Frightened Of Dusk Light?

[flux]

Hi all,

We are starting to notice a slight trend in Jazz, our 1 and a bit year old rough collie. She seems to act "funny" in dusk or low light. This evening was very interesting as she seemed to be lagging behind as we headed home, so I took her off her lead and decided to let her follow us (rather than us having to pull her on her lead) and to our surprise she stood stock still (panting, but we had also just been playing ball so couldn't determine if it was a fear pant) looking blank, then swiftly trotted off back the way we had come. This behaviour was so different, we both went after her, calling her encouragingly (although she probably did realise we responded with fear). We caught up with her, then my OH held her collar and walked her behind us ("us" is me and other pup on lead who was not bothered). He seemed to think that if he let her go she would go funny again, but seemed OK to move on with him touching her. We tried out best to be upbeat and encouraging, myself and other pup running and laughing ahead to encourage her, but she just looked lost. Once in the backyard she again just looked a bit disorientated, and "needed" our direction to get a drink etc. OH mentioned that when she was younger she always seemed more alert and uncomfortable on evening jogs and walks, although he tried not to encourage this and just "Get on with the jog". She had been to the vet recently and got the all clear on eyes and health (as in two months ago).

I wondered if anyone else had a dog that struggled with night time or dusk in particular when the light is perhaps a little more confusing?

Only other thing is that I myself have always been uncomfortable around thunderstorms, but she never has and we've been careful to remove me from the dog (and visa versa!) when thunder hits so I don't influence her, but just the other week she decided to become very frightened of them. No gradation, just literally "today I'm going to act terrified" - OH accused my vibes, but even taking this into account it was a very quick transition. Is she just going through another phase perhaps? Any advice, opinions or experience would be great. Especially tips on calming them without encouraging the fear. Jazz is 2 in July. Other pup is almost 6months old. Thanks

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I can't help you much in terms of a young dog. I have heard that dogs vision at night is quite good, so maybe dusk is a bit confusing because the light is coming from an unusal angle, etc.

What you have described behaviourally is how my old girl is. She's 12YO, went blind around October, recently had cataract surgery so now has some vision back (lots of issues afterwards that have resulted in some lost vision). But she can't see at night. When she was losing her vision (which happened over around a 4 week period) she would just freeze on walks at night/dusk if she heard something that she felt ws unusal, she would trot off to where she thought I was not where I really was and often would need to be physically guided.

By no means am I saying that your dog has a problem like this. But if you don't see some changes or find a reason why she is behaving this way I wouldn't hesitate visiting a vet opthalmologist - even if it is just for your piece of mind! I assume she's been tested or clear by parentage of any known breed related diseases that could affect her eyesight.

Sorry, don't mean to make you feel panicked. But having just gone through watching my dog lose her sight I know that it can be scary and very emotional. I know that now the moment I have a worry I'd be off to a specialist even if just for reassurance.

Good luck and hopefully she's just having a bit of a "moment"!

[Bjelkier]

Did you get her eyes checked by a vet or an eye specialist?

[Tatzelwurm]

Please take her to a good competent vet or a specialist as soon as you can for a check. This may be a symptom of some nasty such as CD (which I think is restricted to short haired dogs) or PRA - but I don't know enough about collies.

Blindness at dusk is not something which happens with dogs with great eyes.

Edited to say - such a handsome dog!!

Edited January 12, 2011 by Tatzelwurm

[Kirty]

I'd be getting her eyes tested by a specialist. There could be something going on that is affecting her vision in poor light.

[becks]

This can be a classic sign of the start of certain eye problems - go to a specialist eye vet, your normal vet doesn't have the equipment to do a proper eye test and she will need drops in to open up the pupil fully so the vet can have a good look around inside the eye - something not usually done when your dog goes to a normal vet for a check up.

[flux]

Thanks so much everyone! So she was tested as a pup for "collie eye anomaly" and was all clear, with vision in both eyes (Thank you breeder!!). And the most recent vet visit was because she had a bit of a weepy eye, which seemed to be some sort of passing allergy, so the vet did have a "good look" then. But thanks becks, he didn't do the whole drops to open up pupil thing. Poor Jazz Last night she didn't want to go out on the grass to pee before bed, and today she is exhausted, has slept all morning. I will definatly be organising a vet visit. Thank you so much for your stories and advice everyone. Does anybody think that maybe the thunderstorm and some association with the night/wet grass might be triggering it? Will still do the vet I think either way. Thanks again everyone

and just because you mentioned it Tazelwurm - here's some more piccies. We think she's beautiful too!

[Pretty Miss Emma]

Good move to visit the vet, best case scenario they say it's nothing and if that isn't the case at least you will know what is going on and how to deal with it. Just make sure that you go to an eye specialist as normal vet practices just don't have the equipment needed to do the required testing (it's just way too expensive for them to have given that they haven't had the specialist training required to use and interpret them). You generally don't need a referral from your usual vet to see the specialist (I took myself off of my own accord because I knew I was just going to be referred).

Good luck!

[BMAK]

something could have spooked your dog while you were walking and a bit of after shook followed when you got home? just a thought as you said he was checked as a pup and followed you when you got near him, a blue tounge lizard in my back yard will leave my dogs scared s...tless for hours even after it has gone

[Kelly_Louise]

I have problems with Sasha when it's darker. She baulks at shapes/bushes/trees/people/sudden movements/noises etc that in normal daylight she shows no concern over - I'm assuming because at first she can't make out the shape quickly to see what it is? She also shows more fear when walking on the path alongside a road at night with the cars/headlights coming past. I don't know why, but it doesn't happen all the time so I've never paid too much attention to it. She has mostly grown out of it too over time. I used to not react to it at all, and if she baulked I would just keep walking determinedly and say 'come'.

She also now has a fear of heavy drops of rain. It all started when we had a few storms in a row, she started to associate the loud drops of rain with the beginning of the storm. So now, at any time of day or night, she will panick when loud drops of rain or heavy rain falls. If it's constant light/medium drizzle - no issues. Anything else and I have to bring her inside otherwise she's clawing at the door. Perhaps your girl has also started to associate something not pleasant with storms as well? It doesn't take much, could be something blowing over and scaring her or something. Do something fun when there is a storm - play a game, do some training, give her a massage and try to go about your day as if nothing is happening. Sasha is getting better, but will never be okay in storms.

But in saying that, Sasha has always been a nervous/cautious dog - so to me it's kind of expected.