Won't go outside
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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I tend to be very "no nonsense" about things like this and would just put a leash on her and take her out even if that means dragging her the first few times. Once out I would make sure to praise her. Trying to figure out what motivates behaviors like this can be impossible so just show her that it is ok.
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Permalink Reply by Julie and Scooter on
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My male was our alpha and was the same way about getting out first. It caused all sorts of "doorway issues". Now that he's gone on to the rainbow bridge we realize that all those issues were a result of his dominance. There are no issues at all now. The female corgi doesn't make a peep going out any more. I tell this story because I didn't realize how many of our challenges were caused by my "favorite" baby. Blinded by love I suppose ;-). Watch to see what is happening at he door. It may not be blatantly obvious.
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Permalink Reply by Nicole Edwards on
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I had this problem once as well. Selkie refused to go out the door. She would just stand there and stare at me. She couldn't be coaxed out for anything, but once we got her over the threshold she was fine, and would come in back through the door just fine. My husband I just shook our heads in confusion and talked about it, turns out we could trace the issue to when I once cut her nails too short and got the quick. The next day my husband let her out and she squealed like she was in pain when she stepped on our door mat, which is one of those bristly kinds. He checked on her and she seemed fine and came back in the house the same time and no pain. We figured one of those bristles must have hit just right on her sore nail and scared her, and she has an incredible memory so wouldn't go back over the mat since it hurt her!! Weeks after the incident she still would not cross the mat! We got a new one and now she is fine . . . point being like Julie said, maybe its an aversion that happened once to her and you just can't see it or pinpoint it. Corgis have incredible memories, they are like elephants. Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on
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I do try to understand why dogs do what they do, especially when fear is involved and forcing the issue, when it is fear, can make it worse. On the other hand, Bev has a point, you really can't give in when housebreaking is involved and, whatever the cause (and for sure there is a cause ) she does have to go out and do her business, rain or shine... I would use a combination of putting her on leash and a special people food treat to give her after she has stepped out the door, then removing the leash. In time, I would do the same with no leash, later go to rewarding every other time with the treat, but lots of praise, otherwise and eventually discontinuing the treats. Hopefully this will go pretty fast, days or weeks to complete the sequence, since you say she is fine outside and it is only the doorway itself that she is leery of crossing. I would also do some visualization, before putting on the leash. Picture yourself going through the routine of the step you're at successfully and easily and see yourself praising her for her success.
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I had this issue once with one of my corgis and later we realized that once when she was walking out from the porch to the yard at our cottage the lamp got knocked over. I base my opinion that you don't always need to know why the behavior started because even knowing that it still did not impact the fact that she needed to go out that door. After a few times dragging her out and then having a nice treat filled play time outside she eventually was willing to hurry out the door. I always have considered corgis "thinking dogs" (my term for it) and believe that they can become a little neurotic about weird stuff. Just don't feed into the "crazy", remain calm and go about your business. That has worked for me over the years.
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Permalink Reply by Holly on
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I like the diplomatic term, "thinking dogs." I was calling Sully a wuss and a drama queen because she over-reacted to even a slight bump or tap if anything accidently touched her. I know she was scared so I tried to be reassuring but I find a good mix of reassurance and a gentle but firm, "Stop. You are fine." followed by a cheerful "Come on!" as suggested by your post and Anna's response helps prevent inadvertently feeding into the initial fear. I sometimes accidently tapped Sully gently with my cane while walking and she acted as if she was tazed. Her wailing actually drew a crowd. I got her to stop by tapping her very gently on occasion over the course of a few days then giving her a treat when she tolerated it without the histrionics. The other day it fell on her and she barely glanced at it. I know she has a history of mistreatment so I tried hard to be very patient with her, but my early attempts to reassure her only increased the anxiety.
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Is she just waiting for you to go first maybe? I never let Sully go through a door ahead of a human. I wasn't a hard-ass about it, but if she went ahead of me I would wait until she came back in then have her follow me out. I was the easiest thing to teach her, possibly because it is an instinct for her to let the lead dog or human go first. Is it possible your little Lucy is just waiting for you to go first out of respect. If so she should just follow you each time.
It confuses people without dogs, but the vet was very impressed with Sully's manners so she must know why she did it. Lucy may just be deferring to you as her leader. If it is only the back door it may be because that door shut on her once or something. Is it on a spring? Either way I'm sure it will pass, but I'm not sure why asking to go out is not done by some dogs. Sully never asks to go out. She may go to the door on very rare occasions, but it is often to "eaves drop" on a conversation by a neighbor. She watches from the crack under the door, but has no interest in leaving the house.There are times when I ask her if she wants to go out and she just walks away and retreats to her bed. In nice weather she will go out more readily, but I have to initiate it. She never has accidents. I wonder if it is because her previous owners kept her chained in the yard. I know you don't do that to yours! I read about ways to train them to ring a bell on the door to let you know they need to go out. Sully never barks so I don't know what would happen if I just waited for her to give me a sign, but she is older so it isn't an issue. At least Lucy doesn't seem scared.
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Permalink Reply by Denis J. on
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I have had a bit of this issue with Wally (18 months) now with the patio door.
He goes on the patio, comes back on his own but if I'm outside and open it for him he backs up. No matter amount of coaxing he doesn't come by. However, if I go back him and walk along him he comes easily. I'm not sure where this hesitation is coming from.
I would say if there's a way you can play with her around the door, making a game of coming back him or chasing a toy outside, hopefully the worry might go away and makes easier to step outdoors.
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Permalink Reply by Karen Dadisman on
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My Rosie is very bossy and domineering with Rocky. If she goes out the door first, he will not go out because she takes a swipe at him if he goes out. We have trained her to wait until he is out to the edge of the porch and then she goes out. This works fine unless we forget to tell her to wait and she charges the door. Then she has to come back in before he will go out. She is not happy with the arrangement but it works. She knows to back up at the door so he can get in line to go out first. She comes back inside first and that's fine with her. No nasty swipes at him since she knows no treats if that happens. She is sweet most of the time but can be a real bitch at times!!
Try keeping Linus back until she is out the door.
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Permalink Reply by Jen Giammona on
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Thank you everyone! I've been putting the leash on her and when I do that, she runs out the door no problem! So weird. But still, no leash and she won't go out. So, for the time being that is working wonders. I am going to try to see what happens if Linus isn't in the equation. I'll try letting her out by herself and see if that helps too.
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Are you using a special treat as well after she has gone outside? Try putting on the leash, then saying a short phrase you would not otherwise be saying ( like : "Off to see the Wizard!" ) and, once she knows that routine, pick up the leash and bend to touch her collar, without actually putting the leash on, and see if you can fool her.... you can have fun playing around with lessening the cues as going through the door becomes something she is confident about. Clearly she feels more confident having that connection to you. It may well have to do with the other dog.
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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I agree it may have to do with another critter. After getting scratched in the eye by our cat, Jack (wisely) won't walk into the living room unescorted if the lights are all off. He will bark to request an escort.
We changed management practices so the cat can no longer stalk him when the lights go out, and it took several weeks of realizing the cat was no longer loose in that part of the house at night for his behavior to fade. He is not a fearful dog, but he was making a good choice in seeking human help (the scratched eye required ten days of drops and a cone after a trip to the doggie ER late at night; it left a lasting impression).
It does not need to be something as obvious as a scratch; it could just be a hard glance from another pet.
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