Dog suddenly refusing to set foot in the garden

[MissShapesMissStakes]

He's 3 and suddenly yesterday afternoon he seemed reluctant to go on the grass. He stood on the decking looking down the steps and seemed nervous of something. Then walked back in the house.

I thought nothing of it.
We've added a bike shed to the garden and I had turned out some very smelly old soil from the bottom of a planter but only a little went on the grass. The rest I put on the compost heap really far away. So I thought maybe that or the change had put him off.

But this morning he's refused to go on. After two hours of being up he still refused and had to be taken for a walk so he could toilet as he usually goes in the garden.

I just can't think what it is. I've shown him the bike shed and he wasn't that interested. Normally if he's nervous of something he'd bark at it until I touch it and then he's fine. He didn't seem bothered at all.

I know we have foxes and a badger at night but they aren't new so I'm thinking it's not that.

He wouldn't even go on the grass for a biscuit or to play chase with my kids and he usually loves that. He's racing about inside the house playing so I don't think it's related to pain or anything.

Any ideas?!

Have you put something on the lawn recently? Weed killer or grass feed? He might not like it

Nothing new at all. Other than the bike shed which he's barely even looked at and isn't interested in it at all.

My daughter is very sensitive to sound though and she's just said that yesterday evening she could hear it making a tiny noise as the wind caught the shed (it's made of a thin metal).

Could be that?

Though there is no breeze at all today, and as I said, he's not been bothered investigating it. It's off to the side so a little hidden by plants.

I'm wondering if the smelly soil out him off. It had been in a pot for years and smelt of dead things. Though don't dogs like stinky stuff?

A noise, especially a sudden bang? I couldn't get my dog into the garden for ages after someone let off a random firework while we were outside (we are rural, and fireworks are not common, although shooting is). Or has somebody thrown something at your dog over a fence?

Thanks for the ideas.

It must be something like that. But it's just not like him. Fireworks have never bothered him. He's been out in the garden when huge ones have gone off and he wasn't bothered. None of the neighbours could or would throw anything. We are pretty distanced other than the ones with the cat and they don't seem to mind. They would tell us if it was a problem. To be honest I think the cat enjoys it more than my dog!

are you sure it's not a bee or wasp sting?

Just been out after buying chicken. Took puppy out too. I scattered tiny bits of chicken around and he came reluctantly onto the lawn. He stood on three paws for the first five mins. Then, with the help of more chicken, we slowly distributed chicken and he stayed with us.

As soon as the chicken was gone, so was he. But it's a start.

He's an odd little thing sometimes. But then poodles can be.

Here's a pic of him and his little nemesis that he loves to hate.

Oh my gawd, your dog is the spit of mine! Here playing with her new pal, a Yorkie. Mines a toy. Is yours?

Any chance you have an ants nest somewhere in the garden?

My dog refused to come back into the house last night after her pee because the kitchen was dark she just stood at the open back door looking in sheepishly. I had to turn the light on to get her in.

Oh we DO have an ants nest in the garden (a few actually)!

I'm thinking it must have been something like ants or a snake. Also just remembered a frog jumped out at our allotment and freaked him out a month or so ago. We have lots of wildlife. Maybe a close call with a frog.

@Brownlongearedbat - what a cutie. Love a messy poodle! Mine are both minis.

I would not be tempting him onto the grass with food as he is showing huge reluctance to go on it. What ever the reason he is worried and bribing him will not take away the fear, it may even increase the anxiety.

I would ignore the situation for the next few days let him stay off the grass. If he chooses to go on the grass make no big deal out of it and give him the opportunity to leave it as soon as he wants to.

If you do want to feed him then feed him where he can see the grass and is still happy but not on it but tbh I would just let things be for a bit and see if he gets over this on his own to start with.

Snakes (even when not actually present any more) spooked our labradors. They just wouldn't go near that part of the garden.

Frogs/hedgehogs/toads provoked curiosity but the (to me undetectible) scent left by a grass snake was like a ghostly visitor to the dogs.

I reckon it could be the vibrating shed - the feel of it will be travelling through the ground even if almost imperceptably. Could you try wedging stuff against the walls to dampen it and then go for a longer term fix if that's it?

Do you have any electrical cables in the ground?

Not sure about electrical cables under. None that I know of.

So he's still reluctant to go on.

He's fine playing ball with DH as it's his exciting game. And he will come on if someone goes with him and he needs a wee. But he's refusing to poo on there. He waits for his walk which isn't ideal.

I'm hoping her gradually forgets whatever it was.

He's a mystery!