[AndyCandy]

We have a 2.5 year old Jack Russell/Beagle mix (hyper I know)...

She's always been pretty skiddish, even at our old apartment while outside a big truck drove by and scared her. She hasn't really been the same since. However, when we take her home to the parent's house, she loves going out in the backyard and running around. We just simply say "outside" and she's ready to go waiting by the door.

Well, at our new place in the city, those words don't work anymore. In fact, she hears those words and now runs away from us. If we make an attempt to pick her up, she'll squat and pee because she has a nervous bladder.

So, we have been surprise attacking her while shes just laying on the couch, we'll grab her and pick her up to go outside. Once we're outside, she actually loves walking and doing her business most of the time. While other times, she goes straight to do her business then pulls and scrapes her way back to the door as though she's terrified of being outside.


Is it bad to keep surprise attacking her to go outside? She won't ever go on her own... even if she REALLY needs to go. Should I just keep waiting and see how long she can hold it? She's house broken, so she won't just go inside... but she won't voluntarily go outside. I know this surprise attack and grab thing is bad, but how do we get her outside?

I'm also thinking she might be scared of the stairs we walk her down (in our townhome).. because once we pick her up and get down the stairs, she's wagging her tail ready to go outside. And as I said earlier, sometimes just too scared to enjoy her time so she wants right back in when she's done with her business.


It's a weird situation... I'm not sure what to do. It's been 2 weeks or so now at our new place... her behavior has improved since day 1, but she still won't ever go out voluntarily.

Any ideas or suggestions? I can provide more detail as well if necessary. Thanks!

[cigwyllt]

Why not use new words - "Playtime!", "Let's go!" - anything she doesn't understand. You want to "re brand" the outdoors so that it is something she associates with good things, not the horrible scary "outside".

So give it a new label "Play time!" and speak to her with an excited, happy voice as you carry her out. As soon as you get outside give her a treat and just be really happy and full of fun.

If it's not a problem for you then I would carry on with carrying her down the stairs for the time being and wait until she has happy about "Play time" before you work on the stairs themselves.

[AndyCandy]

Ah good advice... will definitely change the word to something she hasn't heard before (because she's familiar with outside and walk).


I just really want her to enjoy going outside and actually running to the door or waiting by the door when she has to go. Rather than relying on me to pick her up to go...

I hope this comes with time. We're continuing to make going outside a fun and happy experience with treats, praise, and all that... it's helped since day 1, so I'm hoping the progress will continue.

[AndyCandy]

Is it weird that she doesn't even want treats when we're going outside or even while outside? (sometimes she does)


She LOVES treats normally... so that's odd huh.

[cigwyllt]

I don't think it's that unusual. My little dog has to be first to the food bowl and there waiting if she thinks there are any treats in the offing but when we're outdoors she will not touch them. Just won't. Cheese, ham, dog treats - just far too wound up to bother.