If Queenie’s owners had taken her water bowl away in the evening, the dog’s biggest behavioral problem would have never happened.
Queenie, short for Queen Elizabeth II, is a four-year-old Weimaraner that used to body slam visitors with her exuberant greetings, and drag her hapless owners down the street while on a walk. Though she quickly learned to sit at the door and to walk at a gentler pace on leash, at night Queenie went to the dark side. Literally.
At around 11 PM, Queenie’s owners would let her out into their enormous fenced yard for one last potty opportunity. Qu
eenie would dance out the door with a reckless gleam in her yellow eyes, and promptly disappear into the night.   Â
No amount of calling or pleading or rattling of treat bags entices her to return. Once, Queenie’s owners reluctantly went hunting for her with a flashlight and rubber boots, but she managed to stay just out of range. Typically, they would give up and end up going to bed, only to be awakened at 1 or 2 AM by Queenie’s scratching at the door to be let in.
Like a rebellious teenager, Queenie became a wild child at night. She sniffed under every leaf, she dug in the mulch, she patrolled the perimeter of the fence. She investigated the cobwebby secret places under the deck. She searched the patio for apple cores, gum wrappers, and potat
o chip crumbs. She pawed at the trees where the squirrels were known to perch. She hunted for small elusive darkness-loving critters. She was a busy, busy dog.
Way too busy to pay attention to anyone calling her. After all, what were they offering in return, should she deign to respond? A bed for the night? Heck, she’d already slept 8 hours during the day while they were at work.
Here are the alternatives to Queenie’s disappearing act that I suggested to her owners:
1. Unless it is unbearably hot, there’s no reason Queenie needs to drink water right up until bedtime. Take the water away after dinner so she won’t need to go out so late.
2. Put a leash on Queenie and take her for a walk for her last potty break.
3. Work on recall with Queenie during the day AND at night. Dogs need to know that the rules apply all the time, not just when the sun is out. Â
4. In the meantime, put Queenie on a long lead or tether in the yard until she can be trusted to come back when called.
And finally, don’t give in to your dog’s night owl ways. Remember, she can get her beauty rest all day, but you can’t. Â