Jubilee has a nice, large fenced in area. She has used it for doing her business, playing fetch and training for four years. We clean up after her every day. Just recently the snow and ice have melted off, leaving it slightly muddy. She doesn’t want to go out in the yard! Nothing scary has happened. This afternoon, I lured her out to her agility board, but she just spit out her treats and she was tiptoeing, saying ,”Eww! Eww!” every step she took on the ground. She didn’t want to play with her favorite squeaky ball. She’s fine everywhere else. I walk her through the fields and muddy lanes and she’s normal - charging through the mud. I can’t figure out why she dislikes her yard so much. I walked her around the outside of the fence without any problem. I hope she will be ok once it dries out and grass sports. Any ideas about what is bugging her?
Mystery in the dog yard
- Thread starter pup-pup
- Start date
Naya
Moderator
- Location
- Bristol, UK
That sounds really strange! Dogs can hear things we can’t so maybe she heard something when she was out there last? Does that area usually have grass! Maybe she’s got used to the snow and is finding it a bit strange?
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
Hmmmm..
Ella did zoomies in our house once and charged into her crate. We didn't notice anything but we think she must have hurt herself as she suddenly didn't want to go anywhere near that part of the house. It took about a day, and lots of treats, to coax her back.
I wonder if Jubilee has done something similar? I think that sometimes the thing that upsets them is so small (or appears so small and insignificant to us) that we do the even realise that something has happened.
Ella did zoomies in our house once and charged into her crate. We didn't notice anything but we think she must have hurt herself as she suddenly didn't want to go anywhere near that part of the house. It took about a day, and lots of treats, to coax her back.
I wonder if Jubilee has done something similar? I think that sometimes the thing that upsets them is so small (or appears so small and insignificant to us) that we do the even realise that something has happened.
Her yard is mostly grass, but it is dormant now and somewhat muddy. Last week, before all the snow and ice disappeared, she would only walk around the edges where there was some remaining snow. I’m beginning to think the urine smell from her pee area is bugging her. We had lots of snow all winter and she tended to go in one small area even though we shoveled out a large area. She’s fine everywhere else outside and is enjoying running around our muddy fields.
Naya
Moderator
- Location
- Bristol, UK
Maybe she stood on something last week or slipped on the snow which has made her wary. It’s really difficult to pin down reasons for how the act at times.
- Location
- Close to Devon/Somerset border
I notice you say it's fenced but is it possible any other animal can get in the yard? If so, could it have also wee'd or done something in there attracted by the odour of Jubilee's toileting once the snow started to melt?
Dogs often pee where others have been don't they, obscuring the first dog's scent and leaving their own. Could something like that be worrying her?
Dogs often pee where others have been don't they, obscuring the first dog's scent and leaving their own. Could something like that be worrying her?
The fence seems to keep out most animals except birds and squirrels. Yesterday she was going down to the far end of the yard to go. Today, we had three inches of snow, so she’s going on the deck. This afternoon’s poo was exciting. I let her in and she had a dangling poo (dried grass) hanging off her rear that freaked her out. Instead of going back outside, she took off through the house with the poo close behind and chasing her. She ignored our efforts to get her outside until it fell off. This morning was funny, too. She went out and pooped right next to the door so when I opened the door, she was behind the open door because she didn’t want to get near her poo. It was a stand off, until I I closed the door and after a few minutes, she came around. Labradors are certainly entertaining!