Moving a dog from outside to inside

[ComputerDude]

Our dog has been an outside dog for pretty much her entire life, but we're starting to consider moving her inside so she can be more of a family pet, instead of just a caged animal that we feed. Has anybody done this and if so what recommendations can you make?

[Fish-Bait]

Be patient. Make a slow, slow transition.

[jkspatty]

Housetraining is going to be your first order of business. Be sure to let her out regularly and when accidents happen take her out immediately. With a little attention & training it shouldn't take long. Dogs also like to have their own "space" to sleep. Buy her a doggie bed, (they are inexpensive at Sam's). Before long, she will get adjusted to the family routine and go to bed when everyone else does. Because she will be inside, of course she will have to be bathed more often. Also, when she is at home alone, make sure she has plenty of toys to keep her occupied. I also leave the radio on for my inside dogs. Dogs adjust very easily to their enviroment, she will probably be extremely happy to be "part of the family" now. Good Luck.:smt001

[SoMissTV]

1) Open door.
2) Walk outside.
3) Pick up dog.
4) Walk inside.
5) Close door.


Congratulations! You have successfully moved your pet inside!

[endofthetrail]

1) Open door.
2) Walk outside.
3) Pick up dog.
4) Walk inside.
5) Close door.


Congratulations! You have successfully moved your pet inside!
That IS the simple explanation:clap::clap::clap:

[JMC]

look up some info on cage training...it gives a dog it's sense of space first, helps you get it house trained, and then lets you introduce the rest of the house to the dog with a minimal number of accidents (hopefully)...many dogs will even turn this kennel into thier own 'space'...mine didnt but he's a freak anyway...

[BelieveInHim]

We have a border collie and a gold lab/retriever mixed. Because of heart worm treatment (to kill them) we had to move ours inside last November. It was to be temporary, but has lasted till now and the only reason they will go back outside will be the times we are out of town. The best advice I can give is at night put them in the room with you so that if they get to rambling you can get up and take them out for a good while. Neither of ours was house trained but now, they both are. I still feed them outside however and make them go out to get some exercise when I am gone on pretty days. The border collie will soon be 10 and trying to get him out now is a chore. He loves being in the house with us and close. Never intended for it to last this long, but my heart won't let me kick them out. They actually have a 24x24 shop to get in when they are outside, but much prefer the inside now.

[TheKing]

crating is an amazing thing

[fuzzis]

crating is an amazing thing

My puppy loves her crate.

[58ford]

I crate trained my dog & it worked great. I had a ferret back then & the holes in the dogs cage were big enough for the ferret to run in bite the dog & run back out. That poor dog remained that ferret's b!tch till the ferret died. The two of them slept together at night, there is little sadder than watching a three pound ferret kick & nip a 50 lb dog into its favorite sleeping position. I don't think the dog ever got over his ferret dying.

[JMC]

I meant crate training.....don't know where I got cage training from....

[PHDPLEASE]

Good luck

[Maggie-Doodle]

Crate training is most important...it gives the dog a place of his own...Boo doesn't do the crate anymore but my Wires didn't want it any other way...especially if it was bad weather. They would just about as soon die as mess in their bed. Great potty training tool, especially for overnite.

Of course, my Wire's were placed in crates almost as soon as they were born...You have to crate the dogs when you take them to shows....

[ComputerDude]

Good info. I've been reading on crate training. The main problem I see with this is our dog is medium size and the recommended crate size allows for her to stand and turn which will make for a pretty decent size crate.
Also, we're out of the house from about 6am to 5:30pm so I'm not sure how I can work proper crate-training into our routine.

[onlyme]

Good info. I've been reading on crate training. The main problem I see with this is our dog is medium size and the recommended crate size allows for her to stand and turn which will make for a pretty decent size crate.
Also, we're out of the house from about 6am to 5:30pm so I'm not sure how I can work proper crate-training into our routine.

Do you have a doggie door? I am not sure a dog can hold it that long, house trained or not. About 10 hours is the maximum for our pooch.

[fuzzis]

Do you have a doggie door? I am not sure a dog can hold it that long, house trained or not. About 10 hours is the maximum for our pooch.

I'm a touch embarrassed to admit that my puppy has made it 12 hours. :oops: She was *really* happy to see me when I got home.

[ComputerDude]

Do you have a doggie door? I am not sure a dog can hold it that long, house trained or not. About 10 hours is the maximum for our pooch.No. Can't have one because our yard is wide open. If she has access to the outside she'll run off to God knows where.

[amanda]

No. Can't have one because our yard is wide open. If she has access to the outside she'll run off to God knows where.


Not if you installed the doggie electric fence. Those work wonders.

[onlyme]

No. Can't have one because our yard is wide open. If she has access to the outside she'll run off to God knows where.

Could someone come home during lunch and walk her? Pet sitter? Neighbor? I have heard of cases where dogs were litter trained like a cat but I am not sure I would want that in my house :eusa_sick

[onlyme]

Not if you installed the doggie electric fence. Those work wonders.

Depends on the dog. Our dog would do anything for a squirrel, electrocution included ;) . It does not deter other dogs from coming into the yard and starting a dog fight either.

[amanda]

Depends on the dog. Our dog would do anything for a squirrel, electrocution included ;) . It does not deter other dogs from coming into the yard and starting a dog fight either.

Good point. CD, might want to stick with the crating idea. I know my ex's Lab spends the majority of its time in one and doesn't seem the worse for wear.

[ComputerDude]

Could someone come home during lunch and walk her? Pet sitter? Neighbor? I have heard of cases where dogs were litter trained like a cat but I am not sure I would want that in my house :eusa_sickMaybe. I might be able to ask the mother in-law to add that to her list of things she handles for us during the day. Like pick the kid up from school and watch him until we get home. :laugh:

[damnyank]

I believe there are dog sitting services in the local area. For a price (like everything else) they will come to your house, make sure the dog has food and water and even take it for a walk if that is what you desire. Some kennels also have "daily boarders" - just like a nursey - drop them off on the way to work and pick them up on the way home!

[mac]

1) Open door.
2) Walk outside.
3) Pick up dog.
4) Walk inside.
5) Close door.


Congratulations! You have successfully moved your pet inside!

You've obviously never done it. I think your five step method would result in some destroyed furniture, carpet, and a freaked out dog.

[mac]

I have now crate trained three different dogs, and it was very helpful in all three situations. I've never done it with an adult dog though-- I always started out when they were puppies. How old is this dog?

[jkspatty]

You know CD, you might not have much trouble with the house training thing because she is already accustomed to using it outside. I would do the crate thing for a while in the beginning and see how that works. Crates are available in LARGE sizes.

[aaron]

You know CD, you might not have much trouble with the house training thing because she is already accustomed to using it outside. I would do the crate thing for a while in the beginning and see how that works. Crates are available in LARGE sizes.

With a crate, you'll need most of the training, not him. You'll find yourself getting up to take him outside when it's not convenient, and having to walk him everyday for exercise he's not getting in the crate. A lot of people use the crate and an outside cage when they just don't have time for the dog. It's sad to me, we've crated our dogs at night for all their lives, but I absolutely despised crating them during the day when we were at work too. Some people treat a dog more like taking a toy out of a toy box instead of a responsibility.

[SoMissTV]

You've obviously never done it. I think your five step method would result in some destroyed furniture, carpet, and a freaked out dog.

I have done it, but I have a very well-mannered dog. The trick is to not let the dog jump out of your arms. Your mileage may vary.

[onlyme]

I have now crate trained three different dogs, and it was very helpful in all three situations. I've never done it with an adult dog though-- I always started out when they were puppies. How old is this dog?

Our dog was 13 months when we got him. He was not housebroken, didn't know any commands and did not listen to his name. Within 2 weeks he was completely, reliably housebroken. You just have to watch him like a hawk the first few days. As soon as he started lifting a leg in the house I shot him with a water pistol and immediately took him outside. The old adage " you cannot teach an old dog new tricks" simply is not true.

[mac]

Our dog was 13 months when we got him. He was not housebroken, didn't know any commands and did not listen to his name. Within 2 weeks he was completely, reliably housebroken. You just have to watch him like a hawk the first few days. As soon as he started lifting a leg in the house I shot him with a water pistol and immediately took him outside. The old adage " you cannot teach an old dog new tricks" simply is not true.
Oh I believe you can teach an adult dog, but who has time to sit home all day for 2 weeks and hover over the dog? This is where crate training comes in handy.

[mac]

With a crate, you'll need most of the training, not him. You'll find yourself getting up to take him outside when it's not convenient, and having to walk him everyday for exercise he's not getting in the crate. A lot of people use the crate and an outside cage when they just don't have time for the dog. It's sad to me, we've crated our dogs at night for all their lives, but I absolutely despised crating them during the day when we were at work too. Some people treat a dog more like taking a toy out of a toy box instead of a responsibility.

You are referring to people who misuse the crates. The crate is not supposed to be used for more than 4-6 hours at a time. You would still need someone to come let your dog out if you left him in there while you were at work. Ours stay outside during the day and are crated at night. My Boxer was outside a lot during the day and crated at night or when I left the house. I was not working then, so I was here all day and didn't have to solve the puzzle of what to do with her during the day. Fortunately our dogs now will stay in the yard during the day while we're both at work and only need to come in at night.

[Southern_Belle]

like aaron said we crate at night. they are put up when aaron goes to bed - usually between 11:00 and midnight - and they get out when i get out of the shower - usually between 6:40 and 7:00. they used to stay in their crates during the day and i would come home to let them out for a walk and use the bathroom. now we are fortunate enough to leave them in the kitchen all day without anyone having to come home during the day. i wasn't really around for the crating years. aaron pretty much did that by himself and he is wonderful for it.

i would also really consider flea medication if you aren't already using it. b/c you don't want those in your house.

and another important thing is to let him/her know what furniture he/she is allowed on from the beginning and don't deviate from that. we tried to not allow the dogs on the bed for a time period - but i'm a softy and want them with me - and now it's impossible to keep them off.

[mac]

Yeah ours stay outside most of the night. My husband gets home at 12:30, feeds them, lets them run around for an hour (so they will hopefully poop before going to bed) and then crates them around 2:00. Sometimes I take them out in the morning before I leave at 7:30, but lately I've been just leaving them in there so I guess they get out around 9:00. So that's about 7 hours in the crate at night and the rest of the time they're outside playing.

[XC9]

I believe if a dog is used to being outside, they will use the bathroom outside still. The dog has already marked his territory and will go outside. My dog is a child to me, she has never been in a crate and she has her own little doggy sofa in front of the window. When we leave she stays there or goes upstairs and gets in the bed. She never bothers anything unless we forget to raise the blinds. Can't tell you how many sets of blinds we have bought, but, we know this and it is our fault if we forget to raise them. It has been a long time since we forgot-we finally learned. Good luck to you and I bet your dog will be ecstatic at being made more a part of the family unit.