Our dog is scared of the dark

[redredruby]

I am hoping that there will be some people here who will be able to help us and our rescue lurcher.

We adopted Alice in October, she was approximately 1 year old and had been found wandering the streets. When we got her, her previous foster parents (who had her for 1 month) had done a lot of good ground work but she was / is still a nervous thing.

Alice wasn't toilet trained when we got her, and was extremely reluctant to go if we were anywhere near her. It was almost as though she had been punished for simply going to the toilet and never told how to go to the toilet correctly (i.e. outside).

At the moment our biggest problem is that whilst she will (on the whole) go to the toilet on a walk or in the garden during the day but at night she is so scared of the dark that she won't go at all and invariably goes in the house. When we take her out in the dark, our other dog is with her (who normally gives her confidence) plus either me or my partner but again, she will just be cowering waiting to go to back in (and poo!)

Please help us because she is a lovely dog but this is causing a lot of stress! Thank you so much!

Can yuu fit an outside light?

Maybe not the ideal fix but at least something that will sort out the immediate issue?

Hi whyhavepets - we have an outside light (sorry should have mentioned that!) and it doesn't really help at all - even with the light on because it is still nighttime she just stands by the back door simply wanting to come back in.

During the day, it is a different story, bouncing around everywhere!

Hi redredruby Hmm, ok so it is not actually the lack of ligth as such then... It would be interesting to know how she was in the summer, if she was fine then it could suggest that it is the particular cold you get with winter nights which could be helped by popping a coat on her a few minutes before she goes out (to allow it to warm her up).

have you thought about changing her food or when she gets her main meal?

wondering if one of the foods that claims to reduce the 'stool volume' might help, that combined with when she's needing to go

although that's not ever going to be easy at this time of year when the days are so short

Do you feel up to spending time out in the dark playing ball (or whatever he loves) with your other dog? Just wondering if taking one out and leaving her inside (ideally where she can see/hear) might convince here that outside at night is fun?

Obv it would have to be a gradual thing and may take time - and you would have to plan carefully so you don't turn wee time into playtime (instead of play and wee time!!)

Yes whyhavepets - I think we will continue trying to play / give treats outside. I like the idea of letting her stay inside whilst we all have fun outside and hopefully she will eventually want to join us!

bumpybecky we haven't thought about her diet so will certainly look into that option!

Thanks everyone - will let you know how we get on!

When mine was a puppy (and so in a similar stage in terms of getting used to the new environment) she wouldn't wee in the garden on an evening/night unless we went right the way down into the garden with her - also, not sure about this, but it might help to put her on a lead as she might feel reassured you are not about to leave her out there?

DP always tells me that dogs can see in the dark so can't be scared of it, but one of mine will not go up the stairs unless the light is on. We have an outside light in the garden and he is much happier to go out at night if the light is on there too.

our horrible little swine had the same problem ,in fact he,s frightened of everything , dark ,noise , pussy cats other dogs -you name it , he has a problem - but he loves his mum and plays with our special needs daughter the cure one of you has to wee outside - spray it around , and you will have to do it for a while i am afraid - but it will work .

My rescue staffy is scared of the dark too (and big dogs, and thunder, and ...) We used WhyHavePets approach of playing in the dark and praising/rewarding her when she came out. It took some time, but it did work and now she will go out in the garden with the outside light on.