My dog always sleeps right next to the fire? (plz read)?

Question

Our little Chihuahua loves to sleep near the fire. We put his bed about five feet away so he doesn't get too hot. We can't watch him all day, of course, and when we go in another room he goes right up to the fire and lies down about an inch away from the doors. It's one of those fires that has two shutter-style doors and you open it to put the wood in. As soon as we catch him at it we put him back on his bed, but soon after he will go back and lie close to it again.

We don't want him to get burnt, how can we stop him from going too close? And please don't tell me to put out the fire. We need it in Winter and I do want my puppy to sleep near it, just not that near.

Thanks in advance :)

Answer 1

He's just trying to stay warm. If the fire is contained with doors, he should be fine. When you go and put more wood in it, make sure to move him so any sparks or ashes don't fall on him. Just keep an eye on him. Chihuahua's are known to be very cold a lot of the time.

Answer 2

Okay what you can do is get a little like fence and try and put it around the fire-place...and i know which kinda your talking about i used to have one too. You can try to put a little fence around it or you can just not let it near the fire until it stays in the spot. Once it goes back to its spot and when you leave if it moves up then take it out of the room. It will learn eventually either way

Answer 3

All dogs play rough. However if his play is borderline aggressive or if he is actually HURTING the other dogs due to his exuberance, then i would stop bringing him to the park immediately. Learn here https://tr.im/Wxmdm



It's your job as his owner to keep him under control, and if you can't so that then you shouldn't be bringing him someplace where he could get into trouble.



How often does he get walked? As a high energy breed he should be walked twice a day for as long as he can stand it. Jogging is even better. You can't count on the park to be your only way of exercising him because he obviously is not ready for it (based on the behavior you describe.)



So start walking him every morning and evening. Enroll in an obedience class with a qualified instructor (i would find a private training facility as opposed to one at Petsmart - as good as some of those trainers can be, they're mainly for easy-to-train dogs and don't specialize in herding breeds OR dogs that may have aggression issues) and he/she will show you how to teach your dog how to come.

Answer 4

Most likely the dog will move away from the heat if he gets too hot. If there is no danger with him getting hit with sparks etc. I would not be too concerned.



You could try using a small decorative screen that you can place in front of the fire place, with a low height so it does not block the heat, but would limit his access to the fire.

Answer 5

Maybe get your dog a sweater so he won't want to be that close to the heat. You can also put up a (non-flammable) screen between the fire and the rest of the room that your dog can't get past. Chi's are short haired dogs so they don't tolerate the cold very well. Get him a sweater and some snuggles.

Answer 6

You don't say the temperature of your home, but the obvious answer is that he is cold. Put a screen in front of the fireplace so the heat can get though but the dog cannot! There are also little mechanical fans (not electric) that the heat will cause to turn slowly, dispersing the heat.

Answer 7

This is quite normal! My dogs love to do this and if they get too warm they just move away. I'm sure one of ours is trying to cook himself!!!



To make it a bit safer and ensure your dog doesn't accidentally touch the fire doors when rolling about, you can get a fire guard, basically a metal surround with fine mesh inner, it allows the heat out but will stop your dog touching the fire, the same type of guard you use to stop children getting too close.

Answer 8

If the fire is contained with doors, your dog is just fine.

I have a Chihuahua who has the same issue. She loves sleeping near the fire in winter (and from your description it sounds like we have similar fireplaces).

Keep in mind that dogs are smarter than most people think. Just like you, they know when they feel too warm. Your pup is smart enough to know when to get away from the fire.

Answer 9

Get an extra fireplace screen. And put it a little further away, maybe only a foot or two. so you are not blocking any heat but he can still get warm.



Have you thought about maybe getting a heating pad for his doggie bed? This time of year even my big fat dog like the extra heat. so I give her an extra blanket for her dog bed.

Answer 10

well he probably likes the warmth to stop this so your pride and joy does not get burnt doggy/puppy proof it. Get a gate that will fit around the area where the fire is. To stop your pup from getting close. You can purchase this at any pet supplies store.

Answer 11

Just make sure you have a fire guard.

All mine have got close to the fire.

One of my old dogs I am sure would have sat in the fire if she could have.

They like the heat & want to get cosy.

Just make sure the sparks dont hit him.

When he has toasted enough he will move away.

You like the heat & will move away when toasted.

Answer 12

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Answer 13

go to home depot and get a screen to put in front of fireplace. they are about 2 1/2 foot high and come in different lengths it will keep pup away from fire but he still can get heat.

Answer 14

You should block the fire with some thing like a cardboard box that's been cut to stretch out. The heat can still go past the blockage don't worry.

Answer 15

If you don't want him near it get a metal exercise pen and fence the area off so he cannot get near it.

Answer 16

go to petco or any pet store and they have a metal fold-able gate (fold-able puppy pen) that you can put around the fireplace co he cant get to close



hope i could help

Answer 17

i'd say maybe you could put a small heater by his bed to keep him warm so that he doesn't have to go by the fire =)

Answer 18

maybe you can put up a little barrier like child safe gate/fence ? just a thought

Answer 19

What about a large metal screen that block his way

Answer 20

If he gets too hot he'll move away. Dogs aren't stupid.