Gun Dog Forum

Built a barrel house for my dog. he won't go inside. should i give him some tough love and let him figure it out? i tried tossing some treats in there for him but he wouldn't go.

Put some straw in there and if when he gets cold enough he will use it. If he doesnt he will die, animals might be stupid sometimes but they never have a death wish.

I have plans on Jpeg files for a real nice Minnesota approved dog house you can build. Way better than a barrel.

they are free but have to attached to a email so if you or anyone wants them just PM me your email address


They are out of gun dog magazine from the eighties

I used barrel's for a lot of years. Metal and plastic, plastic is best. Still have one barrel, plastic, but the dog's spend most the time in the house. Now and then I go somewhere they can't and leave them in their kennel. Had an E Setter in years ago that was a house dog. Had barrel's way back then. He wouldn't go in either. he'd get to the door and look in but that was it. Finally rained pretty good and he went to look in the barrel again. About the time he looked in there was thunder from behind him. I have no idea how he kept from going out the back. Good news is he never balked at going in again. Just give it to him and let him figure it out. Aim the door away from the direction wind usually comes from.

I have one that won't go in but it rolled the first time she tried it before I got everything finished.

Ezzy

I think im gonna give him some tough love. Thanks for the advice!

Off topic. This was my second season hunting with him. Last year he was a baby so it was just fun/exposure. This year there was such a big improvement. My first gun dog so its all new and very exciting. Boring news to you all im sure but i cant get enough lol.

There is nothing boring about watching any dog work, no matter their skill level.

Ezzy

I know all the tough guys might wince, but why not toss a few food treats in, look at this just like crate training? Feed him in there, bait him in for a few days until he figures out it is "home sweet home ..." where good (edible) things are.

Treats would work. But when it gets cold enough, he will go in on his own either way. I've gone through two different dog houses, and each one my lab would not go in until he had to due to the weather. Then once he had to go in, it was not a big deal at all after that.