My dog is Afraid......?

[Domashnia]

I have a silly question...but I suppose I need to ask it...

My 1 year old boxer/hound mix (who I just adopted) is an inside dog....and seems to have uncontrolable fits when i put him outside at night to "do his business" He immediatly turns around and claws the glass door, barks and whines like he is in pain. Luckily, he's house broken..so he holds it all night till morning when he can go outside. Also, when i put him in his kennel for the night he cries and has fits when I turn out the light...until he falls asleep. Oddly, for the past 3 nights...ive left the light on...and he doesnt bark or whine at all...

I bought him the biggest kennel I could buy (which is 4 times his size) he also has his favorite blanket and stuffed duck in there with him.

So...Are dogs usually afraid of the dark? I mean...is this even a possibility or am I talking crazy?

 

[Saje]

Well I don't know the answer to that. It's possible that he just wants to be with you. Do you go outside with him when he gets scared? Maybe he just needs you to go outside with him to let him now it's ok. Maybe he's afraid of being abandoned. What's his history? Where did you get him from?

As for the crate I don't know why you need to use it especially if he's housebroken. But if you do then I don't see anything wrong with him having a nightlight.

 

[Doberluv]

I think dogs are a little more apprehensive outside at night. They see better than we do, but they still can't see as well as in the day and at night is when predators would be more apt to be out and about perhaps. So, instinctively, they are a tad more nervous. I'd just go out with him for now, like Saje said. Then later, he'll probably get more accustomed to it.

You could use a little night light inside if that makes him more secure. Otherwise, I'd leave him to have his little fits and ignore it lest he gets you too trained. LOL.

 

[Renee750il]

Anything is possible. Who knows what your dog experienced before you adopted him. Also, dogs who spent time in a kennel in rescue often do much better without being crated, or at least left with the crate door off or fastened open.

He's a very handsome fellow, by the way

 

[poodlesmom]

It is quite possible that he is afraid of the dark and may never have been exposed to complete darkness before.

Farley never had any hesitation about going outside at night. A couple of years ago I was having some major renovations done & the workmen had to disconnect my outside mercury light which comes on automatically every night. The 1st night I opened the door & Farley refused to go out! I put him on his leash & made him go out with me & he whined & cried and pulled like the dickens wanting to get back in the house. He had never been out there before when it was completely dark out. This went on for the next 2 nights until the light was reconnected and then he was fine again.

For crating him at night you might want to gradually reduce the amount of light but go slowly. Eventually a little night light for a while and then hopefully you will be able to eliminate it completely. Once he's comfortable with a dark room you might be able to help him adjust to going out in the dark.

He is a definite cutie!

 

[Domashnia]

Well I don't know the answer to that. It's possible that he just wants to be with you. Do you go outside with him when he gets scared? Maybe he just needs you to go outside with him to let him now it's ok. Maybe he's afraid of being abandoned. What's his history? Where did you get him from?

As for the crate I don't know why you need to use it especially if he's housebroken. But if you do then I don't see anything wrong with him having a nightlight.

Yea, I go outside with him when he freaks out so he can poop and pee. As for the crate..well....he has a bit of a chewing problem...and i want ALL my couch cushions when i wake up in the morning. lol

 

[Saje]

A lot of people put their dogs in puppy proof rooms like the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room... wherever until they learn the house rules. I don't crate and while I think it works for some dogs if it's not working for you then it might not be the best option.

 

[Love4Pits]

Also some dogs feel safer in a smaller more confined crate.

 

[oc_spirit]

Is yuor crate a wire crate or a plastic crate? With OC, he's dead scared of the wire crate because it's completely open but he's restrained, however he LOVES his plastic crate and will happily go into it throughout the day for naps because he feels secure in it. Perhaps if you try a different, or smaller crate or throw a blanket over your currentone and section it off so it's smaller, your boy will like it more

 

[mrose_s]

Is he locked into his kennel or does he have space to get out? Sophie used to hate being in darkroom by herself, Daisy or someone had to be their with her. But she is over that now.

I was thinink, you know those touch lights you can get, their cheap and you can stick them on wallas. Maybe one inside his kennel or a garden light just outside.

 

[Sheba]

He is a real cutie!Everyone has already said my suggestions, so I have nothing about that.

 

[bridey_01]

Well,it may be the darkness, but I'm betting it has alot to do with his history. This is not a very common problem.
I would start by feeding him outside. Everytime I come upon something my clients dogs hate, I feed them near it/in it/ with it. Its a great solution to alot of problems, because very few dogs (except my kelpie!) can eat and be insanely scared at the same time. He probably won't even touch his food the first time. That is normal, just take it away and try again periodically.