While we’re on a roll, let me add that we seem to have overcome Lilly’s fears of coming inside the house, only at night and only in the summer. It has been one of the most puzzling of her fears over the years.
Oh, she still slows down approaching the house. She still balks a little bit. She’ll even sit or lie down, rather than come running inside.
BUT, I began just standing with my back to her, while holding open the front door.
I don’t say anything. I just stand there, and usually within about 30 seconds, she comes inside on her own. No fuss, no muss.
What It Means?
Perhaps Lilly reads my turned back as a “Not that. Try again” message … like when you don’t click when shaping a behavior.
She might read my posture as less “threatening” since I’m putting no pressure — verbal, physical, or otherwise — on her.
Your thoughts?
That is so interesting. I’ve never known a dog that was afraid of going in the house. I love you try different things to help her get over her fears.
I know, Martha & Me, it’s a really weird one … especially because it only happens at night in the summertime.
Roxanne,
I’m adding my cheers for the improvement, whatever the reason may be. I admire your thoughtfulness and creativity in addressing Lilly’s fears on coming inside the house.
Thanks, Kerry … you know … we use special music to calm Lilly down. I’ll email you some links.
I can totally relate – my puppy mill survivor, Bill, had some bizarre fears for a long time. In fact, he still has a puzzling one. We have vaulted ceilings in our living room, and he always looks up. Whenever he’s even just sitting on the floor in the living room, he glances up every so often to see if the sky is falling. He even crouches low when he runs through the room sometimes. It’s not the ceiling height because he doesn’t do this in other people’s homes – it’s just our ceiling. Very weird.
That is a weird one, Kyla. I wonder if it’s more of a shadow thing in your house, maybe the way the light hits the ceiling. Or maybe echoes?
It makes sense in a way, though, since puppy mill dogs are kept in such small spaces. I can see how a bigger space might be weird for him.
That’s great news, whatever the reason may be! I like your second guess, that your posture puts less pressure on her. It also doesn’t imply any expectations… It’s the same odd kind of thing as I’ve seen with K. She can get scared during clicker training games but if I turn on the TV and pretend that I’m not really paying attention to her (but I still click the desired behavior), she does great. I’ve assumed that she gets worried when I’m focused on her and can relax when I pretend that I’m not focused on her. It seems like your back turning might do a similar thing for Lilly.
Well, sure, facing her is a lot of pressure, Lola flat out won’t come in the house if I’m facing her. I have to turn sideways or even with my back a bit to her then motion her in. Have you tried going out there and engaging her, maybe teasing her a bit, then turning and running into the house yourself while calling her along to chase you? Maybe turning it into a game will help her get through whatever her anxiety is regarding coming inside at night.
Oh, yeah, we tried all kinds of games, and she would play along … in and out she’d run, in and out … until she somehow knew that I really meant she needed to come inside. Stinker.
Yah Lilly! Do you only see the improvement when you turn your back? Kona sometimes has (what seems to be) out of the blue increases in overall confidence. Suddenly certain things become less scary, even though I can’t tie the improvement to anything we’ve done. ?
Well, actually …. she has been coming in pretty well in a variety of ways, lately, but if she begins to balk at all, then I turn my back and stand there until she comes in. Once she is inside, we have a little celebration.