Night time Nerves

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

Chester is a little nervous to go out and do his business when it is dark out.

It makes me wonder what he senses that I don't..There are coyotes in the area.

His routine is to pee on grass and poo on the gravel side of the road.

He will sometimes refuse to walk down or up the street.he starts to walk and then will sit and refuse to move. I try to coax him along 'it's OK '.

If it is garbage day - or if there is a different car parked in a different spot it is even more difficult.

Noises that don't bother him in the daylight really make him nervous- occasionally bolting if he is startled.

He does to something particularly adorable- If he needs to go out- he will sit on the stairs and look at us.When we get up to take him out- he will go and get his favourite teddy bear to 'protect' him.He has to carry His bear down the street with him.

If anyone has any suggestions I would like to hear them. I don't want to traumatize him..but it is frustrating to take him out in the freezing temps only to have him not do his business.

[BG and Gavin]

I was thinking the same thing.  The phrase I use is "lets go" it is a naturally assertive phrase for me.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"Let's go" is good too. I say that without thinking when JD is balking about coming out into the yard. Usually accompanied by slapping my thigh, lol.

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

I didn't even think that 'It's OK' would be contributing.Really interesting feedback. I really do need to watch what I say.

[Suzanne & Jack]

I'm sorry, but I couldn't help smiling at the image of Chester with his teddy bear walking down the street.  Too cute.  We used to have a schnauzer.  Every spring we would start out walking down to the end of our street.  Inevitibly, a neighbor would shoot of some bottle rockets during our walk.  For the rest of the summer he would get to the point that he saw the fireworks and turn around.  Maybe something happened to spook him.  I agree trying to coax him with treats and praise might help.  have you tried taking him out just before dusk, and then slowly conditioning him to stay out until dark.

[Martha & Cooper]

Cooper has had this problem too.   His is a selective problem that I think I have made worse.  He goes out for my husband, is I am not around,  but won't go out for me unless I go with him or wait on our patio for him.   He prefers that I take him out and will seek me out over my husband.  

When I am out there, he is always looking back at the house to see where I am.   It all started with us when he was a puppy and I wanted to keep his poo cleaned up to keep him from partaking.   Now, I think he looks to me for security.   He is just now getting adventurous as far as chasing the squirrels and rabbits.  He used to just sit and watch them, so maybe he is overcoming some of his fears.  

[Martha & Cooper]

I hit the send button too quickly!   I was also going to say that Cooper also would take his toy out with him when he would go, lay it down, then pick it up and bring it back in.    He did this for awhile, then stopped.   I didn't stop it.   I asked his trainer and she said she didn't think it was a big deal.  

I agree with Karen about not using the It's OK.   Good Boy, Let's Go and Come are all appropriate and things my trainer taught me. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Can dogs be afraid of the dark or is it the scents or noises?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Honestly, this question has been bugging me for 6 years now. I just don't know. In JD's case, it's the yard at night.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We all laughed at my mom when she told us her little Westie was afraid of the dark, but there may be some validity to her observation after all, I guess.  However, I do KNOW that she reassigned her fears (like to the dark) to her little dog.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I hear you - I have no idea why Rooney is afraid of the dark either.  It isn't like I open the door to let him go out  - I'm always right there with him, so is Stuart - who bounds out into the dark without a care.  And Rooney is as socialized as they come - this is his one fear issue.  So so weird.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Well - his one fear if we don't count wild pigs, gators, or bears - lol!

[BG and Gavin]

I was about to say - Rooney has good reason to be afraid of the dark given your aligator situation!  Just a thought in Rooney's situation - I remember you did not have a fenced in yard.  Could it be he was trained to go out on leash exclusively and now without the leash at night he feels insecure?