No doghouse for this dog
If I look cute can I come inside?
Dear Fisher,
I used to play in the back yard but then I thought it would be fun to jump over the fence when my people were at work. I did a few other things in the house and my people decided I needed to stay in the yard. So then they bought me a dog house. They tie me to the dog house so I won’t get out of the yard. They think it is great because it is big and roomy and they put my favorite blanket in there. I hate it! I won’t even get inside it when it’s raining. What can I do?
Your friend,
Claus
Dear Claus,
Many is the day I wish I had my own house. I think you are lucky. You obviously do not. Let us examine some of the reasons for your distress. The biggest issue I see is that you, the dog, are a pack animal. You likely feel you are isolated out in the yard attached to your new dog house and you are just plain lonely. Or – and no other dogs need to know – you might just be a little scared out there when you hear all the neighborhood noises and you cannot see over the fence to learn what is going on. Could you be a little claustrophobic? Would it help if your house had a window?
To get through this, just remember why this has happened in the first place. Face the facts. You messed up (no pun intended)! As I read your letter, the word “training” kept popping into my head. It could be that training you to enjoy the dog house will carry over into your enjoyment of the people house. A few tips to get started are:
- Your people could put treats or a favorite toy inside the dog house.
- Alternate putting food and water bowls inside, then outside of your house.
- Your people must also train themselves to not peek out the windows to see how you are doing.
- Check into the top rated dog training programs on line Pup Dog Training.
As to the issue of your sitting out in the rain instead of going into your dog house: Humans know how much dogs love to swim. They may soon realize that the rain is not bothersome to you and they will figure out it is just a ploy to look pitiful. Oops! Did I spill the beans?
Your friend,
Fisher
1 Comment
1. fisher replies at 9th March 2009, 1:18 PM :
I received an email after this letter was published in tbt* from a very caring animal lover. She alerted me to the fact that there are humans out there who tie their dogs to a doghouse and leave them there most of the time. Further research into the life of Claus reveals this is definitely the not case with him. He comes from a very loving home, and in fact, “is the most spoiled member of the family.”