dog does not want to go out in the dark?

Question

We recently adopted a 5 year old yorkie. He does not want to go out after it gets dark for a walk before going to bed for the night.

Answer 1

maybe hes afraid of the dark.

Answer 2

Does he refuse, or will he go with some tempting? My dog is scared of the dark, she is older and has trouble seeing where she is going and it gets doubly worse at night in the dark. We have just started making sure she has a walk at around 7 or 8 when it is just about to get dark so that it is not to late and she will be fine to be in the house until morning, but it is as late as possible without her getting to scared. If you really want your dog to go out at night take it someplace with alot of light, street lights etc. Sometimes just bringing a flashlight will help. A dog is just like a kid that way with the dark.

Answer 3

It is possible that your Yorkie might have some vision problems. I have a 2 year old husky who has gone completly blind in one eye and is loosing vision in her other, and it was difficult at first for her to go out in the dark, she couldn't see very well and it made her very insecures, however she is a little quirky, if its wet out side, she will not step on wet grass, dark out side or not, so it might be a quirk thing, or it could be medical, either way your veterinarian will be best at assessing that for you.

Answer 4

2 possibilities:

1) Insecurity - Pets have emotion as well. Traumatic pasts sometime affect and/or alter the pet's behaviour. It will take time to make it feel comfortable and use to the new environment.

2) It is known that pets have a six sense. In Asia, we believe that dogs are able to see images of the supernatural. Dog/cow/horse tears are said to have the same effect on humans. Is your estate known for supernatural happenings?

Answer 5

Something at night frightened him. Just try to reassure him...go with him..maybe out on the porch or in the yard until he gets used to it. My dog slipped on some stairs when he was a year old..now he's 9, and STILL won't go near steps!

Answer 6

we leave a outside light on for our dog and he go's down the steps easy at night you might want to think about leaving an outside light on for him. and that might help he at night or try walking him just before sun down.

Answer 7

there could be a whole heap of reasons, like was mentioned above about being night blind, or maybe he was locked outside at night by his last owners, and now he dont want to go out there in fear of being locked out.

Answer 8

I haven't heard of this problem before so here is my opinion: maybe since of his age, he is to tired to want to walk before bed.

Answer 9

It could be that he's nightblind. If you walk him before dark he can easily manage until the next morning.

Answer 10

they do go out in the dark