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I have an 8 yr. old - mostly Australian Shepherd, but not purebred. I trained her since she was a puppy and have never had a problem with her until this past weekend.

Our family went to our cabin in the woods -- we bring our dog along in the car. Our family was getting ready to go out for dinner and I told my dog to go inside the house (normally the command "inside" works with her). She just sat down on the ground and wouldn't move. She wouldn't "come". She would still "sit" and "down", but every time I approached her, she would run away (so, obviously, she wouldn't "stay". Eventually, I was able to reach her and I had to drag her into the house by her collar (she scratched my hand and arm trying to push me off of her -- she didn't bite me).

The next day, we were planning on leaving the house and, again, she wouldn't go into the house. This time, she never let me come near her. I had to leave her outside -- she was waiting in the driveway when we returned.

She has not problem about going into the house when our family is inside the house -- and she sleeps in our bedroom at night.

She's a smart dog and I know that she wants to come with us -- she tries to jump into the car as we are leaving, and she follows the car down the driveway for a bit before giving up the chase. Her bad behavior only starts once she knows we are leaving the cabin.

I don't have this same problem in my main house, only the cabin. I thought it might be because of thunderstorms we have had in the mountains, and maybe she is scared to be in the house alone -- but I don't know if that's the reason.

As a quick fix, I'm having to leave a long leash on her at the cabin so that I have something to grab onto and drag her into the house. I have never had to leash her before and I don't like having to do so. And even though I'm pretty sure she'll wait for us to return, I don't want to routinely leave her outside when we leave.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how I can deal with this problem, or why it is happening?

Thanks in advance.

>>I have an 8 yr. old - mostly Australian Shepherd, but not purebred. I trained her since she was a puppy and have never had a problem with her until this past weekend.
>>
>>Our family went to our cabin in the woods -- we bring our dog along in the car. Our family was getting ready to go out for dinner and I told my dog to go inside the house (normally the command "inside" works with her). She just sat down on the ground and wouldn't move. She wouldn't "come". She would still "sit" and "down", but every time I approached her, she would run away (so, obviously, she wouldn't "stay". Eventually, I was able to reach her and I had to drag her into the house by her collar (she scratched my hand and arm trying to push me off of her -- she didn't bite me).
>>
>>The next day, we were planning on leaving the house and, again, she wouldn't go into the house. This time, she never let me come near her. I had to leave her outside -- she was waiting in the driveway when we returned.
>>
>>She has not problem about going into the house when our family is inside the house -- and she sleeps in our bedroom at night.
>>
>>She's a smart dog and I know that she wants to come with us -- she tries to jump into the car as we are leaving, and she follows the car down the driveway for a bit before giving up the chase. Her bad behavior only starts once she knows we are leaving the cabin.
>>
>>I don't have this same problem in my main house, only the cabin. I thought it might be because of thunderstorms we have had in the mountains, and maybe she is scared to be in the house alone -- but I don't know if that's the reason.
>>
>>As a quick fix, I'm having to leave a long leash on her at the cabin so that I have something to grab onto and drag her into the house. I have never had to leash her before and I don't like having to do so. And even though I'm pretty sure she'll wait for us to return, I don't want to routinely leave her outside when we leave.
>>
>>Does anybody have any suggestions on how I can deal with this problem, or why it is happening?
>>
>>Thanks in advance.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You need to find out what is frightening her and eliminate it. Until you can, dragging her is not the right thing to do. It will only set the fear more, possibly create more serious behavior problems, and make it harder to fix. Maybe you can find a pet sitter or day board her with a vet or something, until you can fix the problem at the cabin. She has a reason. She is not making it up.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

How often are you at the cabin?

Is the dog outside most the time there?

Can you simply bring the dog in LONG before you plan to leave so the tug of war doesn't happen?

What is new there that wasn't there before?
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Debra
ebraDownSth@aol.com" target="_blank">DebraDownSth@aol.com
The Universe speaks in many languages, but only one voice.
It speaks in the language of hope, trust, compassion, heart, soul.
We are the voice of the Universe, the soul of creation,
the fire that will light the way to a better future.
We are one. G'kar

Well I am not an expert about this, but after reading your post I can say that she missing you every time when you are leaving for somewhere and leaving her alone. And dragging that poor baby is not right thing to do. She is very smart girl she just wana be with you that’s it and if you can make her understand the situation you better try or find some one who can be with her and play till you come back.

Benji.

Dog Training Lessons

I don't want to drag her, but I also don't want to leave her outside when I am away from the cabin. As far as I know, nothing in new about the cabin -- it's just that she's smart enough to know when we're leaving and she wants to go with us.

The last time it happened, I couldn't even get close enough to her to get her collar and drag her into the house. So I had to leave her outside. She was waiting on the drivway when we returned.

To answer the previous post -- Yes, if I can get her in the cabin long before I am about to leave there is no problem -- she doesn't fight to leave the cabin when we leave. But if she happens to be outside when we're planning to leave, I can't get her in the cabin.