I live in New York City and have recently been taking my dog outside for walks. At first he was fine and would stay outside for half an hour. Two days later he started fussing to go right back inside after doing his thing. He won't go more than twenty feet from the front door of my building. I started carrying him to the end of the block and putting him down. He just walk/runs back to our door.
I have tried just sitting outside on a stoop with him to get him used to the noises, but he barks to go back inside. It's really pitiful as though he misses his blanky.
Anne Vaini Webboard User Reg: 07-14-2005
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Loc: Wisconsin
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I apologize for the Patricia McConnell sound of this post in advance. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Take him someplace that is not so overwhelming an let him get used to being outside there. Maybe a park or walking path. Then start bringing him places with a little more noise, a little more traffic. Use treats and praise to teach him that going outside is a fun adventure, not scary place.
Remeber that he sees you as his protector. If you cannot protect him from the city noises that care him, he may lose trust in you.
Even more Patricia McConnell sounding advice:
Record the sounds of your street. Play it back to your pup very quietly so that it is not overwhelming and give treats and praise. Gradually increase the volume until he is comfortable with the noise. He may still be frightened of all the movement, but playing with him in less active areas will help with that too.
Actually, I prefer that advice to "You're the boss and you must not be firm enough with him" attitude. I will try the tape suggestion and maybe we'll take a cab to Central Park in the morning. Thanks!
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Loc: North-Central coast of California
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QUOTE: I will try the tape suggestion and maybe we'll take a cab to Central Park in the morning. Thanks! END
That sounds perfect.......a trip outside that ends up in a park with grass and fun instead of cars and cement. Great idea!
And calm, assertive -- as Anne said, so he will know you are in charge and you will take care of him and make the decisions. It's so easy to try to soothe fearful behavior away, and that ends up in reinforcing and rewarding it; the calm expectation that he will follow you and that you will take him to good places and that you will always be in charge do so much more for his worries (IMO).
I had never heard of the taping idea with gradually increasing the volume, and it sounds brilliant to me.
Anne Vaini Webboard User Reg: 07-14-2005
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Loc: Wisconsin
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To be clear you must be firm, but you must also be sure that your puppy can handle the situation.
An example - I was at the dog park and a couple had a small terrier type dog. It was terrified hiding behind their legs and shaking. They shooed him out with the other dog's and wihtin very few minutes he had suddenly become dog aggressive and was lunging at and biting the other dogs. Thankfully, they went home and I hope they didn't go back.
They were firm, but did not have control over the level of stimuli and did not know or recognize that firmness alone will not desensitize or condition a dog to willingly accept and/or ignore and upsetting/scary stimuli.
A Yellow Lab. He's going on 20+ pounds now and so I'm not sure how much longer I can carry him to the end of the block. Also, he still can't climb stairs - even with treats for bribes he can only manage 4 or 5. I'm wondering if it's because he hasn't been able to strengthen his muscles with walking.
I am going to try taking him in a cab to the park and also the tape suggestion. I'm also thinking about getting a harness type lead that might be more "convincing" in terms of security.
He's been to the vet twice in the last month for a check and some shots. The vet seemed to think he was fine when I first brought him in for his initial checkup.
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Puppy Wants to Stay Home
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