[tonind]

My granddog is scared to go outside. She looks positively miserable when she is. She must have the strongest bladder in the history of dogs because she only goes when she is on a leash even though there is a fence. She was shocked badly once and now she won't do anything. Since we spend a lot of our days outside when the weather is nice, it's difficult to keep her since she won't stay outside and play with my own two dogs. They get along well. She was a rescue dog and my daughter has had her for about 6 months. She is a black lab/? mix. Any suggestions you can offer would be appreciated.

[Taming Rover]

Well, I think we need a bit more info here. What do you mean "she was shocked" what exactly happened, and can you tell us your reaction to it.

My first thought is about your reaction to her behavior. What do you do when she is looking "positively miserable" and what exactly does that look like? what does she do? Our dogs take a lot of ques from our behavior so if you could describe a bit about the relationship with her and yourself and the other humans in your household that could help.
What is her name? how old is she approximately? What are the other two dogs breeds, ages, names?
Maybe some one else will come up with a few more key questions for this one too...

[tonind]

Usually, we just try to encourage her to come out in the yard with us. Sometimes we just ignore her and hope that she sees the other two playing and having fun. I have a lab/shepherd mix (about 40 lbs, not too big) and a bichon. I try to downplay and let her have a little freedom about going out in the yard on her own terms but I'm scared to death that she will let loose in my house ( she has before) and create the next great lake!

[Lara's mom]

I don't know what the climate is like where you are. I live in Toronto where it gets damn cold in the winter. My little shorty JRT absolutely refuses to go out in the cold. I'm lucky to ger her out on the balcony for 30 seconds. My other dog who is a Border Collie/Springer Spaniel X will happily lay in a snowbank at -18 Degrees C and just watch the world go by...

[Taming Rover]

In order to have a better picture of what's going on with your dog it would be helpful if you could answer some questions.

1)Can you tell us what kind of shocking experience she had? details?

2)She's got to be going somewhere so when she actually does go what are the circumstances? Do you mean that if she's outside and not going, and then you clip her on leash she will go? or she will only go if you take her for a walk on the leash?

3)It is just the back yard she doesn't like?

4)What does it look like when she is "miserable"?

5)How do you encourage her when your trying to get her to come outside?

6)what do you mean by "try to downplay and let her have freedom about going outside"? Do you mean you just leave the door open and allow her to make the choice?

7)You say she wont stay outside, do you mean that she just sits by the door and asks to go back in, or do you have a doggie door?

8) Any idea how old this dog is?

9) What's her name?

The more details you can give about the dog and the situation the better it will be to get answers going from people

[jameserickson80]

Since she was a rescue dog, maybe she had experience something bad outside that scared her off. I guess you should have her on therapy.