If your dog wants outside all the time, you may be wondering what is going on in his head. If this is a new behavior that has started out of the blue, you may have to put on your investigative heat and start evaluating what changes may have occurred in your dog’s environment to cause this behavior. On the other hand, perhaps you just got a new dog and this dog wants outside all the time and you may be trying to persuade him that indoors is a great place to be. Regardless, here are some troubleshooting ideas as to why your dog wants outside all the time.
Rule Out Medical Problems
If your dog wants outside all the time, consider that there may be medical problems at the root of the behavior. It’s always a good idea to suspect medical problems first before assuming that you are dealing with a behavioral problem.
A good idea is to put a leash on your dog and see what happens (where does your dog take you?), or if you have a yard, letting him out and carefully observing his behavior once out.
Does your dog go straight to urinate once let out? Then, there may be chances your dog is suffering from a urinary tract infection. Does your dog go straight to have a bowel movement once out? Perhaps he had a bout of diarrhea. Keep an eye on him and take him to the vet if the problem persists.
If your dog goes out and goes straight to urine marking, and this is not quite usual behavior in your dog, perhaps there’s something new in his environment that he’s a bit worried about (continue reading for some pointers.)
New Dog Around the Block
A commonly overlooked reason for a dog who wants outside all the time is some sort of novelty that is going on and is grabbing your dog’s attention. Perhaps your neighbor just got a new dog. You might not be aware of this new dog, but your dog’s sensitive hearing may detect those dog tags jingling or perhaps your dog smells this new dog because it has urinated in some common boundaries.
If your dog is an intact male, perhaps a female dog may be in heat around the neighborhood. Or if you own an intact female dog, perhaps she may have gone in heat, and this explains her “drive” to want to escape outdoors. When was her last heat cycle? This can help you determine if she may be coming in heat again.
Look for signs of heat, is she licking her private area more? Perhaps take her on a walk and see if she engages in behaviors that can indicate she is in heat or is going into heat (marking more, sniffing more, more interested in other dogs ). If you don’t notice any other signs of heat in your female dog, consider that sometimes dogs may go into whats known as a “silent heat.”
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Often, if you take your dog out and keep your dog on a loose leash, your dog may likely take you to the area of his interest and this solves the mystery. Perhaps he may park himself near a neighbor’s home and sniff. If you stand still and very quiet, perhaps you may hear your neighbor’s new puppy crying or his new dog barking in the distance.
Presence of Furry Critters
It’s not always other dogs to evoke these wanting -to- go- outside- behaviors though. Perhaps, your neighbor has gotten a new cat or a kitten and your dog is aware of its presence.
Sometimes the issue may be caused by some wildlife visiting the area especially if you live in a rural setting or the suburbs. Dogs who are pretty mellow normally may go bonkers when there is some critter moving near the deck or in the yard. Animals moving in or close by can disrupt a dog’s routines and cause stress. It’s as if their “safety haven” has been invaded.
In some dogs, the behavior is more predatory driven (they are frustrated as they sense other animals but can’t fulfill their desire to investigate and possibly chase the animal away from their perceived territory). Perhaps your dog has smelled a rabbit or skunk that visits your yard. This may lead to sniffing the ground, whining, pacing and wanting to go out to check things out.
New Dog Adjustment Period 
If you just got a new dog from the shelter or may be you are pet sitting a dog for your friends, consider that there may be several possible reasons for why this dog wants outside all the time. Here are just a few possibilities, but it may help asking some information from the shelter (sometimes they may have some history on the dogs put up for adoption) or calling your friend to help you out.
A new dog who wants outside all the time may perhaps feel a bit intimated by you and his new place. There are new sounds, new smells, new sights and he may simply want to avoid all this. Don’t take it personally. Going to a new home can be a very stressful event for many dogs.
Another possible reason as to why your new dog wants outside all the time may include the dog looking for his previous owner.
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Some dogs form very strong attachments to their owners, and for dogs surrendered to a shelter, the search for their owners may persist no matter what. It may take some time for a new dog to relax and learn that this is hopefully his new forever home.
Finally, some dogs want outside all the time because in their previous home they may have had a doggy door or spent most of their time in the yard.
Solutions for Dog Wants Outside All the Time
As seen, there are several potential reasons for a dog wanting to go outside all the time, but here are a few solutions if you have managed to figure out why you dog wants outside all the time.
If you suspect a medical problem, of course, the best course of action is taking your dog to the vet. Oh, and while you’re at it, collect a urine sample or stool sample and bring it along.
If there’s a new dog who moved in town or critters under your porch or in the attic, for the time being, you can try to put on some white noise (radio, tv or fan noise) as part of your management plan and see if this can help calm your dog down. It may take some time though for your dog to adjust and come to accept that the new puppy or dog is there for good.
If your dog is reacting to a new kitten crying, if you are friends with your neighbor, you may want to mention it, they may not be aware of it if they are not home for a while. It could be the kitty is lonely, hungry or thirsty. Perhaps kitty is frightened to be in a new place and is “stuck” hiding somewhere and won’t come out to eat or drink.
In the meanwhile, you can try to keep your dog occupied with brain games, interactive games, long walks and the white noise to muffle the new pup’s whining or barking. You can also train a redirect cue when your dog goes to the door: tell him or her “off” and redirect him or her to play with a stuffed Kong that will help keep busy for some time. Hopefully, as the new puppy or dog adjusts to his/her new surroundings he/ she will also vocalize less (hopefully!).
If you own a new dog and you suspect he’s a bit intimidated by you, you can help your new dog adjust by being very careful (especially during the first days) and putting yourself in his or her mind. For example, keep noises to a minimum, move slowly, and if you want to create positive associations, every time you get up or do something that startles your new dog a bit, toss some treats in his direction. If your hand movement startles him, just drop them and move away. Your new dog will start associating you with good things, and will learn to trust you.
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