Why doesn’t my newly rehomed dog want to come inside the house?
I recently rehomed a Belgian Malinois and she is honestly such a sweetheart. I’d really like for her to become a house dog, but she seems very uncomfortable with the idea of coming inside.
I spoke with her previous owner and found out that she spent most of her time in a cage and didn’t get many walks. The first time I took her out for a walk, she was extremely excited and seemed to really enjoy being outside. But when it was time to come back home, she refused to go inside.
I’m wondering if this could simply be because she isn’t used to living indoors and doesn’t understand that the house is supposed to be her safe place yet.
For anyone who has rehomed a dog with a similar background, how long did it take for them to feel comfortable inside? Is there anything you did that helped them gradually associate the house with positive experiences?
I don’t want to force her inside and accidentally make her more afraid. I’d rather take things slowly and let her build trust with us.