hi all, thanks for your replies but it was only 5 oclock! we got home last night at this time and as we entered the yard he went into frightened dog mode. however, they have a bed in the yard which he was lying on before we went out and he ran straight to that so its not that he doesn't want to be outside. i am wondering if he could have had a sting perhaps? I tried to check him over when it first happened but he wouldn't let me. I think this worsened the situation I have perhaps paid a part in his anxiety.my problem is what to do about it. I am ignoring him so do you think that he will eventually settle again at this time? thanks so much again

Hi all. I just thought I would let you know I did things differently when we came home from our walk today and things were much clamer. we entered thru our front door instead of the gate that leads directly into the yard. Bert, calmly walked in, had a drink and a sniff around and strolled to his bed and collapsed! in a good way! I havent let him into the yard yet so hopefully the time will have passed when he would usually go into anxious mode, thanks for your help

Poor lad, he's obviously very stressed about something.

Personally I'd keep doing what your doing but when it gets to 5pm, go sit outside with some high value treats, take him with you but give him an escape route and allow him to take it if it's what he wants (to his bed, back to the house, etc). Repeat and repeat and repeat until hopefully he will sit outside with you as you feed the treats.
Don't get frustrated and don't fuss him if he won't come to you.

If he's toy orientated rather than treat orientated substitute the treat for a high value toy - preferably a new and exciting toy that he only gets for that purpose.

We did this with our nervous staffie cross after she was frightned by a firework. It took a loooong time but gave her her garden back as a safe place.

The aim is to break the association and replace it with a positive one.

Good luck xx

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this sounds like utter nonsense but could it have been a fox?!!!!!!!

we didn't used to get them where i live but with motorway getting built and less greenery for them, they are starting to come more and more into town, just a thought.

Not nonsense at all. It could have been absolutely anything that scared him really. Ferdie sometimes comes barging in from the garden and shoves his head under my arm with that scared look in his eyes. Could be anything out there that scared him, I just hope he isn't so wimpish if it were a burglar!

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Get a security light put in, they're quite cheap and might help him feel better. Are you sure he hadn't eaten something like a toad that made him a bit ill and scared him?? Check no one has put anything nasty down too.

Its probably stress but signs of poisoning are vomiting, shaking, sensitivity to light and noise, drooling etc. If you vet says they can't find anything he could have had a small dose of something thats made him nervous.

On another note he could have heard an animal being hit by a car, or someone letting of a banger. Go out with him and act like nothings wrong - sit and have a cuppa near where he is worried so you gradually desensitise him from it.

Hopefully he'll settle down. Whats he like about that area during the day?

I haveca parsons jack Russell only 5 months but she just is not scared of anything but i do also have a big ginger Tom cat who is like the mike Tyson of our road (he is neutered) but as bonfire night is approaching he is an an absolute quivering wreck so maybe he has been startled by a firework? I know it can have a terrifying effect on an animal

dogs can be strange . my old dog , when he was young once ran into the garden and jumped onto the patio , he sorted of missed and hit his knee on the edge of the slab , he screamed and screamed . we took him straight to the vet and they x rayed him but it wasnt broken . they gave him some painkiller and said it was probably just bruised.


everyday when he say the patio he would start limping and screaming again. even if he wasnt anywhere near it . it went on for a couple of weeks and then one day he just stopped and was fine again.

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My rescue Dalmatian would go beserk every night about 10ish. With a bit of detective work from the Dalmatian Rescue we kind of found out what the routine was that made this time of night so stressful. So we had to be very alert and already doing something calm with him at this time. I turned 22.00 into being his time for a groom some tummy rubbing and a gentle stroll around the block. It took a week or two but we cracked it. What I am saying is maybe have him very busy or very relaxed and 17.00 and what ever caused the alarm will hopefully slip by unnoticed.

Any marks on the body at all?

Swelling around the face, often the point of contact with things that the dogs are sniffing.

I'm speculating hornet sting, snake bite?

Dog biting a frog with toxin skin excretion?

For the intestines to flush there must be an infection or nervous reaction, for stomach and intestines to dump contents at the same time I would assume an impulse reaction rather than something that has built up over time.

The dog is likely to recall and be wary of the area where it occurred, this might help you identify where it took place within the garden by watching the dog and the dog's gaze and reactions as you walk in the garden on a lead.

If you are cooing and encouraging the dog you will not get a natural reaction. Use ears and eyes, not your mouth.