Sorry, long post. DDog is 16, so really very old (large breed). He's still mobile, goes for a couple of gentle walks every day, and when he last saw the vet a few months back we were told his heart and general health were very good for a dog of his age. He's always had a strong preference for being outside a lot of the time, he has a thick double coat and really doesn't feel the cold, nor rain until it gets properly heavy.
As he's got older (roughly in the last couple of years), and more inclined to just sleep / less sociable, that's increased even more, to the point that essentially he wants to sleep outdoors all the time. However, in the past, he's always accepted that he has to be indoors from when it gets dark overnight until we get up in the morning - if he needed the toilet he'd let us know then come back indoors.
He's now decided that he doesn't want to sleep indoors overnight, and we're really struggling over what to do. He goes for a short bedtime walk, then will come in and settle down, then anytime from around 3 in the morning onwards decides it's time to go out. He doesn't need the toilet, just lays down in his spot. We've tried leaving him out for a few minutes in case he does genuinely need to wee etc, then bringing him in, but he just barks repeatedly to be let out again.
What would you do? I'm really reluctant to let him stay out as he won't bark to come in if it rains, he sleeps too heavily to notice anything beyond a downpour. But then I don't want to shout at a very elderly dog . . . but then we really need some sleep occasionally :( He does have occasional accidents in the house now, but we've never ever told him off for them, and tbh I'm not sure he even notices.
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The doghouse
Very elderly dog wants to be outside *all* the time
22 replies
Sadik · 24/04/2016 20:16
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