Me: Stella? Hello?
Stella: Huh? What?
Me: It’s time to help with Tiger.
Stella: Excuse me. I am watching the Picture Box. Hellooo…
Me: What about the whole “I am Stella, Queen of the Olde English Bulldogges” thing?
Stella: That only pops up when I am not on vacation. What’s the problem?
Me: Tiger doesn’t want to go out because it is dark.
Stella: So?
Me: She needs to go out at least to potty.
Stella: Don’t you think she knows that?
Me: But she is letting her fear of the dark control her.
Stella: You are the human. You are in charge. I am watching TV.
Me: Oh, great.
Stella: She won’t listen to me anyway. Watch. Hey, Tiger, you are being dumb. Go outside and pee.
Tiger: Shut up, you! You’re not the boss of me!
Stella: See? She doesn’t listen to me. She just wants to fight. You’re on your own, Lady Human.
Me: All right. Tiger, go out.
Tiger: Nope.
Me: Tiger, go out now.
Tiger: No way. I’m not going out there.
Me: Why not?
Tiger: It’s dark. I don’t know what’s out there.
Me: The same thing that was out there this afternoon.
Tiger: How do I know that?
Me: Take my word for it.
Tiger: Well…hmm…nope. How do I know it’s the same out there? How do I know that ugly monsters aren’t lurking out there in the shadows?
Me: Oh, all right. I’ll go out in front of you and I’ll stay outside until you are ready to come back in.
Tiger: Really?
Me: Yes, follow me.
Tiger: All right…Promise you won’t leave me.
Me: I won’t. I’ll be right over here. Can you see me?
Tiger: No, but I hear your voice. I can hear you breathing. I can tell by your scent that you are there. You won’t leave me?
Me: Nope. I’m right here until you come home.
Tiger: That’s all right then. The dark isn’t so dark when you are there.
Me: Are you ready to go back inside?
Tiger: Yes.
Me: Let’s go in the house then.
Stella: Great! Can everybody hush now so I can finish watching my show? No one has any respect for television anymore.
Copyright 2018 H.J. Hill All Rights Reserved.
Bulldoggy 
Is Tiger really afraid of the dark?
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Yes. It really got noticeable about 6 months ago. Before she would happily trot outside at night or in the predawn. Then she got to where she would hesitate at the back door. Later, she would step back and run away from the door. Now she only goes out at night if I go in front of her and she takes a good long look at the yard first. I’m kind of wondering if she met a creature of the night once or twice when she was out there by herself – a raccoon, a possum, a rat, in other words, an uninvited critter. She does fine during the daylight.
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Wow. That’s funny. I know the rain was difficult to get the dogs out in but never dark. Then again I’m on my 3rd dog you have a larger pack.
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