I Screwed Up--HELP please with 1YO Dog Terrified to Go Outside

Ef1637 · 03-05-2013, 02:46 PM

Hi Friends,
Well, I think I have done it, I think I have "ruined" my sweet dog. (recognize I am being "slightly" dramatic, sorry!....but I am freaking out!!!). Bessie is NOT a fan of water--at all. When we give her baths she shakes and hates it until she is all dried off. WELL....here goes my problem. I turned on the sprinklers on Monday (yesterday) as it's getting warm now. When she sees them on she freaks out, she literally goes into a panic, begins shaking and wants to run away. She now will NOT go outside to pee or poo, she's terrifed to leave the house, even trying to get her to go for a walk. I have turned off the sprinklers and am also bringing her to the Vet for a check up, as she has done a complete 360 from a happy, go lucky, relatively confidant dog--to a terrified creature who will slink away and not go near the outside. ALL if this has happened in the past 48 hours.

She is a 1YO German Shepherd mix, is a very kind, sweet dog who can at times be lacking in confidence. Interestingly, we have been taking her out for long hikes recently with a friend's pack of dogs to a nearby lake which she loves, she even gets into the lake--as far up as her chest and plays. It's wonderful to see. However, at home when we have to give her a bath as she's filthy, she freaks out.

SO, now I have a GS dog who we love with all our hearts, and are fearful we have completely destroyed her confidance and state of well being. She will NOT go anywhere near outside to go pee or poo. :-(((

ANY advice is so greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!
Elisabeth and Bessie

Lucy Dog · 03-05-2013, 02:55 PM

What motivates her? What does she find to be the best thing in the world? You're probably going to have to lure her out with some very high value rewards. And be patient if she doesn't go right away. Don't just force her to go outside.

And in the future... maybe run the sprinklers at night when she's sleeping and can't actually see them.

JackandMattie · 03-05-2013, 02:58 PM

Would your friend be willing to bring her pack over so your dog can see them go out in your yard?

Don't worry, you haven't completely destoyed her confidence. Unless you were out there beating her with the lawn sprinkler, which I highly doubt

I have two rescue dogs who were very fearful and they came through it. With patience, yours will as well.

I definitely have found that they learn a lot by watching other dogs...maybe if she's with the pack and they show no fear she'll snap back out of it.

Good luck!

Lucy Dog · 03-05-2013, 02:59 PM

That's a good idea about bringing in another dog if possible. Dogs usually follow other dogs. How is your dog with other dogs?

Marnie · 03-05-2013, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackandMattie

Would your friend be willing to bring her pack over so your dog can see them go out in your yard?

Don't worry, you haven't completely destoyed her confidence. Unless you were out there beating her with the lawn sprinkler, which I highly doubt

I have two rescue dogs who were very fearful and they came through it. With patience, yours will as well.

I definitely have found that they learn a lot by watching other dogs...maybe if she's with the pack and they show no fear she'll snap back out of it.

Good luck!

Dogs learn and gain confidence from watching other dogs. Take her outside at the place she was frightened, and let her play with your friend's dogs. Many times when working with a nervous dog, I've used an older, more confident dog to show the timid one there is no reason to fear. Your dog will be fine, just give her some play time with your friend's pack.

wolfy dog · 03-05-2013, 03:44 PM

She may also go through a fear stage during which they turn suspicious about even familiar stuff.
Do not pay attention to her fears but be your normal self and let her watch you having fun on the lawn with her toys without paying attention to her (only from the corner of your eyes). Try not to lure her too much because it will put too much emphasis on the issue.
Do reward every look or step towards the outside and gradually raise the bar for the treats. And yes, other dogs will help you. You probably will have a dormant lawn this year.

Lilie · 03-05-2013, 03:51 PM

I'm a little confused. I'm sure she has seen it rain before. Yet that didn't blow her mind. Was she out in the yard and someone turned the splinklers on? Did that startle her?

Ef1637 · 03-05-2013, 04:49 PM

Dear Friends,
Thank you so so much for the kindness and gracious replies. I feel AWFUL and my "baby girl" is the love of my life and seeing her so stressed has had us all "off kilter".

I will have the dogs' she plays with brought over either this afternoon or tomorrow. I have a vet appt just in case too, to ensure she does not have any health issues.

Hot dogs are her very favorite. I will lure her outside with them. Oddly however when I now even say the word "pee" when we are outside she flies back inside. It seems just the word now is affiliated with her being upset.

Someone mentioned creating a large "litterbox" type set up in our garage for her to use until she gets over this. Not sure if this is a good idea or not? She is PERFECT with housetraining and I am praying we are not getting into issues with her having accidents in the house.

RE: the question about the sprinklers. She's always been put off by sprinklers--more of an annoyance really. On Monday we had not had them on for the entire winter, so it's been 5 months since she has seen them. It in fact startled both of us, and at one point I think she was outside when they turned on. Even if they are not on, and the ground is wet she wants nothing to do with being outside. This morning she was terrified, would not even go out front, was sitting and shaking and would not get up--a complete panic attack is what it looked like.

i loved my dog too hard · 03-05-2013, 04:57 PM

Put its food by the sprinkler. Then it will overcome its fear.

Moshamoon · 03-05-2013, 07:59 PM

I would look into what Wolfydog said. My gsd went through fear stages (she is 2 1/2 now), and I read up about it in a book by the "Monks of New York". Can't remember the title, but it was about raising puppies and the stages they go through. It, also, covers their 'teen age' stages. I read it after I got her, and even though she was past the 8 week old stage, hind sight is 20/20. Great books (they have a few), as the Monks of NY train GSD. Check it out.

03-05-2013, 02:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ef1637 New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 9	I Screwed Up--HELP please with 1YO Dog Terrified to Go Outside Hi Friends, Well, I think I have done it, I think I have "ruined" my sweet dog. (recognize I am being "slightly" dramatic, sorry!....but I am freaking out!!!). Bessie is NOT a fan of water--at all. When we give her baths she shakes and hates it until she is all dried off. WELL....here goes my problem. I turned on the sprinklers on Monday (yesterday) as it's getting warm now. When she sees them on she freaks out, she literally goes into a panic, begins shaking and wants to run away. She now will NOT go outside to pee or poo, she's terrifed to leave the house, even trying to get her to go for a walk. I have turned off the sprinklers and am also bringing her to the Vet for a check up, as she has done a complete 360 from a happy, go lucky, relatively confidant dog--to a terrified creature who will slink away and not go near the outside. ALL if this has happened in the past 48 hours. She is a 1YO German Shepherd mix, is a very kind, sweet dog who can at times be lacking in confidence. Interestingly, we have been taking her out for long hikes recently with a friend's pack of dogs to a nearby lake which she loves, she even gets into the lake--as far up as her chest and plays. It's wonderful to see. However, at home when we have to give her a bath as she's filthy, she freaks out. SO, now I have a GS dog who we love with all our hearts, and are fearful we have completely destroyed her confidance and state of well being. She will NOT go anywhere near outside to go pee or poo. :-((( ANY advice is so greatly appreciated. THANK YOU! Elisabeth and Bessie

03-05-2013, 03:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
wolfy dog Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,319	She may also go through a fear stage during which they turn suspicious about even familiar stuff. Do not pay attention to her fears but be your normal self and let her watch you having fun on the lawn with her toys without paying attention to her (only from the corner of your eyes). Try not to lure her too much because it will put too much emphasis on the issue. Do reward every look or step towards the outside and gradually raise the bar for the treats. And yes, other dogs will help you. You probably will have a dormant lawn this year. __________________ To know if you are doing things right, you should be willing to trade places with your dog.

03-05-2013, 03:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Lilie Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 8,968	I'm a little confused. I'm sure she has seen it rain before. Yet that didn't blow her mind. Was she out in the yard and someone turned the splinklers on? Did that startle her? __________________ Hondo Von Dopplet L Bauernhof "Hondo"- GSD Lilie's Tug McGraw "Tug" - Golden Retriever Maggie - Mini Dachshund (Rescue) Lonestar - Texas Blue Lacy Funyon, Ashe, Soot - Barn Cats Scooter /1/2 Arabian, Shadow, Katie / APHA

03-05-2013, 04:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ef1637 New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 9	THANK YOU and a few more points/information as requested Dear Friends, Thank you so so much for the kindness and gracious replies. I feel AWFUL and my "baby girl" is the love of my life and seeing her so stressed has had us all "off kilter". I will have the dogs' she plays with brought over either this afternoon or tomorrow. I have a vet appt just in case too, to ensure she does not have any health issues. Hot dogs are her very favorite. I will lure her outside with them. Oddly however when I now even say the word "pee" when we are outside she flies back inside. It seems just the word now is affiliated with her being upset. Someone mentioned creating a large "litterbox" type set up in our garage for her to use until she gets over this. Not sure if this is a good idea or not? She is PERFECT with housetraining and I am praying we are not getting into issues with her having accidents in the house. RE: the question about the sprinklers. She's always been put off by sprinklers--more of an annoyance really. On Monday we had not had them on for the entire winter, so it's been 5 months since she has seen them. It in fact startled both of us, and at one point I think she was outside when they turned on. Even if they are not on, and the ground is wet she wants nothing to do with being outside. This morning she was terrified, would not even go out front, was sitting and shaking and would not get up--a complete panic attack is what it looked like.

03-05-2013, 02:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lucy Dog Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,944	What motivates her? What does she find to be the best thing in the world? You're probably going to have to lure her out with some very high value rewards. And be patient if she doesn't go right away. Don't just force her to go outside. And in the future... maybe run the sprinklers at night when she's sleeping and can't actually see them.

03-05-2013, 02:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
JackandMattie Master Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Deep East Texas Posts: 638	Would your friend be willing to bring her pack over so your dog can see them go out in your yard? Don't worry, you haven't completely destoyed her confidence. Unless you were out there beating her with the lawn sprinkler, which I highly doubt I have two rescue dogs who were very fearful and they came through it. With patience, yours will as well. I definitely have found that they learn a lot by watching other dogs...maybe if she's with the pack and they show no fear she'll snap back out of it. Good luck!

03-05-2013, 02:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lucy Dog Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,944	That's a good idea about bringing in another dog if possible. Dogs usually follow other dogs. How is your dog with other dogs?

03-05-2013, 04:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
i loved my dog too hard New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: n/a Posts: 19	Put its food by the sprinkler. Then it will overcome its fear.

03-05-2013, 07:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
Moshamoon Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 31	I would look into what Wolfydog said. My gsd went through fear stages (she is 2 1/2 now), and I read up about it in a book by the "Monks of New York". Can't remember the title, but it was about raising puppies and the stages they go through. It, also, covers their 'teen age' stages. I read it after I got her, and even though she was past the 8 week old stage, hind sight is 20/20. Great books (they have a few), as the Monks of NY train GSD. Check it out.

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