Hey everyone, my dog has lived with us for 5 years and has always been fine, but over the past two weeks, she’s been acting scared when it gets dark outside. She hides behind the couch or stares at the hallway. I’m not sure why this started all of a sudden. We watched a horror movie on Halloween, but we weren’t scared during it. It’s strange because she’s only scared when we’re sitting still; if we’re doing something like cleaning, she’s fine. Has anyone else experienced this?
Was it The Conjuring? I noticed weird stuff after watching it too.
This behavior is unusual. I’d consult a vet to check for any physical issues. It’s possible the movie traumatized her, especially if she was in the room with you. Sometimes animals react strongly to things we don’t even notice.
Thanks! We didn’t get scared during the movie, but she only acts this way when it starts getting dark. Maybe something in the movie scared her, and now she’s associating darkness with fear? We’re planning to see the vet soon.
Did any of your neighbors install those high-pitched devices that only animals can hear? That could also be a reason.
In the meantime, give her lots of love and reassurance. Reinforce that your home is a safe space, no matter the time of day. Dogs can bounce back from these things eventually!