My Dog Won’t Eat Now That He Is Outside in a Kennel
Question:
Hello, I am writing with a concern i have about my dog…about 8 weeks ago we bought a boxer puppy, who was 10 weeks old when we purchased him, when we brought him home we kept him in the house for 8 weeks. We thought he was too small to be outside so we kept him inside until he got a little bigger..(big enough to make messes.) just this past week we put him outside in a pen, and now he wont eat..he will drink but just wont eat. There are no signs of vomiting or diarrhea. He is very active, we let him out every day to run and play with our kids, but we have noticed he has stopped eating his food. Could you please tell me why this is happening to my dog….thank you so much.
Brandon Carroll
ANSWER:
Hi Brandon,
I am trying to understand your situation and question here but I am a bit confused. You kept him inside while he was young yet now that he is five months old, he is outside exclusively with no inside time with you or his family? Did you gradually adjust him to his new surroundings by putting him in the pen with a new toy for an hour at a time or did you put him in the pen and then expect him to adjust all at once?
My guess is he is not eating because he is confused, has never eaten outside before, and probably anxious about his new lot in life.
Listen, I am not against kenneling a dog when they cannot be supervised. My dogs have all been kennel trained and it is a huge relief to be able to relax, knowing they are safe yet outside getting some exercise and fresh air. However, my dogs also came inside during the day to spend time with their people and slept in my room. In my opinion, it is the best of both worlds for the dogs.
To expect a puppy to adjust overnight to being ousted out of the house and into doggy jail is probably asking a bit much. Do you take him for walks? What happens in the winter when it is cold or raining and no one wants to go outside and play with him?
Boxers are extremely social dogs and need to be around their people for at least part of the day – can you find some compromise where he is outside for part of the day and with his family the rest of the time?
Puppies make messes – so do kids. Teach them properly and they stop making messes. Put some time into training, take him to an obedience class, and spend quality time with him and I will guarantee he will not only start to eat again, but end up being a lifelong buddy for you and your family.
Ann
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Just a comment here. There was this beautiful husky dog in the neighborhood. The people kept him outside. He was grossly underweight and I kept commenting on it whenever I saw the people. I was on the verge of calling the OSPCA to come and investigate. Then someone else who went by decided to to matters into his own hands and bought the dog from them. Once this dog became an inside dog she thrived. Unfortunately due to being malnourished she developed some life threatening illnesses and died young.
I mention this story to tell you that dogs belong with their human family. If the problem is housetraining then you need to work at it more.
At five months pups go through a second teething phase when their molars come in (much like when our wisdom teeth come in)If you give your dog the proper chew toys like a kong and teach him that there are only certain things that he is allowed to chew then all will be well.
THANK YOU !!!! That is exactly what I would have said in a comment if you hadn’t said it Ann. I believe dogs should be inside also. I don’t understand people who get large breed dogs then think they are fine as puppies but as soon as they grow big put them outside. Do they think because they are dogs that they can’t learn how to properly behave in a house? You have an untrained dog, even a small one they can do damage to your house just like big dogs. Spend time training the sweet guy or find another home for him because outside is just not acceptable! And in my opinion dog pens should be outlawed! Just like teathering. And playing with kids is not enough exercise for a boxer. Did these people do any research about this breed of dog before they bought him? Probably not! Which is another thing that upsets me about people. They don’t research before they get the dog, not to mention she bought him from a breeder instead of adopting….I don’t care how good the breeders are if you breed or buy shelter pets die! Thats the motto I live by. I know this is harsh but honestly ! Lack of eduation and understanding about dogs and how to live with them and take care of them is seriously lacking in this country !! If this family does not want to take any of your advice I would say it would be better to find the dog another home where he can have the proper attention and care he deserves! It is just dogs in situations like this is what the organization I volunteer with work against! It just seems like it will never end!
I totally agree with Ann. I dog sit a Boxer a lot and she is so social. I cannot imagine putting her in a pen outside. She would be so confused and I actually think hurt.
My 3 mo old male Boxer is an inside dog and will remain inside. I wouldn’t keep him outside and I agree with all the comments. BUT, I have the same problem in that he has stopped eating and will only drink water. He sleeps with us and goes for walks with us. Is obedience trained(by me and my son). We love, hug and kiss him all the time. So any suggestions as to why OUR Boxer won’t eat? His is happy, healthy per vet but is slightly underweight.