This is not a bad behaviour, but I find it weird and wondering if any of your dogs have the same thing? I can't figure out why Simba is so reluctant to go outside. First thing in the AM, I'll go to the door and open it. Sometimes he will come and sniff at the open air and look around (not putting his head out) with interest, then he'll sniff at the door jam, and he'll just stand there. Now at this point he's been inside for at least 8-9 hours...you'd think he'd want to go outside at least to pee? But no. Even if I go outside myself and call him out he will just stand there looking at me. So, after a few moments of waiting with the dog not moving a muscle, I give up and close the door. He walks back to front door and lies down (usually, or wanders around a bit). After awhile....say 10-15 mins (?) he might go to the back door and stand there looking out the screen. Then if I go open the door he'll usually go out. I find this weird, but it's not a big deal. The only problem comes is that until he goes out I'm on tenderhooks, wondering if he'll decide to do his business inside. This has only happened twice (the first morning he was with us and didn't know what to do about the stairs, and the time he vomited and I forgot he hadn't gone outside before I left to take my daughter to school), but basically I don't completely trust him yet. Sometimes I "bribe" him outside, which doesn't always work, either. And I don't really want to do that - I'm thinking that "outside" for him before meant "punishment" of some sort? They put him outside so they didn't have to deal with the chewing, etc? They didn't have a fenced yard, and I know he roamed around. I would think that would have been fun for him! I'm thinking ahead to a couple of weeks when my boys are the ones in charge and are always dashing around at the last minute before they go to work. They will have to get the dog outside and they aren't going to stand there at the door waiting for him. Any thoughts??
Re: Can't figure it.... Put him on the lead and TAKE him outside, until he gets the idea that that is just what happens first thing in the morning? You could be right, maybe he associates being put outside with being left outside. I am sure that with your gentle encouragement, he will learn that going outside in the morning, especially if you accompany him, is a joy and a privilege, a chance to re-explore the yard with his favorite person - you!
Re: Can't figure it.... I did try the lead in the early days...but he planted himself inside and I didn't want to force him. But maybe a thought again? I don't want him to associate the lead with bad things, mind...
Re: Can't figure it.... Lilly will rarely go outside in the morning until she has had breakfast. Sometimes she will go out on the back step turn a circle and come directly back in. On the other hand, she always wants out the back after coming in from a walk "just to make sure that the garden is still there" maybe? Jac
Re: Can't figure it.... Obi takes his time going out in the morning too. Usually he just stands inside the door and looks out on the first try, then turns to head back inside the house. He doesn't usually pee until we go on our morning walk, about 20 mins after we first get up.
Re: Can't figure it.... Who knows what they think. Lady will go out if we ask her to but she just sits on the patio by the door until we let her back in so we've given up worrying about it now and just leave her until we take her for her morning walk. Even then she doesn'tmove a muscle until I put my hand on the treats bag. She uses that as a signal to get herself out of bed, stretch and step outside. ;D
Re: Can't figure it.... Yup same here, if he goes out before breakfast he usually wants company and if you don't go with him he just comes straight back in. After breakfast he'll pop out if you let him but he's equally happy waiting til his walk.
Re: Can't figure it.... Poppy certainly has a stronger bladder than I do. She's happy to hang around for ages; I have to run to the loo soon as I get up!! ;D
Re: Can't figure it.... I know what you mean, Karen!!! That's why it seems weird that he's so casual about it all!!!
Re: Can't figure it.... Makes me think " why did I rush out of bed at the first squeak if your not even going to pee"
Re: Can't figure it.... I went through months of that Jade, worse than with the kids. Eventually hit on a solution ;D ;D Pat the bed....up she hops.....happy as Larry curled up on the bed until I move then she's off. Looking for brekky ;D jac
Re: Can't figure it.... I am NOT sharing my bed with Simba!!! it's my sanctuary!! He tried to jump up on it the first time he slept in our bedroom and got turfed! Thankfully he only tried it once more and now has learnt. Hopefully. Getting back to the going outside thing.... Can't tell you how many times I've stood at the door today with the door open saying, "You want to go outside?" Dog either standing at door sniffing the air or standing some paces away looking blankly at me. Still think it's weird!
Re: Can't figure it.... Having a look and a sniff is possibly all he wants. He can learn a lot about what is going on outside from both sniffing and looking (mainly sniffing) without having to venture further. He also may just appreciate the attention he gets when he stands at the door. My old Lab learned to sit at the back door whenever he thought we were staring too intently at the television. He didn't want to go out - he just wanted us to get up and do something with him and he knew that we always got up if he sat at the back door (someone else on here has a dog that does the same - I remember reading it).
Re: Can't figure it.... It might just be Simba’s routine now? If the routine is sniff when the door is first opened, then go out the second time the door is opened, that’s what he has got used to doing? It might be fine to just insist the routine changes? I couldn’t fit everything in if I had to hang around waiting in the morning. Charlie gets a quick pat, then he is straight out before morning cuddles, breakfast, toys, anything. Once he is finished, good things happen – in particular, breakfast. He is double quick about morning pees and poops, the faster he get on with it, the faster breakfast arrives.
Re: Can't figure it.... I think its because it takes them about 10 mins for them to realise they even need to pee. Even at 12 weeks my puppy would take 10 mins to even need to pee after waking up. No point in taking him out straight away because he hasnt recieved the "call of nature" yet lolol
Re: Can't figure it.... Digby does this too. It's ages before he goes out, he likes everyone accounted for and his breakfast first. He also stands at the door sometimes as though he wants to go out and just has a sniff when I open it??
Re: Can't figure it.... Well, it's interesting, that's for sure! It's not really a huge problem. When we're gone this summer I think if the boys put his food dish outside and a tasty treat he'll head outside willingly enough.
