[pcaraway]

Hi!

I have two Huskies, one named Bandit, 9 years old. The other is Smokey, maybe 3/4 (we found her by chance).

Anyway, within the past couple months my older, Bandit, has been crying to come in, he hates being outside. This is totally unlike him, he loves playing outdoors and playing with Smokey in particular. Both him and Smokey have Dog Igloos and we let them in every night. Both are fed and watered regularly as well as loved upon every day.

Bandit has also began to sneak into our bedroom and nap on our bed when we aren't looking, or the guest room, or the couch! He was completely trained to not do that, and never really has.

My most concern is that he will sit outside the sliding door and whine and scratch at the door to come back in. The weather is fairly pleasant (30-50 degrees).

His eating habits are the same, just this shift in behavior. Could be anything but I am curious to see if anyone else has had similar experiences!

Thanks!!
- PC

 

[kelly528]

How many hours per day do you spend interacting with them? Honestly, I can't think of many dogs that do enjoy being alone outside with nothing to do but eat, sleep and bark. Maybe 8 hours tops. It's odd that his behavior has changed all of a sudden, but I wouldn't consider it wholly abnormal. It's really only in the last century that dogs have become anything other than a fixture indoors.

 

[Loraura]

As Bandit gets older could he be having some arthritic pain that has him seeking out more comfortable spots to rest? Maybe it's painful for him to try to sit or lay down outside.

 

[Dia]

Yeah, I'm guessing it's a bit of an age factor; who wouldn't want to rest where it's warm and comfortably when they're pushing 65? There may also be something going on physically that has caused the change, has he been vet-checked recently?

 

[JudyG]

As Bandit gets older could he be having some arthritic pain that has him seeking out more comfortable spots to rest? Maybe it's painful for him to try to sit or lay down outside.

Exactly what I was thinking, he maybe is ready for some home comforts now he's older