How to rid of skittishness in my dog

[Abriana]

my collie beau used to be friendly, happy dog, going up and down the porch steps, through any door in the house, into every area, no matter who was in his way. But all of a sudden he is frightened of my side door steps and doorway. He refuses onto my tiled side entrance, laundry room, and bathroom, even for meat. He won’t go through a doorway if someone is standing in the way, they have to be kind of tucked behind the door, or off to one side. When he walks in it is head down, ears back, and tail down but not tucked in between his legs. When he walks by someone he crouches and hurries by in the same fashion he comes through the door in. He is always in the middle of the action and gets accidentally tripped over a lot, so I can understand part of this, but why the sudden fear of doorways and my side steps? Is there a way to get back my confident dog? I have heard they go through a fear period but he should be past that. How can I reduce his fears and get him to go up and down my steps, onto the tiled area, and through my side entrance doorway?

 

[sourland]

Can you pinpoint anything that caused this change in confidence ? The solution may lie in knowing why his behavior has changed.

 

[drumstick diva]

How old is he? How is his eyesight? We had a top champion dog that loved everybody and showed like a trooper. All of a sudden she started refusing to come back towards the judge. Turned out she developed Progressive retinal atrophy. Her eyes glowed green in the dark. Since then I've heard that is a sign.

If someone she knew walked up to her pen and went to touch her, she'd start screaming.
Which was scary for all of us. If you talked to her awhile she realized who was there.
I didn't breed her and I knew if I told her breeder (who NEVER has anything bad in her line) she would have sued me or worse.

Instead one of my customers said they loved the puppy they got from me(some time before) and asked if I had anymore. I told her about the blind dog and said they could have her free but, no AKC papers, and she should never be bred. They were thrilled to have her.

 

[Abriana]

He is about nine months old, his eyesight is great. I’m sorry about your dog!

 

[Abriana]

Can you pinpoint anything that caused this change in confidence ? The solution may lie in knowing why his behavior has changed.

he has slipped a lot on steps and slipped once on the tile but he could continued on going wherever and then suddenly he doesn’t want to anymore. Today he has been going into a specific room and then standing and whining until I go in and grab his collar and turn him toward the door and then he walks out fine but he keeps going back in and standing in the same spot and whining.

 

[Abriana]

He just walked out on his own, and then went back in.

 

[drumstick diva]

Another thing may be if he is older and not as sure of step, he may be afraid of slipping or falling - like older humans get. Maybe he needs a runner, or rug so he doesn't slip or slide. But, I do think it's more likely a vision problem.

I would have his eyes checked. IN our breed (Cockers) we had that done periodically because they could develop familiar cataracts, also. I've been "out of dogs," since the '80's, and can't recall what problems were common to collies.

 

[drumstick diva]

sounds like he could have neurological damage.

 

[Abriana]

Another thing may be if he is older and not as sure of step, he may be afraid of slipping or falling - like older humans get. Maybe he needs a runner, or rug so he doesn't slip or slide. But, I do think it's more likely a vision problem.

I would have his eyes checked. IN our breed (Cockers) we had that done periodically because they could develop familiar cataracts, also. I've been "out of dogs," since the '80's, and can't recall what problems were common to collies.

It is only the side door and steps he’s afraid of and outside he is fine, running around, fetching sticks, dodging me when I try to catch him. One reason why I don’t feel like it’s eyesight is that he sees the horses in my neighbors fields that are pretty far off and he barks, and barks, and BARKS at them. He obviously sees well. How can I get him to go back up the steps and in the door?

 

[Abriana]

Ok now I know why he’s in there whining! There is a bowl on the windowsill with some chicken in it and he wants it very badly. Silly dog!