[Andy234]

I have a pomeranian cross but my dad doesn't let her inside the house... we bought her a house to sleep in because its cold here in australia now but she doesn't sleep in it. She only sleeps on the swing... I think she is getting cold but I can't do anything about it because of my dad. Any ideas on how to keep her warm or try and get her to sleep in her kennel? I tried putting toys and treats but she either ignores it or takes it out of the house... I put a pillow at the bottom to make it comfortable too...

Thanks

[labman]

I doubt if your father will change his mind no matter how much we post about dogs being social animals and need to be in the house with the family. The sticky at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post251802 contains material helping solve some of the problems of dogs living in the house. Some of it is good advice for an outdoor dog too. Our house is still standing after 17 puppies and many visitors, doesn't smell, and shows very few signs of wear from the dogs.

I too was once lower on the learning curve and let my dog sleep outside. The first spring we had him, I built a nice dog house, and he had nothing to do with it. Finally a cold, wet day in the fall, I found him in it. Make sure the dog house is small enough, and well enclosed to keep out drafts. If you bought a large one of those molded plastic Dogloos, you might add a divider with an offset door to reduce wind and help retain heat. Make sure the door faces away from the prevailing wind. Think which way the snow drifts. Make sure the bedding stays dry.

I hope your father's older ideas don't include failing to spay her. Some time after she is 6 months old, she will start her reproductive cycle commonly known as coming into heat. One day you will find her dripping blood. Count on her getting bred unless you take drastic steps to confine her. Also count on her making creative, strenuous efforts not to stay confined. In addition to litters of unwanted puppies, she could be injured, infected, or impregnated by a large dog that will produce puppies to large for her to deliver. These things don't have to be allowed to happen. I don't know about Australia, but here, we slaughter millions of dogs every year for lack of homes.