Pet Perspective: Preparing for a long winter indoors

Many owners choose to leave their pets outdoors most of the year, bringing them indoors when it gets cold. The pet probably doesn’t understand the need to go indoors, but the owner knows how cold the temperatures can get in the winter. Bringing an outside pet inside without a proper introduction can cause problems for the pet, the family, and the home. It may not be cold yet, but you can start getting your pet accustomed to indoor life now.

This article isn’t necessarily intended for the owner who wants to make the drastic change: bringing an outside dog to live inside the home permanently. Instead, this article addresses bringing a dog indoors during certain days or nights when the weather outdoors is too cold to bear. No, it’s not cold yet, but it soon will be. Starting training in the fall can prepare your pooch for the winter. At first, you can practice by bringing him in one night and maybe half a day during the week. Once you are sure your pet is comfortable indoors, you can rest assured knowing that, when the time comes, your home and sanity won’t be at risk.

First of all, remember that an outdoor pooch has different experiences than an indoor one. More than likely, you have not taught him the difference between a piece of fine china and a Frisbee; basically, anything is game for your pet. It’s up to you to keep things away from him that you don’t want him to have. If he does get a hold of something, then you can’t get mad. Instead, you must train him by teaching him what is off-limits. If your pet has no experience with obedience training, then it’s a good idea to start immediately. Even simple commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “no,” and “come” can make a huge difference in the way your pet behaves indoors. You need to be able to control your pooch, whether he is inside or out.

You may want to keep your pet on a leash the first few times he gets to experience the great indoors. A leash gives you greater control over him, while teaching him what is on and off limits. Always reward and praise your pet when he does something good. It’s amazing what a handful of treats can accomplish! Also, watch and listen to your pooch. If he’s never been indoors, then he may act like a puppy. You will have to let him go outside when he needs to urinate. But, remember, he may not understand that he can’t do his business inside; a little housetraining may be in order.

You need to designate an area for him to stay. If you give him free reign over your home before he is trained in the ways of the home, then you are giving him permission to do whatever he wants to do. Instead, you should choose a room or an area where it is okay for him to be. Block off the area with pet gates, so that a solid boundary is set. Don’t place him in the back of the home where nobody visits. Remember that dogs are social animals; he needs to be placed in an area where the family likes to stay. So, consider blocking off a section of your den or family room. Once you have the boundaries set, dog-proof the area. You should remove anything that is valuable or that can be easily broken. You should also make the area dog friendly. Throw in his favorite toys, and make him a comfortable spot to sleep. Confining your pet to a crate at night is a good idea to start.

If your pet must stay indoors for a fairly long period of time (remember, he’s probably not used to being inside at all), then make sure he is occupied. A bored dog can resort to destructive behaviors, making you one unhappy owner. A dog that spends most of his time outdoors is probably used to running and playing. When he’s indoors, he may not be able to do so. It’s up to you to keep him happy and give him ways to release his energy!

Winter is not yet upon us, but it will be soon. If you plan on bringing your pooch indoors on those unbearably cold days and nights, then you need to start training him now. Designate an area of your home for your pooch and teach him how to behave. Once he learns the ins and outs of your home, he’ll be less likely to get into mischief on the cold, wintry days.

This article was written by Collin Walker and sponsored by Pet Super Store, which is an online pet site featuring information and great deals on pet carriers, dog beds and pet doors.