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Old October 19th, 2005, 10:20 PM
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dog afraid of the dark?

Anyone had a dog afraid, or at least more nervous at night, outside?

My "foster" seems to be afraid after sunset. He cries and barks a lot when it gets late and dark...hardly at all in day time.

Just curious.

Diane
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Old October 19th, 2005, 11:08 PM
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Boo is anxious at night too. I think it's because there are more sounds and less sights.
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Old October 20th, 2005, 08:47 AM
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my pup, Tucker, is afraid of the dark too... when we walk at night, he's glued to my side, and stays very close the whole way. I've been taking him out every night and reassuring him... I'm hoping he outgrows it.
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Old October 20th, 2005, 09:17 AM
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Dog afraid of the dark

Yup, Rosie is a chicken, not a dog. She is especially fearful for the longest time (month or so) after the fireworks season starts. Usually every other weekend in London during the late spring/summer, there is some organization having a function that requires letting off fireworks. Of course, it is dark when this happens, so there is no chance of getting her outside for weeks after an event....then she re-adjusts only to have the next event blow off some more firecrackers! Then we start all over....

I have installed spotlights in my backyard so she can see far enough to brave the night and go pee. I never force her outside, as she gets the most terrified look in her eyes and I just work around the phobia. If she can't make it out by 8:30 p.m., then we hope that she can hold it until the morning. Sometimes she has an accident (rarely) in the basement on the concrete by the drain, so I just flush it down....poor girl.....
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Old October 20th, 2005, 02:55 PM
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The only difference I see with my GSD is that she's a bit more cautious before taking off in the yard when it's dark. She'll wait, listen, and stand there a few seconds before doing her roundabout in the yard. I think it's a smart move!
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Old October 20th, 2005, 03:37 PM
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More likely a conditioned response to events that have happened in the dark.
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Old October 20th, 2005, 05:06 PM
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Db7 Yup, I think you hit the nail on the head. This foster has baggage.

My Valentin barks at anyone who comes out of a dark room or hallway at him, but not if the area is lit. Memories of those times in the dark cage at the puppy mill probably.

Night lights !!! I even bought a map light that plugs into the cigarette lighter in the car. When we are travelling long distances after dark, Valentin has a "reading lamp" for his crate
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Old October 20th, 2005, 06:27 PM
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Update:

Found out it not so much afraid of the dark for this guy, he just wanted to be closer to the house.

Last night, after the previous night of little sleep, we brought him closer to the house....and never heard a peep!

Also, it is looking more and more that he will be a permanent part of this family, he is so sweet! Hopefully tomorrow, I can post a picture.

Thanks to all who posted.

Diane
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Old October 21st, 2005, 05:42 PM
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Here is Simon.

Off to slowly introduce him to the rest of the family. Keep fingers crossed for me.


Diane
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Old October 21st, 2005, 08:13 PM
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My last dog Travis was more cautious at night, he prefered not to walk at night and would never stay out at night. Now Tucker really doesn't care, he's a little more adventurous about shadows and has jumped a few times at them but not to the point that he is fearful. As for the pitch dark he seems to find he way around in it, at our cottage it can get really dark but it doesn't slow him down.
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