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What do you do when your dog is afraid of going outside?

Posted: July 8th, 2010, 12:28 am
by Bartimaeus
So, we moved and brought my dog with me. She is absolutely frightened of going outside, no matter what. I tried coaxing her with treats, disciplining fearful reactions, and simply sitting around until she gets calm - which doesn't happen, ever. The only way I can get her outside is physically pulling the chain until we're out. She doesn't even like the door - the second I open it, she starts running away.

I don't know what to do - if this goes on, we'll have to get rid of her. Help.

Re: What do you do when your dog is afraid of going outside?

Posted: July 8th, 2010, 2:02 pm
by Ken
:(

Could be because it's a new place to her, in which case it might take a while for her to get used to it. Or, maybe you should try finding a ball.

But uh, I hope you don't lose your dog. Dogs are good.

Re: What do you do when your dog is afraid of going outside?

Posted: July 8th, 2010, 2:12 pm
by Lanaya
Well, don't use treats, or it'll be telling her it's a good thing and a way to get treats.
Don't baby her :O

Re: What do you do when your dog is afraid of going outside?

Posted: July 8th, 2010, 2:34 pm
by Shamanno1
I would love such a dog ._.

Re: What do you do when your dog is afraid of going outside?

Posted: July 8th, 2010, 4:07 pm
by haxorico
1)Kick (works on chat :O)
2)Put her food and water plate thingy outside. so when she wants to eat she will have to go outside
3)take her out by force, then don't let her back in for a few days.. just let her sleep outside. I don't think she will suicide.. she will survive unless you have something that kills dogs outside :O

Re: What do you do when your dog is afraid of going outside?

Posted: July 8th, 2010, 4:17 pm
by Vegas
Isnt ironic that to get rid of her, you would have to take her outside. Would you bury her in the basement?

Re: What do you do when your dog is afraid of going outside?

Posted: July 8th, 2010, 9:27 pm
by Madara
i have a totally oposite dog....

but did your dog ever go outside ?

Re: What do you do when your dog is afraid of going outside?

Posted: July 8th, 2010, 10:25 pm
by YellowAfterlife
Did you check it... maybe there's actually something scary for her outside the house? Maybe larger male dogs?
For some reason I got a wish to add "... or zombies." to the previous line, but I used my power of will and did not xD

Re: What do you do when your dog is afraid of going outside?

Posted: July 9th, 2010, 12:40 am
by Small Sized Duck
Since I don't know how old your dog is, i'm going to assume it's under three right? When dogs are exposed to new territories they have to become use to it. Try getting a dowel stick ( or any random non rigid stick) and put peanut butter on it. Assuming your dog likes peanut butter, let it take a few licks, and slowly lead it outside.

Re: What do you do when your dog is afraid of going outside?

Posted: July 9th, 2010, 3:17 am
by Bartimaeus
@FatherSpace, yeah, new place.
@Haxorico, she's pretty much an anorexic like me, so that won't work. Secondly, she's a German Shepard, so if she wants to get in the house, she'll find a way. And even if she didn't get in, we don't really trust her enough not to just bound off, (our house isn't fenced in).
@Madara, she peed outside, but I had to set her up some papers in the basement for her to poop on, :?
@Yellow, yes, Fourth of July is what's going on - she's absolutely terrified of fireworks, and somehow, there's a firecracker going off every time we step outside.
@SSD, we don't actually know how old she is - the rescue shelter we got her from never gave us a straight answer - first she was two, then one and a half, then one, and then back to two, and we've had her about a year, so it's safe to assume she's around three, yeah.
@Vegas, ironic yes, but I didn't quite understand that last part, lol.
@Shamanno1, you like dogs pooping and peeing on your floors because they're too scared to go outside? ;)
@Lanaya, I figured that out, since we tried giving her treats to get her outside, she seems like she's gotten even more afraid - seems as if we're encouraging her bad behavior by giving her treats, (rewarding her for it).