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Country Dog
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03-11-2017, 02:14 AM

Ooh Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Our lab/retriever mix siblings have been living happily together for 10 years. We live in a cold winter climate and the dogs had been sharing a heated doghouse, with no problems until last winter. The dominant male began snapping at his sister whenever she tried to enter the doghouse. My husband built her, her own cozy doghouse, which she used all winter. This year, as cold weather has arrived, she will now, not enter either heated doghouse, even with food enticements. Instead, she lies shivering on the deck, while her brother sits cozily in one house and the other remains empty. We even tried locking her in a kennel with the doghouse, so she felt safe from her brother, while attempting to entice her inside the doghouse with food. No success. Suggestions?
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brenda1
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03-11-2017, 06:34 AM
Have you tried putting a radio in there with either music playing or a chatty program playing for company? Are there toys in there, especially a large teddy to cuddle up to. When you shut her in could she still see out? What did she do when you shut her in?
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Country Dog
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03-11-2017, 09:10 PM
She still wouldn't go into the doghouse. She laid on the ground next to it. It is obvious to us that her brother's snapping has made her afraid to enter either doghouse, even when he is not present. We need some ideas for helping her to overcome her fear and feel safe, but also to prevent her brother from intimidating her and preventing her from entering. He intimidates her when we are not around. They are outside dogs, with plush, cozy doghouses.
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brenda1
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04-11-2017, 09:42 PM
How do you know he intimidates her if you are not around? Sorry but had to ask. Have you tried shutting him in so that she can wander around without his presence? Also have you sat with her for a period of time to give her support.
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Country Dog
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04-11-2017, 10:53 PM
We know he is intimidating her, because we hear him barking and snapping at her and come outside to see her running away. And yes, we have sat down with her, encouraged her to go in the doghouse, enticed her with food, etc.
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Country Dog
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04-11-2017, 10:54 PM
And we have also shut him in the garage so she can wander around or go in the doghouse, without his presence.
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brenda1
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05-11-2017, 04:58 AM
Poor dog. Can't you have her inside with you for a few hours then take her back out as though it is bedtime for her? Make it a different regime for her. Better to be safe than it escalate when something else worse may happen.
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