My new puppy is terrified of going outside
The puppy is so scared of everything outside that they refuse to leave the building and immediately dart back home, often resulting in them pooping inside instead. This debilitating fear stops all walks and adventures, leaving owners isolated with severe puppy blues because they can no longer go out for coffee or meals.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
My new puppy is terrified of going outside
- 1Putting the puppy in the car to drive to the woods for hikes.Did this help you?
- 2Using a nearby patch of grass for quick bathroom trips.Did this help you?
- 3Only walking the dog on paved neighborhood streetsDid this help you?
- 4Keeping the puppy at home to avoid exposure to diseasesDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’m being hit right in the face with some puppy blues right now.”source ↗
“he’a just scared of everything when outside. He wouldn’t even leave my apartment’s building door.”source ↗
“Since then, he refuses to go out, when I bring him down for his needs, he does pee but then darts straight back home, he doesn’t even bother pooping which lead to him doing it inside the home.”source ↗
“I love going out to eat, to have coffee to go on walks but I haven’t been able to do any of that since.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 4Why is my new puppy suddenly scared of my husband?
- 19Why does my puppy lie down and refuse to walk on a leash?
- 3Puppy terrified of being brushed and getting matted
- 6Why is my puppy barking and growling at strangers?