Any Trick to it?

[PntrRookie]

OK, I feel embarrassed to even ask because I know what I think, but it isn't working. How do I get my 1+ yr old setter to go through the swinging door into his Dog Den house? Sounds easy right?

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Here is the history. Got him home this summer and put him in his run with a pointer next to him. Once it started getting cold the pointer would go in and out and after a few days the setter did as well. The setter went away to the trainer for over a month and now is home. While he was gone I sold the pointer, so the setter is now outside alone, in his own run. It has been very cold and I have the heater on and fresh bedding in the Dog Den. He will not go in on his own. I can put him in there but he comes right back out and lays on the raised bed outside. Here is the kicker...if I prop the door open and leave it open, he goes in and out on his own. No problem but it is wasting the heater and not keeping it warm for him on the really cold days. When it gets really cold I want him to be OK out there, but he won't unless he goes inside to warm up. Thoughts?

[mudhunter]

I would try feeding him in the dog den.

[birddog1968]

sounds like my male, either doesn't like the noise of the swinging door or got his tail pinched in it....mine will go thru rubber flap doors but not hard swinging doors...

Sorry , im no help.....

[Saddle]

Take the outside bed out and let him freeze if he has any sense at all he'll go in his doghouse.

[ezzy333]

I would shut the heater off. Sounds like it is too warm for him. We haven't been cold enough this year to even think of a heater in a nice tight dog house. Our dogs look for a cool spot when I think they should be comfortable.

Ezzy

[Sharon]

x2

Took mine a day or 2 to feel comfortable going through the swinging house dog door. I The cat still sits there and waits for someone to hold the door open for her. :roll: )

[campgsp]

To hot in dog box. Turn down or off heater

[will-kelly]

Try turning the heater off. If the dog gets cold I bet he heads for the box.

[DonF]

I was working with a setter years ago that wouldn't go into the barrel he had for a dog house. Be pouring down rain and he'd lay there getting soaked. One day in particular it was raining and he went over and looked in the barrel. At that time a huge thunder clap went off and that dog almost went all the way thru the barrel! Awful funny watching it!

[BC Hunter]

I have the same house's 2 young pointers one had no problem
the other one no way! He loves his food so put dish inside with door
closed he figured it out pretty fast!

[Ruffshooter]

I would put a nice beef bone or something meaty in the den. And shut the heat off.