Is your doghouse big enough for you to fit into? I have in the past lured my dogs into their new digs by getting in there first and calling them in. Sometimes you have to show them what to do. Have treats handy(house warming gifts)and make it a pleasant experience for him. You could also furnish it with a used article of your clothing, so your scent will be there for him. Good luck and let us know if you find something that works.

And you let him stay outside in the rain and cold????????????
A six month old puppy??????????????

You're not going to like what I have to say but tough.
Dogs are social animals. Being with their people is the highlight of their day. It's downright nauseating to see people keep 6 months old puppies out in the yard to sleep in a doghouse!
Your puppy has a lot to learn from you about how to behave and about the world in general.
Puppies require socialization, housetraining and they need to know what is expected of them in terms of behavior. They need excercise and mental stimulation.

So if you're not going to do those things, you're probably going to wind up with a puppy that is difficult to manage.

I would get a book or two on the subject of raising puppies and if it doesn't look like you're up to doing it, contact local rescue groups and tell them you need to find a new home for the puppy. If you want a pet that you can fiddle with at your convenience, look into getting a goldfish.

I know this is coming across as rude but this is a lab puppy for goodness sakes. This isn't like a st bernard or something that is truly adapted to being an outside dog in cold climates. And in addition, no matter how good you think your fence is, it isn't going to stop predators or someone elses aggressive dog from entering your yard and it won't keep a bored dog from digging his way to freedom.

If you must insist on keeping your dog outdoors, at least wait until the puppy has grown.

I have to say that I totally agree with quirkyquercus. I don't think you were rude, just stating a plain fact. If you sound rude to some idiots, thats to bad.

It sounds as though raiderbobo needs to reconsider having a dog if this is the way it's being treated. It's not abuse, but damn close in my book.

Some people don't have what Roanne Barr called "COMMON SENSE". GEEZ HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE OUT IN THE COLD RAIN???? I doubt it would be very comfortable. You need to consider how you would treat your kids, if you have any. If you don't nurture them properly, they will not turn out well. Puppies and grown dogs look to their humans for guidance, warmth, and comfort. YOU ARE NOT GIVING IT TO THIS POOR DOG.

LASTLY. IF YOU DON'T PLAN ON COMMITTING YOURSELF TO AT LEAST 8 MONTHS OF HARD WORK WITH THIS PUPPY SO IT CAN BE AN "INDOOR DOG", PLEASE FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL. YOU WILL BOTH BE BETTER FOR IT.

SG

Hmmmm..... I suspect that this is a troll, getting just the reactions that s/he wants. Furthermore, it's probably a very young troll, considering that s/he can't spell the word PUPPY.

Contrary to popular belief, labs are not really "outdoor" dogs, they are people dogs. They need to be by their people. Now if you are an outdoors type of people, then the lab will be great outdoor companion. However the companion part is more important to the lab, that the outdoors part. (Which is one reason why they make great "guide dogs for the blind") The lab's ultimate goal in life is to sit on your lap while you watch TV. (You will have to train him to sit by your feet instead.) And if you take him hunting or toss a ball for him once in awhile that is just an bonus, but not mandatory.

I will take that pup if you want to get rid of it.

I totally agree with everybody saying that a puppy doesn't belong outside. For sure not in the wind and rain. My boxer dog would just die if I made her stay outside during yucky weather. If you have a dog or a puppy (which I have both) you have a big mental responsiblity and financial. Look into maybe having somebody babysit for you if you work or a house keeper or something. That poor pup doesn't like being outside in that house. That's why he doesn't go in it. If he liked it he would go in!! Really look into finding a puppy-sitter (if you have to work or something). If you do not work, you should feel ashamed of yourself. If you just stay at home all day and you want this poor puppy to stay outside in the weather then you are a sad person! I'm sorry to say it!!

The thought that we could be dealing with a troll had not occurred to me. I forgot how sick some humans can be.

If the dog is going through all of this, hopefully some kind soul will become it's master and give it a good home. It will deserve it. As for the troll, it's his karma that is being destroyed, not the dogs.

SG

Does anyone have any idea about how the OP is using the doghouse? Is it possible that the OP has the doghouse as a back up for occassions when the dog needs to be out of the house for an unspecified amount of time? Is it possible that this may be some sort of discipline thing?

Or does everybody just automatically assume that the OP picked up a free puppy thru a want ad, and is now staking it out in the mud and the rain and the slush 24 hours a day, feeding it junk and probably kicking it whenever they go by?

Does anybody think it's worth getting some more information for the OP before calling in the rescue groups?

FACT. OP LEFT A PUPPY OUT IN THE RAIN.

FACT. IF OP DIDN'T WANT THE WRATH OF GOOD DOG OWNERS, HE/SHE/IT SHOULD NOT HAVE POSTED SUCH A STUPID THING.

FACT. I DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT OP IS USING THE DOG HOUSE FOR. IT JUST SHOULDN'T BE DONE. IF OP WANT'S THE DOG TO BE OUT OF THE WAY, LET HE/SHE/IT BUY A CRATE AND TRAIN THE DOG PROPERLY. KEY WORD HERE,,,,PROPERLY. IF OP IS USING THE DOG FOR HUNTING, THE DOG SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO A DRY ENCLOSURE.

FACT. OP CAN'T SPELL.

FACT. WE RECENTLY HAD AN ALTERNATE IDIOT ASK IF IT WAS "O.K. TO SPANK A DOG" WOULD YOU HAVE THE SAME RESPONSE TO THIS??

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE (IF IT IS GOING ON) IS WRONG. DON'T TRY TO JUSTIFY IT.

SG

Hmmm, I just don't see the problem leaving a dog outside a good deal of the time. Especially when it's evident the dog has ample shelter from rain but chooses to get wet. This person had a very ligitamet training question and you crapped all over her. I would recommend the original poster post their inquiry possibly on the Yahoo Questions forum site. First time I've ever opened this thread but I see it is abound with a bunch of PETA bleading hearts.

I AM NOT A MEMBER OF PETA. I HAVE MORE SENSE THAN THAT.

YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT. OP LEFT THE DOG OUT IN THE RAIN AND DID NOT INDICATE THAT AN EFFORT WAS MADE TO RELOCATE IT TO A DRY AREA.

PLUS. YOU CAN'T SPELL EITHER! YOU ARE BOTH EMBARRASSING YOURSELVES.

SG

My hearing's pretty good, spiritual gardener, and my eyes focus well. No need to SHOUT.

Here's a possible scenario: OP has an allergic family member staying temporarily. Or, is living in temporary quarters that necessitate the dog being outside for periods of time. Being a good conscientious pet owner, OP is trying to provide the most comfortable situation for the puppy.

Here's another possibility: the OP lives in Florida, or southern California, where the concept of "cold" is a little different than it would be in December here in the Midwest. Or perhaps the time spent in the rain was 10-15 minutes, while the OP hoped the puppy would go for the logical shelter, before bringing the dog back into the home.

Or a third possibility: the OP has more than one animal who are having a difficult adjustment period, and the OP is hoping having a "time-out" location might give the puppy a little security.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE (IF IT IS GOING ON) IS WRONG. DON'T TRY TO JUSTIFY IT. "
"If it is going on" is the operative phrase here. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON! What's wrong with getting a little more information before you assume the worst and slam the OP?

And I know the person who posted the "Okay to Spank" thread. That poster admitted occassionally "swatting" a dog. Not the most effective technique, but hardly considered beating an animal. Furthmore, that poster was motivated by asking by seeing someone else hit their dog, which made her cringe.

Noinwi suggested the OP look at the house from the puppy's point of view. And joepyeweed gently pointed out that despite popular images, labs really prefer to be indoors. Those are good answers that are much more likely move the poster to reconsider than typing YOU ARE EVIL!! YOU ARE AN IDIOT!! THE DOG WOULD BE BETTER DEAD THAN WITH YOU!!!

Just a thought.

This is my final word on this one.

If you are going to engage in an intelligent debate, please learn how to spell. Lest, intelligent people will not take you seriously.

Just a thought....

SG

Then I'll leave you with this, SG: I believe the comedian you referred to is Roseanne Barr. Not Roanne.

Hope you get some good, useable advice, raiderbobo -- however it's spelled!

I also suspect the OP is a troll. But if the OP IS posing a serious question, then I have to cast my vote for the fact that there is NO excuse to leave a dog outside like that, regardless of whether it's raining or sunny or daytime or nighttime or what have you.

DOGS ARE SOCIAL PACK ANIMALS; unless they're hunting or sled dogs in kennels (and even that I take issue with), they need to be with their people. Why on earth would someone have a dog, if they just want to leave it outside day and night?!?! Why waste their time?!?! It just makes absolutely no sense to me.

Original Poster -- if you're still there, and still interested in advice on your situation -- what is your situation?

How long is the dog outside?
In what situations is the dog outside?
How long have you had the dog?
Does the dog have any other unusual reactions? Afraid of going into a crate, going indoors, anything else that might explain his reluctance to go into the house?
Where is the house? Noisy area, smelly area, area with a lot of traffic?

If you give a little more information, maybe folks can provide you some good advice, instead of responding to assumptions they've made.

That is, if you're still there!

I tried not to be too emotional in my reply because one thing may very well be the case:
The OP may have the potential or will to be a responsible dog owner and just need a little direction
Calmly showing that doghouses, while they are popular, especially here in GA where all the rednecks leave their dogs chained to a tree in every weather extreme, it's easy to assume that dogs live in dog houses and that's OK.
Well it's not OK, well not really. It kind of depends.
The most ideal situation, no matter what is to start this puppy off right. This isn't a breed that does best living outside. You may think just because dogs pull sleds and have a heavy coat means they do fine in cold... well no they really are kind of like humans in the sense they have to get acclimated to temperatures. They said a few words about this on our TV news a week ago when we had lows in the teens.

I'm willing to giv ethe OP the benefit of the doubt. Last time I checked we still do not have a badly needed licensing/permit system for obtaining dogs and so most people are without a basic education on modern day pet care and management.

The OP probably will not return after reading the replies or will say something nasty. Although we feel very strongly about people leaving dogs to rot in their yards and never have any human contact, it is because a lot of us see what can happen.
So OP, I hope that if even you don't reply, please, please, please pick up a book on puppy care. Browse the Internet for some information, get involved with a local chapter of your labrador retriever society. You will make friends, have a much happier dog and you will be a model pet owner who can then teach others the ropes some day. We must all start somewhere and we all make mistakes. This is an easy one to fix.

Instead of using a doghouse, although thoughtful of you to construct one, go to pet supply store and get a durable wire dog crate that will accomodate a fully grown lab. They grow extremely fast. Train the dog to use this crate by making it a rewarding experience. The crate, being indoors, will be a much safer housing instrument for the puppy and will enable you to potty train the puppy like a breeze.

Find some places where you can solcialize your pup and sign up for puppy obedience classes. Labs are extremely intelligent and you will be amazed if you bring out the potential in your dog. Please give your dog daily walks. Labs need a moderate amount of excercise and keeping a dog inside or in the yard all the time will make the dog go batty. Sort of like cabin fever in humans, the dog feels the same way. Go for all your vaccinations and take your dog in at least once a year for checkups. That's really all I can offer you at this point other than to say
If you have any questions, click on the my page link and send me an email privately, and I promise I will not give you a hard time.... only support.

On behalf of the other posters I submit an apology for we really don't know what's up here. Please let us help you and you will soon understand why we feel the way that we do.

O.K. I admit that I am passionate about animal (especially dog) issues. You are correct quirkyquercus. OP may need some guidance.

Other points you made are also well made. I have seen to many dogs "rot" as you put it for no other reason than having the misfortune of being placed in a bad home.

One dog had a collar embedded in it's neck because it grew and the collar didn't. One ran in circles, because it was tied up so long, it didn't know it could run in a straight line. The list goes on and on.

I have rescued 4 dogs, three abused. Leaving a dog out in the rain is simply not acceptable. Period. This is a form of abuse.

Last word, swear to God.

SG

I doubt the OP will post again. The best anyone can hope for is that raiderbobo will take the positive suggestions and put them to good use.

Weell Okay sipietuwel Garoneer, I'l try a howl lowt hadr tew spail better nex time. You seem ta be the type that's gonna try to hunt down my name an adress, an cum over an tri ta kix my ass! Duuuuu... what an idiot!

Thank you, Alison, for seeing another side of this. I was waiting to be torn apart for my reply after I saw the first few responses besides my own. The thought never occurred to me that OP was abusing his/her puppy. I used to live in western WA, where it rains a lot, but cold there is not the same cold as it is here in Wisconsin, not by a long shot. I've rescued a number of dogs in my time and I've usually had or built houses for them. The houses were for their use should they want to stay out in the(fenced)yard instead of coming back into the 'big' house. My dogs have always been a part of my pack,slept in my bedroom, rode in my car, even 'helped' in the garden. Sometimes they would stay out in the rain even if I was standing there holding the door open for them, other times on a sunny day, they would curl up in their doghouse and only the 'dinner bell' would coax them out.
I guess I'm being naive, but I just assume most people love their dogs, until I have a reason not to believe so. So from now on, I'll just let those 'in the know' answer all the posts, since I apparently can't tell the difference between someone needing information and someone abusing their dog. I apologize for my ignorance.

I'll take a guess...
Pleasanton, CA?
Am I close?