My dog won't sleep outside after being scared, why is she hiding?

It's possible there is a scent that he's picking up on, or he may be hearing a strange sound. Critters under the ground such as rodents that are more nocturnal may also be startling him, especially if this is during a nighttime potty break. Bringing him out on a leash so he doesn't chase or get hurt by anything, and bringing a high-value treat out with you may help get him more used to going out and being less afraid. Otherwise, checking for any signs of wildlife may be a good idea (and seeing if you can get the wildlife to move off elsewhere), or fencing an area for him to go in safely may help as well.

It could be that something in the room upset Sophie previously, and that's why she is reacting this way at bedtime. I would try to make sleeping with you fun again by offering her treats when she comes to bed with you. Try to move as slowly and quietly as possible, and if you do startle her, do not comfort her. What you are doing by comforting her is actually reinforcing the behavior and telling her it's ok for her to act this way. If she gets upset, let her calm down, and then try to tempt her back to bed with a treat.

I would continue to take her out on the leash for lots of walks, giving her treats to distract her if there is a noise or something that may scare her. You can also get an anti anxiety supplement at PetCo which may help her to relax. Usually this will improve over several weeks as long as there aren’t more scary episodes. Please contact a dog trainer if she doesn’t improve in a month or so. They can help you learn how to build her confidence and get her used to various things outside. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Harley.

Awww, poor Willow! Sounds like she has noise phobia, a common enough affliction that we see in dogs and cats. This is usually something that is addressed with either medications, or items like the Thundershirt and Adaptil Collar. I like to advise owners to try the latter two options first prior to jumping to a medication, as chemicals should only be used when absolutely necessary. If neither of them seem to be successful in helping Willow, speak to your veterinarian about prescribing something to help with the anxiety. Drugs for this in dogs usually include alprazolam or trazodone.

Although I can't be exactly sure there may be something causing Kenai's anxiety in he middle of the night. Sometimes a noise that occurs (perhaps snoring or something while sleeping in your case) is causing Kenai's anxiety. If there are loud noises outside like thunder, gun shots, cars back firing this could also trigger this response. It may even be a sound imperceptible to you. My first suggestion is to try an Adaptil collar to see if this lessens some anxiety. This is a pheromone collar that tends to work nicely with mild anxiety. There are supplements like Solliquin that may also be helpful. Even adding a white noise machine may be worthwhile to block out some sound. It may be helpful to crate train Kenai at least for sleeping. Sometimes have a "settle location" like a crate can help reduce a dog's anxiety. Finally, if there is no improvement it would be a good idea to have Kenai examined by your veterinarian to ensure there isn't any underlying health problem contributing to the behavior. Sometimes pain or infection can manifest in anxious behaviors. If necessary your veterinarian can prescribe a medication for anxiety. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and good luck to you and Kenai!

Oh poor girl! She is adorable! Sometimes dogs can get scared of a number of things and act that way. Try to think of anything that could have scared her such as a visitor, neighbors or even loud outside noises. Rarely, dogs try to get away when they do not feel well (more commonly seen with cats). Keep her close, pet her and let her know that everything will be ok with a calm demeanor and gentle voice. If no improvement is observed by tomorrow, have her examined by your veterinarian to ensure that there is no medical reason for her behavior. Good luck!

It's very possible something scary happened in the yard, or there is an animal under the ground making noises she can hear but you can't. If this is a sudden or new behavior, ruling out any health issues with your vet is also a good step to take. You can try to get Delilah more excited about the back yard in a few ways. If she likes walks, taking a "walk" on leash through your backyard may distract her enough to enjoy her time. Bringing a favorite high-value treat such as pieces of chicken or hotdog and only giving them every time you're in the yard can also help her associate the backyard with good things instead of scary. Checking to make sure there aren't any animals or items that can startle her and getting rid of them may also make the yard more welcoming.