Weird Night Behaviors

Hi All!

It has been awhile since I have posted about Floyd (my 1 year old English Bully), which is a good thing...I suppose...Floyd has been doing really well and learning how to handle some of the dog aggressiveness from the past. He is scheduled for his knee surgery late Nov. He is getting sooo big!

But, Floyd has been acting very weird for the last 2 weeks...It happens every single night at bedtime. He is fine all day long; eating, playing, going outside, napping etc...and is fine up until the second I bring him out for his last time out before bed.... he gets so weird...His ears go back like he is afraid...he will not go to the bathroom even though 11:30 is on 'schedule'...I have had him out for 15min intervals..sometimes even at 12:00 to give him extra time...anyway..he will not go to the bathroom, will lay down in the grass almost cowering...even though it is getting cold out and Floyd hates being cold....If we stand by him he will walk around and sniff...but then just stands there...My husband or I have to literally escort him back in the house while praising him to make him feel comfortable...By the time we get in the house he either hides or tries to not go into the hallway...He starts breathing heavy and shaking...If one of us sits with him wherever he is hiding, he rests his head on us and falls asleep...b/c now it's part of his routine to be asleep at that time..and us too! we have left him where he was with our door open and his bed in the room waiting...only to find that he spent the night there...which is not like him b/c he loves to be with us...He even stayed in our basement once on the couch...alone...which is not like him...we were surprised the next morning that he never came up..I even left lights on so he can see...We found him just sitting up on the couch with drool everywhere all over the couch like he was pacing all night...(and for a Bully...he does not drool that much!) This last week I was able to get him in the room while leading him and praising him...all the while he is shaking...but once he gets in our room...and in his bed (which is next to me, but on the floor) he is fine...and goes right to sleep...

Nothing has changed and I can't think of anything that could have scared him like this...The only thing I can think of...which may sound so weird...is that I hurt my back and started putting Ben Gay on at night...ha haha..I don't know if it bothered him...I didn't notice it being a bother to him...but that is seriously the only thing...Anyone ever experience weird behavior like this? My husband is even looking to see if there is a night time critter in the house that is freaking him out! ha ha ha...:shrug:

Is it possible that he is having issues seeing at night? I would consider having the vet check out his eyesight at your next visit.

Otherwise, it sounds like he got freaked out one time when he was outside. Unfortunately by comforting and cooing to him when he shows the freaked-out behaviour you are actually reinforcing his actions. You should just be very happy-go-lucky and ignore him when he is acting all scared. Act very confident when you are going out and if he follows then praise him for being brave. I would also suggest changing your nighttime routine for a week or so. Can you take him to a different pee spot or go out the front door instead?

Good luck :).

Thank you! I will def. try correctly reinforcing his behaviors...I can try letting him out of the front to see what he will do. I will keep you posted! Thanks for your advice!:pawprint::fingerscr

What about trying a strole 1/2 way up the block to a favorite tree or bush where he normally pees during the day, small treat and back home? Keep calm so he doesn't feel any pressure to pee as he could be picking up on your frustration and getting nervous/scared himself.

That's another good idea! We were at a neighbor's house tonight with Floyd and he had a great time...when we came home he hung out and sniffed around...and now (11:30) he went in the basement and is down there by himself! So strange! But I will try the walk tomorrow and I will try to make sure that I am rewarding the right behaviors!

Thank you for your ideas!:fingerscr

I agree with getting his eyes checked...maybe he is going night blind or something.

Update:

we have a vet appt. this Saturday...Once I corrected my feedback he was able to come to bed without hiding...but he is still reluctant. We have found evidence that we have an unexpected visitor in the house (either rat, squirrel etc...) so I wonder if that is it too!

We have found evidence that we have an unexpected visitor in the house (either rat, squirrel etc...) so I wonder if that is it too!


Now that makes some sense. I was thinking a ghost or spirit...but of course it's Hallowe'en. If it persists you might want to install some lights in your backyard.