should. Before it was no option. We are so excited he's coming home tomorrow.