Why Is My Dog Suddenly Afraid to Go Outside?

If your dog is suddenly afraid to go outside, they may be experiencing pain, responding to a recent negative experience, juvenile-onset shyness, or a number of other possibilities. If your dog is a puppy, they are likely going through a “fear period,” which is a normal part of your puppy’s development.

What is a puppy “fear period”? 

Puppies go through at least two phases of being more fearful than before or after these normal developmental stages. Signs of fearfulness in dogs include crouching in a lowered body position, panting, yawning, dilated pupils, tucking their tails, and more. 

The first fear period happens around the time puppies leave their mothers and littermates at about eight to 11 weeks old and are exposed to new environments on their own. The second fear period generally happens a little later, when adolescent puppies between six and 14 months start to become more independent. 

This second fear period, which behaviorist and dog trainer Patricia B. McConnell, PhD, calls “juvenile onset shyness,” is likely when your dog could become afraid of going outside after previously having no issues with doing so. This period can last a few weeks or even as long as over a month. If your dog’s fear lasts past that point, it’s worth consulting a professional.

Read this related article on The Wildest

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Why is my adult dog afraid of going outside? 

If your adult dog suddenly becomes afraid of going outside, they could be responding to any number of possibilities. Some of the most common include pain — including pain that makes walking difficult, such as overgrown toenails, muscle strains, or arthritis — and having just experienced a negative experience outside, such as being startled by a noisy truck or running into an aggressive dog.

What can I do to help?

There are a few things dog parents can do to help dogs who are afraid of going outside, no matter their age. First, you can talk to your dog in a cheerful, relaxed way while going outside and avoid panicking or reacting dramatically to your dog’s fear. You can also try giving your dog something they love when they exhibit signs of fear outside, such as a treat or a favorite toy; this teaches them to associate the thing they once feared with something safe. If these steps don’t help, it’s worth consulting with your veterinarian and/or a trainer.