HIDING AT HOME

WHEN DOGS DON’T WANT TO GO OUT

Most of us assume that our dogs love to go outdoors even more than we do. Walk in the park, and you’ll see dogs joyously scampering around, chasing balls and running with their friends. Yet, whilst the vast majority of dogs love their time in nature and out of the house, you may be surprised to hear that many dogs feel so vulnerable about being outside that they would happily avoid it.

HOW THIS DEVELOPS

The situation can take many months to develop, or at least to reveal itself, or in the case of rescue dogs particularly, be triggered by a minor incident in the initial days after rehoming. The same can happen to young dogs and puppies due to overstimulation or meeting boisterous dogs that lack social skills.

Our expectations and beliefs and the needs of our dogs are often at odds. Our dogs communicate with us all the time, but we need to pay attention for this to be of any value. If we are sidetracked or busy when out with our dogs and miss an incident that occurs, our dogs can start to lose trust and confidence in us as their protectors and guardians. Even if we do witness the incident, we might not consider its impact on our dog. We have to be ‘in the moment’ to ensure our dogs enjoy their time outdoors.

Once problematic behaviours develop, it is very easy to label them. If our dog becomes reluctant to go on walks or ‘suddenly’ becomes defensive around other dogs, we can jump to the wrong conclusion and misattribute the behaviour. Many of us react negatively if our dog begins to bark, growl or refuse to move when out walking without considering whether this behaviour is due to confusion, irritation, frustration, anxiety or pain. The point to remember is that dogs never do anything without reason. It is not in their nature to suddenly become lazy, disobedient or aggressive, but if threatened, afraid or sore, they can easily display these behaviours. This fear and worry will also take its toll on your dog both physically and mentally in other areas of their life.

So, if your dog is afraid to go out or behaves oddly when out of the house, you need to holistically consider what is going on and start taking steps to help him to feel better.

OBSERVATION AND RAPID ACTION ARE KEY

The best thing we can do for our dogs is to observe any new or odd behaviours and investigate their cause properly. Whether this means a visit to the vet or a call to the behaviourist, we need to prioritise objective assessments of our dog’s behaviours early on before they escalate. Dogs communicate with us constantly, and we need to become skilled at reading their body language, including the set of their tail, any tightening around the mouth or tension in the body.

Identifying issues early is crucial, as the longer the dog displays these behaviours, the more difficult the situation is to reverse and the more significant impact the stress will have had on your dog’s physical and mental state. Do not assume that the problem will fix itself or that your dog is 'being silly' and will feel better soon; deal with the problem when you first notice it and get your dog back to enjoying his life outdoors.

REMEMBER

Fear is an innate thing in all of us. It often doesn’t make sense, but without the ability to feel fear, life would be very dangerous. Humans are fortunate in that we are able to adjust our environment and behaviours to avoid the things that make us most fearful. This is not a luxury afforded to dogs. As their owners, we must act in their best interests and not force them to do things they don’t want to do. Instead, we need to take their fear seriously and help them to find ways to grow in confidence and deal with the demands of our human world.

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

It is possible to start making the dog’s world feel safe again. What is needed is the feeling of security, so home is the starting point of the rehabilitation process. The steps taken are very small, and the speed is dictated by the dog. He must be given a choice about whether or not he wants to venture outside and, if so, for how long.

Activities that lower stress levels are also important in the recovery process. Treat searches in the garden or around the house should be offered, as should places of rest both inside and outside the house. Another activity that can help to lower stress is chewing, and chew toys, treats or suitable bones can be very beneficial in

keeping anxious dogs calm. Training must also take a back seat while the problem is resolved, as expectations create stress.

Over time you can increase the amount your dog does outside, but this must not be rushed. As we gradually increase time outdoors, we must be observant for changes in behaviour or body language, however slight and use these indicators to guide whether or not our dog is ready to progress to the next step.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Our fast-moving world has victims, and dogs are often one of them. This is particularly problematic when owners are led to believe that extreme behaviour is bad behaviour and needs to be addressed with punitive techniques. This is quite obviously the wrong approach. The best way to help our dogs to rediscover their love of the great outdoors is through showing compassion and kindness to help restore their confidence. Promoting security and safety and stepping in when we are needed is part of our role, and we need to take this seriously.