Puppy does not like to be outdoors

[jp1004]

Hi everyone!

My 3 mos old female boston terrier does not like to be outside. She's always trying to run back inside. However, when she meets other dogs or people, she loves to play with them. Then she doesn't mind that she's outdoors (or forgets)...Until we're alone again and she pulls and pulls on the leash to go home, without doing her business. I know I need to be firm, but it's breaking my heart to see her on such a tight leash.

And I think she resents me for taking her outdoors where she hates to be.

Help please! Thank you!

[Renee750il]

Try making it a game for her to go outdoors. Get her excited about it before you even go out the door. Take some treats with you and give her a little nibble every now and then, for no reason at all, just anything to reinforce that this is FUN! Do training sessions with her outside, and teach her new tricks that build her confidence.

You might even call your friends with dogs and set up times to walk together with your dogs.

I'd suggest a harness instead of a collar for walking her. They don't seem to pull so much with a harness, and it gives you more control without having to hear all the choking and gasping.

[jp1004]

Thanks Renee! I tried being excited and making it seem like a game, but she just wanted to wrestle me! haha. I'll have to experiment. I'm going to increase the time being outdoors, playing and training. I always brought her in right after her business because she hated it so much, but she will have to learn to like it I suppose.

I do have a harness, haven't used a collar yet since she's so small. I'm glad I never had to listen to her choke and gasp, that would make me so sad.

[Renee750il]

Bostons, being so bright and inquisitive, usually like things like puzzle balls. You might try getting one and only playing with it outside. I got one and sent it to my sister's Jack Russell, and he liked it so much they never even had to put the treats in it!

[bogolove]

Just curious, but what is a puzzle ball and where do you get one?

[hildemor]

Maybe she`s afraid, because inside she`s safe. Otside there are more dangerous and unsafe. Can that be a fact?

[Desteny]

I have the same problem with my 12 year old Lab/Pointer mix. He just started this about 2 weeks ago. He won't(!) go outside unless he has to do his buisness. I've tried to get him excited about going outside...but when I open the back door, he runs upstairs. When I do get him outside, he wont play! He is a lab/pointer mix, and he has never (we have had him since he was 3 months) played fetch! (plus he hates water, but that's a different story). There are only two games that we have found he will play and that's wrestling and tug-of-war. He wont play those games outside, though. One time I was trying to get him into the backyard with us, because I didn't want to leave him inside alone (i'd feel bad ), but he wouldn't go outside with us. I tried everything from throwing his favorite stuffd animals (he loves to pick his "babies" up and carry them all over the house) outside to standing outside the door with his favorite treat! Any suggestions? He used to love going outside a couple of weeks ago!

[Renee750il]

Someone or something has frightened or hurt your dog outside, possibly even a bee sting.

It's going to take time and work to restore his confidence so that he can enjoy the outdoors again. Just keep working on it. Take him out with you on his leash, but sit near the door with him so that he knows he can get back to "safety" quickly. Gradually start walking him out farther and farther out into the yard, talking to him casually to distract him from his fears. Don't make a big deal out of it; that will just reinforce the fears.

Just keep working with him. Patience is your best tool.