Weird question/occurance

[Bridget and Lupin]

So Lupin has been potty-trained since she was like 4-5 months old and she's now 9 mos old.  Last night she was clearly telling us she needed to go out but then would flat out refuse to go outside.  This happened several times until the inevitable happened and I found a lake on our hardwood floors.  It just happened again now...only it was more of a pond this time.  What gives?!?  Is she all of the sudden afraid of the dark?  Why won't she go outside?  Has anyone else seen anything like this?

[Daniela]

I would be very interested in reading "The stages of development for puppies" .

Would you please share that ebook with me as well?

Thanks a lot,

Daniela

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

This is not really an ebook, but 3 pages info my breeder provided to me when I picked up Charlie.  It did explain some things as he was maturing.  It is also printed on the IDOG website.

IDOG%20Puppy%20Development%20Stages.pdf

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Oscar had a couple occurrences similar to what you describe at that same age. Something would spook him during the late night potty break and he wouldn't want to stay out long enough to do his business. Once I even had to wake my husband to go take him out because Oscar had really spooked me with his behavior. The fright periods quickly passed, however. By the next day he was back to his old self.

[Bridget and Lupin]

Yeh it kind of freaks me out....when she was really little I was afraid an owl would try to swoop down on her.  Crazy, I know!  But something must have spooked her out there...owl, opossum, raccoon...who knows what. 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

My fears/concerns ran more in line with a person lurking in the backyard. The idea of a stranger hiding in the dark kind of freaks me out every time.

[Bridget and Lupin]

Greaaat....now I'll worry about a creeper in the yard!  Just in time for Halloween!  ;-)

[Kathryn digregorio]

Hi  Funny what we do for our puppies, I have used a soup ladle also, got a nice big plastic one that i keep in garage, it really does work.  Good luck.  too funny !!

[Bridget and Lupin]

Update:  so far, so good tonight.  We've stayed out in the yard with her both times she's asked to go out (after dark) this evening.  She's done her business quickly and high-tails it back to the door.  I'm pretty sure that something must have spooked her at some point recently and hopefully she'll relax and things will go back to normal soon.