Afraid of the dark?

[char]

Need A little advise. I have a 3yr. old female (my first Rottie.) My problem is, she refuses to go outside without a human at night. This is a dog that LOVED to be outside even if my other dog(a Lab) wasn't with her. In & Out all day long. Then one night she just refused. Soooo, I went with her. Then she tried blocking ME from going to the back of the yard. (There is nothing back there I looked) She would not leave my side! She is getting better because now when I eventually get her out there She goes about her business as if nothing is wrong. But it is a battle EVERY NIGHT! I am very consistant and firm and I do get her outside before bed every night. Now my sister's 1yr. old Rottie is starting the same thing. (She does not live with us.) I realize they are stubborn. I figured this was just one of those moments. But when my sister's dog started the same thing I figured it was time to ask, " WHY?"

Any suggestions?

[Rocky's_mom]

Ok....Lets see. Your lab, does that one go out side with her? What would she do if you went outside and then went back inside and shut the door. My rott-who is only 8 months old, will refuse to go inside. So, I let him on his chain and go inside and shut the door. He will bark when he wants back inside.

When you go outside and pees, do you praise him/give him a treat?

Then, what are you doing to get your rott to be better at going outside?

[char]

Thanks for replying. The lab does go outside with the rottie. If I go out with her and then come back in , she sits at that door looking in. However she eventually goes on about her business. She would NEVER bark at the door to come in . (She doesn't bark to go come in or go out ever. The only time she barks is if she sees or hears something to bark about.) When she was younger i had to teach her to ring a bell with her nose to let me know she wanted out because she just wouldn't bark to go out. Anyway, she has caught on to me sneaking back inside so she give me an even harder time going out. When she does pee we praise her, clap and sometimes even cheer!
I have tried putting on her collar and leash that worked once or twice. I give 'come' comands that eventually works but only for me no one else.
The latest thing we have be practicing is the 'stay' command. I have both her and the lab sit & stay. Then I have other people (Even their favorite people) call them. After about 2 or 3 times neither one would even think about moving. (Their only repremand was a Strong "NO" and I returned them to their original spot they were in.No collars or leashes or other corrections.) Since we have done this she is a bit more willing to go out for me. As you can see I do not have problem dogs although they may be a bit spoiled. I just want to know WHY she's doing this. Especially since my sister's rottie is starting the same thing.

[Rocky's_mom]

WOW...I have no clue. Sorry I can't be of help on this one....The only other thing that I can think of is maybe something was out there that scared her? But since your sisters rott is doing the same....you got me on that one!

[Rott'nKids]

Do you think she thinks she may have done something wrong? Iria chomped me a good one about a year ago - they were running around chasing each other - she usally chomps Carl while doing this and he tries to sit on her head for it - and both crashed into me - she missed and got my leg instead - no broken skin or torn clothes, but a lovely bruise for a month. From that moment until the bruise was completely gone (and how could she see it??? it was winter, so I always had long pants on) she flat-out refused to do her business outside unless I took her on a leash. On her chain - NO. Off chain - NO. On leash by my side YES. As soon as that bruise healed, all was back to normal. Weird dog, but I love her!!

[norcalbmxer]

My 1.5 y/o is the same way, after dark she will not leave our deck, unless someone walk out with her to "go pee-pee" . Then when she is done, she runs and I mean runs back to the deck or into the house if the door is still open at all. I have a feeling that she possibly had a late night encounter with one of the bears that tromp around our house

[R&Gsmom]

Please Please Please have her checked for eye sight problems.

My first Male Ben began having problems at night a lot like what you are descibing. He ended up having problems seeing in the dark and we found out that he had a brain tumor.

[Rocky's_mom]

Oh my gosh!!! :( That is so sad.