When sudden behavior changes are noted in your pet, a consultation with your veterinarian is always a good place to start to rule out possible medical causes. In this case, poor vision could easily explain why the dog is more fearful at night. One of the first symptoms noted in patients that are having trouble seeing is strange behavior at night. A quick look with an ophthalmoscope and neurologic exam can help make sure that poor eyesight isn’t contributing to the dog’s night fears.
Anxiety in dogs is a very common problem that can be triggered by a variety of stimuli. While “being scared of the dark” isn’t a common diagnosis in many veterinary behavior cases, it makes sense that decreased light will strike an evolutionary chord that tells your dog to be on high alert. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration to understand what can be making a dog nervous.
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If medical causes have been excluded then working on desensitization and counter-conditioning can be helpful in changing the way a dog feels in a particular situation. The best way to do this is with the help of a certified trainer or veterinary behaviorist. Introducing the dog to gradually increasing amounts of the fear-triggering stimulus over and over while rewarding the dog with positive treats or other incentives can help change the way the dog observes a situation. The keys to helping stop a seemingly small behavioral problem from snowballing into a lifelong phobia are early recognition, confirming that there are no health problems, and teaming up with a professional to help prevent negative actions and promote positive behavior.
Q: We adopted a terrier-mix puppy when he was 10 weeks old. He is 11 months old now and has become very skittish in the dark. We have trouble walking him after dark because he gets spooked by familiar sights/noises: cars passing, neighbors hanging out on their porches or taking out their trash, etc. Once he’s done with his business, he pulls frantically on the leash toward home. He doesn’t even like being let out in our fenced-in backyard and stays close to the doorway until he’s let back inside. He has started whining and crying in his crate at night again, like he did when we first got him. In the daytime, he’s fine and calm on the leash. We’re puzzled by his behavior and wonder if there is anything we can do.
Can dogs see in the dark?
There are various myths about dogs and their abilities to see. One such myth is that dogs cant see color. While their sight is much more limited in terms of color recognition when compared to humans, they can see some colors. Another myth is that dogs can see in the dark. While this isnt exactly true, the reason for the myth holds some clues to the quality of a dogs eyesight.
Although dogs cant see as well in terms of color, they do have greater ability in terms of light. Cone cells in the eye detect color and rod cells detect light. Dogs dont have as varied a set of cone cells, but they do have more rod cells in the retina which means they can better detect s in low-light scenarios. Their lens is also close to the retina, affording them a brighter [1].
Perhaps most importantly, dogs have what is known as a tapetum lucidum. This is a reflective membrane at the back of their eye which reflects light back into the retina to better see an . No dog can see if it is completely dark, but they can use even small amounts of light to registers shapes and forms. How sensitive is a dogs vision is very difficult to tell, but they can see well in both bright and low-light situations.
None of this means that a dog will never be afraid of the dark. Although they may be able to see in low-light, they cant see as well as can in brighter environments. Why then might a dog be afraid of the dark?
Can Dogs Be Afraid of the Dark?
“Are dogs afraid of the dark?” is an ever-Googleable question, but it’s rare that dogs actually have a standalone fear of the dark. Chances are, your veterinarian won’t diagnose your pup with “nyctophobia,” even if it might seem like darkness is the problem.
Why? For one, dogs can see better in the dark than we can, says Dr. Mary R. Burch, a certified applied animal behaviorist and the director of the American Kennel Club (AKC) Family Dog Program. That’s because their eyes have more rods, or light-sensitive cells, than ours do.
Although dogs don’t experience darkness the same way we do, certain factors could still cause a dog to feel afraid in the dark. For instance, a dog with failing eyesight might find herself bumping into furniture or bushes at night, which could make her feel confused and anxious when it gets dark outside. Even bad memories from puppyhood linked to darkness or the nighttime could cause your dog to begin behaving strangely when that triggering time comes around again, says Emma Bowdrey, an ISCP-trained (International School for Canine Psychology) dog trainer based in Prague.
While there’s not a great deal of data related to dogs and darkness-induced anxiety, dog breeds that are typically more susceptible to anxiety might be more likely to get anxious at nighttime, says Dr. Burch. These include toy breeds such as Italian Greyhounds, Chihuahuas, and Yorkshire Terriers as well as Bichon Frises, Border Collies, and German Shepherds.
Learn how to help your fearful dog with my 5 keys to fixing fear
Blue Cross explains that dogs can develop a fear of darkness and it may indicate other problems such as separation anxiety, bad vision, trauma and health conditions
The short winter days mean that many of us are left with no choice but to walk our dogs after the sun goes down – but what happens if your dog is scared of the dark?
So, if your dog seems anxious at nighttime or cries when you put them to bed, they could have developed a fear of the dark, or be showing signs of something else.
Changes in your dogs behaviour, such as whimpering, barking, drooling and restlessly pacing up and down, can all be reasons to cause concern.
If your dog appears to be avoiding dark rooms and shadows or is struggling to sleep at night, you arent alone.
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