strange behaviour in garden before bed

[stu & rudy]

Hi never posted here but always found helpful in the past so thought id ask for your advice! We have a 2 year old springer x cocker bitch. Recently (last couple of months) we are having problems getting her in from the garden. We go through our normal routine turn tele off etc, then let her out to go for toilet before bed - she willingly goes out, after a couple of minutes she'll lie down either in the corner next to a dwarf wall or in a flower bed. She will not respond or even acknowledge when called (something she was always very good at) and just lies there even if its hammering down with rain. When you go near her you get within a few feet and she'll cower as if you are about to hurt her (quite distressing to see) then she'll bark/growl at something not at us then run into the house tail between her legs. Now and again we do see a cat in the garden and first opportunity in the morning she'll dart out and bark to make her presence known I assume - could it be this? Or the other thing we thought is maybe separation anxiety? Mon-thurs she comes to work with me and we never leave her for longer then 5 hours - does she just not like being alone maybe?  

Thanks in advance for any help

Stu

 

[gypsysmum2]

Not the right symptoms for separation anxiety. It does look like some sort of fear response though. Dogs have three responses to a fear stimulus. Fight, Flight or Freeze. They usually give up the "freeze" after puberty but some dogs retain it. It sounds as though something has scared your dog at some time and she is using the "freeze" response to deal with her fear.

Will she move with you if you have food in your hand to lure her? If so I would lure her in by putting it on her nose and luring her towards the house. Do not release the food until she has moved a step or two in the right direction otherwise you are rewarding the "freeze". Keep luring and reward each movement until you get her indoors when she can have multiple treats one after the other. Over time ask for more brave steps, before releasing a treat, until she will walk the whole way in order to get the multiple treats on offer in the house.

Keep your body language happy and positive so that she gains confidence from you. You might like to accompany her to the garden for last wee wee's for a while too. Don't give her too much attention, just be there pruning the roses or whatever. Lots of dogs are scared of the dark  As time goes on she should forget the scary monster and start to relax more and you will be able to slowly withdraw your presence.

 

[JoanneF]

As well as what Gypsysmum suggests, I'd also try having her on a long line - not to pull her in against her will, but just as a sort of safety precaution so you can get close to her if you need to, to start luring her back.