Dog Community

Fear of walking around the house

Posted : 8/22/2006 10:54:32 AM

Hi, All
I have a problem with one of my dogs. We recently moved into a new house and one of my dogs (named Buddy) is behaving weird. Ever since we brought him and the other dog over to the new place a couple of days ago, he refuses to walk into various areas of the house...Simply refuses to go into the main floor kitchen and other areas. He also doesn't really feel like eating.
The other dog of ours has no problem whatsoever walking around the whole place.

I know, it's a stess for him, so many changes - the new place, also we bought over my girlfriend's cat, which makes 2 cats in the house...

However, I am worried. The thing is - he did behave like this before - once we washed him in the basement bathroom of the old place and ever since it was nearly impossible to get him to go to the basement, which he had done before with no problem at all. It was not that big a deal, since he felt comfy everywhere else iin the house....

Soo....I would really appreciate some general directions cause am this point i dont't have an idea really. How is this kind of problem can be approached ?

Thanks a lot...

jones

Posted : 8/22/2006 12:59:13 PM

Moving is hard for dogs (and cats). Give him a little time to adjust. Just act normal like everything's fine... he will take his emotional cues from you. From your phrase "main floor kitchen" it sounds like maybe this is a large house? If so that could be a little overwhelming for him. Some dogs are just more confident and open to new things than others, which is why your other dog is fine. If you want you can plant some delicious stinky treats in one of the "scary" rooms (I imagine you'd have to keep the confident dog away when you do this) and try to lure the shy dog in that way... but don't force it, try to just let him explore when he's ready.

glenmar

Posted : 8/22/2006 1:20:06 PM

Are there by chance bare floors in the rooms the dog is not wanting to enter? When we moved into this house, one of my boys was absolutely terrified of the wood floors and I had to scatter throw rugs around for him.

Yury Skanavy

Posted : 8/22/2006 1:37:27 PM

ORIGINAL: jones

Moving is hard for dogs (and cats). Give him a little time to adjust. Just act normal like everything's fine... he will take his emotional cues from you. From your phrase "main floor kitchen" it sounds like maybe this is a large house? If so that could be a little overwhelming for him. Some dogs are just more confident and open to new things than others, which is why your other dog is fine. If you want you can plant some delicious stinky treats in one of the "scary" rooms (I imagine you'd have to keep the confident dog away when you do this) and try to lure the shy dog in that way... but don't force it, try to just let him explore when he's ready.

ok, i see....that's basically what we have been trying to do

thanks

Yury Skanavy

Posted : 8/22/2006 1:41:21 PM

ORIGINAL: glenmar

Are there by chance bare floors in the rooms the dog is not wanting to enter? When we moved into this house, one of my boys was absolutely terrified of the wood floors and I had to scatter throw rugs around for him.

i would say it's not really that different from the old place, we had bare floors there too, besides most of the areas where he is confortable are bare (well, we just moved in, bare floors and boxes are all around

)

Yury Skanavy

Posted : 8/23/2006 9:00:42 AM

ORIGINAL: glenmar

Are there by chance bare floors in the rooms the dog is not wanting to enter? When we moved into this house, one of my boys was absolutely terrified of the wood floors and I had to scatter throw rugs around for him.

actually, as it turns out, you were right.
Yesterday I tried to 'move' him using a few pieces of carpeting, i would place a piece next to the one he was on and call him to the that piece. that way we made it all the way to the dreaded kitchen

so, right now i left the pieces 1-2 feet apart so there is a bit of bare floor between them so he get used to walking on the floor.

so, thank you very much, you were really hepful !

glenmar

Posted : 8/23/2006 9:12:33 AM

Sometimes its the simpliest little things that scare them.