Not wanting to go out

Hi,

My staff used to love going out I would have him out 3 or 4 times a day. 2 weeks ago some crows turned up at the garden where he would play. They started to dive bomb him it got to a point where he would run in do his busniess then stand at the gate waiting to leave.
But now he wont go out at all!! I have tried to get him out by offering treats reassuring him he is ok, but nothing he gets downstairs and refuses to move. i cant force him to move as he is very very stubbon.

I dont know how I can get him to start going out again. When there is two of us he will go out but I am home on my own during the day so that is not practical suring the day. When do get him out he point blank refuses to go in the garden, he loved playing in there before these pesky crows turned up

any tips or advice would be great

Thanks
Terri

Is it just the garden he won't go in?

If so, then just start by taking him on several short walks, on lead, during the day. If he appears scared or anxious, don't sympathise with him. If you do, it will reinforce the fact that there's something to be anxious about! Just try to act normally.

Will he react to a squeeky toy?

Hi,

He wont go out full stop!! I think the reason he wont go out is because he thinks he will be taken to the garden.
He is fine when there is two of us he will walk fine. We have never had this problem before he has always loved going out he would be out waling around all day if you let him.

This may sound odd but he don't like squeeky toys! He can be avery strange dog at times lol But I am sue the more i post the more you will find that out :-)

Hmmmm. OK.

Treats? Really tasty, smelly treats?

I may try some cheese he will do anything for cheese!!
He is very stubbon though and if he dont want to do something he wont do it.

I think it is going to be a case of just keep trying. All the rain we have had has not helped as he wont go out in the rain so what with the crows and the rain we have not had much luck

Thanks for your help
x

Is he too big now to pick up?

Yeah he is to big to pick up, he weigh near on 5 stone!

5 stone? What is he, a horse? My EBT only weighs 5 stone!

So, you can't pick him up. Is there anything at all that he'd die for? Stnky cheese, hot dog sausages, anything at all?

I know, he is tall aswell he dont over eat either, some days he wont eat anything. he has lots of excercise too (well until he stopped going out!)

He does love the jambone slices, I will try tempt him with one of those. May try some apple too he loves a bit of apple.
I have tried his normal outside treats but they dont seem to work

Once you get him outside (hopefully!) take him towards the garden he hates, but don't actually go there. If possible, before he starts to show anxiety, get him to sit & treat him, then turn & go the other way. Every time you do that, try to get a bit closer to the garden before you stop & treat.

If you do this a few times over the coming week or so his anxiety will gradually lessen to the point where you should eventually be able to go back into the garden.

Thank you, i will try this tonight, fingers crossed the treats wind
x

Good luck. If you find the right treat it should work! Let us know how it turns out.

I feel in this situation it is going to just be a case of dragging him out. He can't be coaxed so will just have to learn that he must go out. Is the garden well fenced in? If so take him out to it by brute force (use a harness so you do not hurt him!!) and let him off and if there are any bird scare them off. he will just have to stay until he is ok with it! ignore all his anxiety bout it.

also, if the birds are a danger please consider calling the local environmental agency, they can sort them out so to speak.

hope he gets better soon, staffies are such wimps aren't they lol!

My only reservation with that is if he's a 'sensitive' dog the dragging may make matters worse. As a last resort, yes, but I think he ought to be encouraged first.

They sure are wimps. they have such a bad reputation but they are just big kids. Mine hates birds, cats, little dogs actually too many to name lol

The garden is all fenced in, before he got this dislike to it , he would be in there 3 times a day running around without a care in teh world.
The crows have now gone but it is trying to convince him that they have gone!

I am sure we will get they, he must be getting fed up just walking around on his lead

I don't think dragging him will quite work first he is a lump so not that easy to drag, he is a sensative little soul and he does freak if you try and get him to do something he is scared off.

Is there anthor door you could leave from?

I had this with Diesel and had months of her being phsycologically stuck in the mindset that she would be encountering a bad experience.

Treats didn't work.

Basically we had to take baby steps and build up her confidence along with distance each day. It's been a long road, and she does have off days still but it seems she is super sensitive.

My frame of mind effects her too, if I'm feeling calm , and assertive it has a positive effect on her, if I'm stressed or having a bad day - may as well forget it ! She is a super submissive and easily excited.... Whereas my pup is more a calm submissive type and just loves everything.

Tank my pup is no bigger than ur average cat ATM but he had a big husky avoiding him today !

Anyway sorry to babble on, but yes, baby steps.

Coaxing can work - but dont confuse the dog, could be inadvertently rewarding the scared behaviour and rewarding that state