How to Recognize Your Dog’s Fears
Not all dogs show fear in the same way. For example, your dog may refuse to go outside, no matter how much you encourage them (or try to tug on their leash).
Others may go out but will cower low to the ground or have their tail tucked between their legs. Some might even show severe signs of stress and anxiety, like heavy panting and restlessness.
There’s a certain process that needs to go along with retraining your dog to love the outdoors again. Forcing them to do so on your terms and time isn’t a good idea and can result in lasting trauma to your dog’s mental state.
Let’s take a look at common reasons why your dog might be scared to go outside so that you can find the solution.
One of the primary reasons your pet might be reluctant to go outside is because of loud or strange sounds. Dogs hear at a higher frequency range than humans. So, a sound that might seem comfortable to a person can be deafening and scary to them.
If your dog is afraid to go outside at night, or if your dog is suddenly scared of the backyard, there’s a good chance they may have heard something out there that was frightening for them. This could be a variety of things, some of which can be more obvious than others.
Some common culprits include:
It only takes one instance of your dog hearing a scary noise for them to associate with being outside with something negative. You may not even know which noise caused the problem in the first place.
Thankfully, that doesnt necessarily matter. If you do have an idea which noise caused your dog to become frightened, you can take measures to remove it.
But, if you think a loud noise is what caused your dog to be scared at night or scared of their backyard, introducing them slowly back into your yard is the best option. As explained by the Animal Humane Society, this is best done through a process called desensitization.
Desensitization is the practice of gradually reintroducing your dog to the yard instead of forcing them to face their fears all at once. It can take a lot of time and patience, but its a great solution for fixing the problem.
To practice desensitization in the backyard from loud noises, start with small steps. Open the door for your dog for a few minutes. If they choose to go out, thats a good start. If not, close the door and try again later.
Take them out for a few minutes at a time, when the neighborhood is quiet. You should be able to pick up on their stress cues and if theyre feeling anxious. If they are, take them back inside.
The idea is to slowly and consistently show them theres nothing to be afraid of outside. So, the next time they do hear a loud noise, they wont be so frightened because they know theyre safe outdoors.
Just as dogs can recall being scared of loud noises for a long time, they can also remember bad experiences. This could happen from something like getting bitten by an ant in the yard to encountering a mean dog on a walk. Dogs can easily make the connection between a frightful situation and when/where it happened.
If your dog is anxious on walks or seems hesitant, think about any negative experiences they may have had. Obviously, if another animal or person was involved, youll want to keep them away from that trigger.
Desensitization works well for remedying this problem, too. If your dog doesnt want to go on walks anymore, you should start slowly with a walk around the block.
For many dogs, they may even begin to perk up and calm down after just one walk. For others, it can take a while. Dont give up and pay attention to your dogs stress signals for when you might need to take them inside.
If your puppy or rescue dog is afraid to go outside, it could be because they arent used to seeing the world through a positive lens. As a result, it can feel overwhelming and scary.
Before a dog hits 14 weeks old, they should be introduced to the outside world. This includes different places, people, and other dogs.
Exposure to the world needs to be a gentle procedure, to let the dog know there is nothing to be scared of. Sessions should be short and filled with positivity and encouragement.
Puppies who dont get this socialization can have fears of being outdoors or specific aspects of it including people or other dogs.
You can socialize a dog at any age. But, it can become much more difficult to do once your dog is older and already has a particular view of the world and the things in it. Teaching an adult dog socialization can take a long time, and a lot of patience, but it can be done.
Injuries and Other Medical Issues
Medical issues and injuries can influence how your dog feels about going outside or accompanying you on a walk.
Paw or leg pain may cause a dog to dread outdoor time. These issues can be caused by something as simple as overgrown toenails or a cut on her paw, but they can also be caused by persistent issues that require treatment, such as arthritis.
Other problems may also make your dog less inclined to journey outside. Internal health issues, for example, could cause your dog to feel lethargic or generally crummy, while vision problems may cause your dog to be afraid of going outside, especially when it’s dark.
Senior dogs seem to get scared by changes more easily and remember their fear longer than younger pooches. They can also develop conditions like doggie dementia or “sundowners syndrome,” which can cause them to act oddly even in familiar circumstances.
If you think your dog may have a medical reason that’s causing her to fear the outdoors, get her checked out by your vet ASAP.
Life Changes or Physical Obstacles
Life changes and physical obstacles are other common reasons some dogs are uneasy about going outside.
For instance, if you just moved to the second floor and your dog doesn’t have much experience with stairs, she may be scared to traverse the stairs.
Slippery floors or other new flooring types may also frighten or confuse your pooch, but adding carpet runners or rugs so your dog has more traction while crossing the new floor can do wonders to help your dog feel more confident. She may not need this solution in place forever, but it is a quick fix to help your dog get back in the habit of enjoying heading outside.
Help! My Dog is an Agoraphobic! What to do when your dog is afraid to go outside.
Annette Cheney of Raleigh, North Carolina, is upset. So is Carol Costello of Hingham, Massachusetts. Both have dogs whose behavior was perfectly delightful — until the day that it wasn’t.
In the case of Ms. Cheney, her five-year-old basset hound, Otis, has begun balking about going outside. When she and her husband first adopted him about a year ago, she says, “he walked very well. He is energetic and healthy. But now, loud noises “agitate him to the point of refusing to go out at all,” she says. “Many times we can coax him out, but only briefly and just to ‘take care of business.” She is worried not just about Otis relieving himself but also about his getting the proper exercise and, at least as important, “helping him relax and enjoy his walks again.”
Ms. Costello is upset because wonderful one-year-old Teddy, a well-socialized and happily charming Maltese-poodle mix, has started pooping in the house. Every morning the family has been waking up to one of his “deposits.” As a stop-gap measure, the Costellos have taken to locking him in his crate at night so he won’t destroy the dining room carpet.
The head of the Tufts Animal Behavior Clinic, Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM, isn’t at all surprised by these changes. Otis and Teddy each has one of the four main reasons a dog’s behavior will appear to change out of nowhere. But, she remarks, contrary to appearances, “it may not be of the blue. It means the problem has finally reached a tipping point, and the dog now exhibits clinical signs that are apparent to the owner.”