How can I help my dog overcome his fear of entering the living room?

Question

I recently had my wood floors refinished in the main living area of the house....my dog had no problem being in this part of the house previously or after the finish job.....However, the job was botched and someone else had to come back and make it right. Strangely, ever since then my dog will not go into that part of the house. He is absolutely against going in there, and to even try to get him to go in there makes him even more anxious about it. There is no reasonable explanation as to why this has happened....I just want him to be able to enjoy the rest of the house with everyone else - He loves to be around people, and it makes me sad that this fear is keeping him sequestered to the bedroom. What can I do? I've tried to lure him with food - doesn't work....Help!

Answer 1

Maybe a rug would help. I would guess that the feeling of the floor on his paws is what is scaring him.

Answer 2

Its the difference in the floor that your dog doesn't like, i'd say its because he feels unstable on it. Its gonna be slippery after being re-polished and he can't get enough traction to feel safe. Otherwise he had a bad experience during the actual re-finishing. He might have been afraid of the sanders etc? I don't know, what i do know is, he has only started this since the renovation, so this is where the problem began. If it is a traction problem you could get him some booties that have those rubber spots on the bottom for babies... Take him in the room on a lead so he understands that he must go slow to stay upright? I'm assuming its a traction problem. Put a basket or rug down in the room somewhere for him as a safety area, all he has to do is get to that area calmly and from that position he will gradually feel comfortable in the room nce again. Animals can be suprisingly sensitive to the smallest changes. EG: its not unusual for rodeo horses to not buck on thier first outing because the sand feels unstable under thier hooves and they get afraid to move.

Answer 3

I suggest that you visit a kennel/dog obedience club, or animal shelter, and learn how to approach a dog, and how to tell if it is likely to be aggressive. Don't look directly at an unknown dog, or it may well interpret it as intention to attack, by a larger, potentially dangerous opponent, in which case, it must defend itself. Offer a hand, with fingers curled over (but not balled into a fist) at arm's length, so it can smell you, as much canine perception is based on scent, rather than sight, as in humans. Remember that the reason that dog was a stray was probably because it had run away from the maltreatment of its previous owner, and may well have been hit around the head by that person's hand. There is a section on PETS > DOGS here at Y!A; ask there, repeating regularly, if necessary. I suggest that you Google: "clinical psychologists; (your location)" and select one with experience in treating phobia. Systematic desensitisation therapy seems ideal for this application.

Answer 4

It might smell bad to him or be overpowering. Dogs' sense of smell is very powerful. Or something could have happened that made him associate the floors with a bad or upsetting memory.

One thing you might want to try is leashing him in the house and leading him around the house...walk through the room repeatedly. Make sure you walk with confidence and a reassuring tone. Don't stop walking until you have had him go in there a few times with you. Offer a food treat and affection after he gets in there to help him associate the room with good feeling (conditioning). Just be calm, assertive, and patient and you will eventually get him in there again. Good luck.

Answer 5

Not sure but dogs have a great sense of smell. Maybe there is something on the floor that the dog knows is harmful (chemical). Also, maybe the sound is discomforting to him. Hardwood can be sorta clicky. What if he was hurt while you were away?? Hardwood can be slippery. Try some runners (long carpets). He can also be seen by a vet. and they may can prescribe him an anxiety medication till he's more comfortable in his new floor surrounds. Good luck with the doggy!

Answer 6

sounds like a job for Cesar Milan..thats his name right the dog whisper...well I would suggest you watch some of his videos..i know for a fact he has encountered this problem with the dogs he has trained...perhaps u could try out the techniques he did to help those dogs overcome their fear of entering certain parts of the house...usually dogs are scared of new wooden floors because they dont have alot of traction on them as oppose to carpet. Also they may not like the sound their nails make hitting against the floor.

Answer 7

my parents had the same prob with their dog, its unusual, did you know you can get pet psychiatrist now? my parents used one and it works, strangely enough it was a door creaking that was keeping the dog out, its was the sound that had psychologically affected the dog, so after a can of crc it did the trick and the dog never seemed concerned about it again. try moving the furniture and paintings and stuff around., you might be surprised

Answer 8

Go to your livingroom, sit in the floor, call your dog, if he does not want to come to you, do not give up, do not get up and go to him, show him its okay to be that room with you......take some small training treats and intice him,,but do not make the first move, he has to accept every room in your house//

good luck....he may have a bad memory of something that happened in that room, and you will have to show him it is safe....

Answer 9

put ur dog into a cage and then put it in the living room all day long

Answer 10

If he'll walk on a leash, try walking him in slowly coaxing him along with a treat.

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