help (again) still not going out after dark

Hello

Hope you and doggies are keeping wrapped up from this cold weather.

I did put a post about this a short while back-thanks for the advice. We've made some progress, but I'm still concerned and would appreciate any more advice or whether I should just chill about it.

Betsy doesn't like the rain or cold. I brought her a toasty waterproof coat and after weeks of patience and encouragement she did wear it walking back from our walk today - yippppe!!

Betsy was having a minimum of 2 walks a day totalling around 3 hours. She's very sociable and now gets on with most dogs. However since the nights have been drawing in, if I don't manage to get the second walk in before it's starting to get dark- it's often not happening. On the few days that I work, this isn't always possible. Today i tried at 3.30 and paws were down. I've tried toys, her favourite ball etc to get her out to just keeping to the usual routine. The most I can sometimes get is a walk out the back to pee and she's straight back. I live in a flat.
After her dinner tonight we tried again. No go and without warning she pee'd. I've read through some posts tonight about peeing indoors and have now started using the bio to clean it up with. It's not unusual to wake up to her having poo'd and wee'd.

I'm really concerned about this. One that she's not getting enough walks- in total today only the one for an hour and a half. Although we met a few of the usual dogs this morning, she didn't meet any pals to have a good old play with. Secondly there were some slight troubles with other dogs in the beginning and I think regular socialisation with learning boundaries has really helped this which furthers my concern.

Is this reaction to winter quite usual? Should I just relax or consider this as a behavourial issue? Oh and Betsy had a check up from the vet a few weeks ago following a virus and was given the all clear after some meds.

Thanks
Sam

I think its quite normal, apart from the toileting indoors.

Moo hates the wet but we haven't a garden so I have to drag her out as I work also, the window is narrowed to having a walk and to be at work.

Maggie's the same, she hates the cold and rain and she's also afraid of the dark bless her, but perserve with it she will get use to it. At the end of the day your the one in charge so maybe try a bit of tough love and make her go out, with plenty of encouragment she will soon get use to going out in the dark. Try doing small walks to start with and make them longer over time she will get use to it just be really cheerful and encouraging, I'm always walking along chatting away to Maggie the locals must think I'm crazy but it keeps her calm and distracted so once we are out and away from the house she just gets on with her walk
Well done with the coat Maggie didn't like her's to start with but she now loves it and that helps with taking her out in the cold just keep putting it on her when you go out for your walk and again lots of encouragment and maybe a treat when she gets home if she wears her coat all of her walk
On the toilet side of things, we still have occasional accidents with Maggie and we have had her 7 nearly 8 months now. We would also wake up in the morning to wee in the dining room. It does get better though, we are lucky as we have a corridor of a garden (I live in a terrace house) which we can let her out in, we would just watch her body language, if she disappeared into the dining room that would mean she was normally doing something she shouldnt so we would take her out. We also use a trigger word ours is wee wee so say if we are about to go to bed we will take her out back and say wee wee so she knows to go to the toilet, once she has been we always give her lots of praise and a little biscuit so she knows she has done good.
I really hope my waffling helps in some way It will be ok and does get better just be patient, and lots of encouragment and treats and it will be all good. Just chill out don't worry to much and enjoy your dog, it will all come together in the end

Maby try taking her out in daylight just before it gets dark and make the walk bk home in the dark.... That way if u do it a few times it might help to desensitise her to darkness.

Suki isn't the best behavied at night either. We almost always get her second in before the sun goes down or if we know we can't we lenghten the first walk or use her backpack and have an indoor play session like tug of war

Thanks all for your replies. I really appreciate it as was getting to me.

The good news is Betsy left the house this morning with coat! Ok it did take 10mins of playing catch out the back and by then she seemed to have forgotten about the cold! Despite the cold I was the happiest mummy throughout our walk and let Betsy know it

Thanks Emma - it wasn't waffling at all. It really helps to know your not on your own. Yes I think I have a bit of a rep around here as the woman that talks (sometimes reeaalllly hhiiiiggghhhh ppppiiitched) to my dog. Now I'm beyond caring . I've started naming wees and rewarding. She's a bright gal so hopefully will catch on.

I got to try out the going out before dark trick and again it took a while to get out but as it was still light we managed and with coat (Betsy shakes loads with the cold otherwise). It was only as we were walking back that we had a few paws down and it was getting dark. There wasn't a lot a could do a mile from home so jollied along some how but with lots of praise and smiley happy

Yes might have to be prepared for some in house games but at least for now she is moving. Thanks a mill

Nice update Thanks Xx

Aww good on ya ! She will get there

It's just possible that she may not enjoy three hours of walking a day.
As for the pee and poo overnight - my foster, all fosters before her, and my own dogs get taken out at least a ahlf dozen times in the evening for toilet - I stand with them, in whatever weather, until they've gone.

Current foster has quickly learned that we'll be out there all night if she doesn't "perform" - so, now, she's out, message delivered, and back in, all within 30 seconds each time - even if it's raining.

I think taking them multiple times in the evening is key - I've seen lots of staffs do nothing at all during the day, then turn into waste-generating machines exclusively in the evening.

Sounds like you're on the right track though.