Cold weather!

[Pico_Banana]

I adopted a 9 year old dog last December. She’d never lived in a house before. It was a long road getting her house trained and to stop chewing on furniture but we finally were completely successful about 7 months in. (All other dogs it’s taken a week at most!) Yay for us!

And then — it got cold a couple days ago. She’s had three “accidents” in the house. I put that in quotes because she goes into a little used room and used it as her bathroom. I’ve been bundling her up before going outside but she just stands on the step waiting to come back in. This morning I walked her until she peed and pooped as opposed to just putting her out with my other two dogs. I’m back to monitoring where she is at all times while inside.

If anyone has advice, I’m all ears, but am mostly just writing this because I’m feeling sorry for myself. It’s a good thing she’s a love bug.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Poor thing! She lucked out to find you!

If I’d had to spend my whole life outdoors I would be worried too that one day I might not be allowed back in to the nice warm happy place and decide to just stay by the door to get in as quickly as possible.

That being said, I adopted an adult Peke from our local shelter that also had been made to live outside his whole life (you should have seen his coat—the shelter had to just shave him down to the skin to get rid of the mats, dirt and leaves). He also can’t be trusted to actually go potty by himself in the fenced yard because he’s mostly thinking about coming back inside, so I have have been walking him for years to ensure he actually goes. (And I’ve cleaned up puddles when I’ve had migraines and tried to make it easier on myself by chucking him in the yard with his brothers. )

I think her past experiences may require you to continue to walk her (at least in the winter) for a while. Hopefully she can move past her fear of being abandoned outside again (if that’s indeed what’s happening) and eventually become reliable on her own, but she may not.

[Pico_Banana]

Ahh, well. It helps to know I’m not alone.

The funny thing is we lived for years without a fenced yard. I’ve only had one for about 4 years now. But I’ve gotten so spoiled at just being able to open the door and not have to go for a potty break walk first thing in the morning!

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

What breed (or mix) of dog? Some are genuinely more sensitive to the cold. I know it’s an extra pain, but might a little coat help?

[Pico_Banana]

She’s a greyhound. Def more sensitive to cold. But I’ve been sending her out in fleece jammies with a heavy winter coat on top already. While my other two greyhounds go out naked and freely frolic in the cold.

She is a delicate flower.

I think I might need to buy these:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/683943164/greyhound-pyjamas-greyhound-clothing?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_-pet_supplies&utm_custom1=k_EAIaIQobChMI-P2qwq_4iQMVRtMWBR09-SvSEAQYASABEgIvy_D_BwE_k&utm_content=go_12665398257_121762925993_511610210343_aud-2079782229334:pla-314535281500_c__683943164_566164216&utm_custom2=12665398257&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-P2qwq_4iQMVRtMWBR09-SvSEAQYASABEgIvy_D_BwE

[jvanrens]

Have you tried going out and spending some time outside with them? Maybe if you are physically out there with her, maybe she’ll stop standing at the door and do what needs doing?

It’s only November, it’s only going to get colder. It’d be great if you didn’t have to go for walks for toilet time.