New (and odd) problem.

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I have two dogs -- Bunkie (5) and Rudy (3) who are both rescues. Rudy (the white doggie) was found by the side of a road in Tennessee on a cold, rainy, winter night and we've had him since he was 9 months old.

He has always been somewhat fearful of various things -- mainly thunder, noises he can't identify, and oddly -- our staircase to the second floor (he won't go up it). But recently he has gotten worse, to the point of not wanting to go on our daily walks.

I'll get the leashes, and both dogs will get all excited, jumping up and down as usual. But we don't get very far up the street before Rudy decides that he wants to go home. And that means turning around and dragging me and Bunkie all the way back to the house.

What on earth is going on? And does anyone have any ideas on how to eliminate this behavior?

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[frogmarch]

1. I did a little Googling

and found this. The problem isn't exactly the same as yours, but I thought it might be helpful.

http://www.justanswer.com/dog-training/7xlyr-dog-suddenly-afraid-go-outside-always-enjoyed-walks.html#re.v/328/

I hope you can get Rudy to like his walks again. I have a poodle who, after 4 years of being afraid to walk on our wooden kitchen floor, has now decided he likes to. I still have to carry him up one little flight of stairs from the garage into the house, but at least I don't have to carry him back and forth across the kitchen any more. I have no idea what made him suddenly unafraid of the floor, or what made him afraid in the first place (maybe he slipped and fell) but I am glad he's a brave boy now.

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2. Thank you for that site.

I could try putting them in the car, because they both love to ride in the car. We could go to a place they like (that is too far to walk and we always go there in the car).

But I'd really like to be able to walk to our local park where we meet and play with other dogs.

Today's failed walk happened with no strange noises at all (no leaf blowers etc.) But since daylight savings time, my daughter has been taking them out at night after she gets home from work. Maybe the darkness and inability to see "danger" has got Rudy upset.

Your dog's phobia about the kitchen floor is really an odd one! I'm happy that he's OK about it now.

[frogmarch]

5. Hmm, maybe something

frightened him in one of the darkness walks. An unfamiliar sound, scent or shadow may have spooked him and made him afraid of a certain place. Or maybe as you said, his being unable to be on the lookout for danger made him afraid in the daylight too. My poodle, Ty, avoids my porchlight-cast shadow at all costs when I take him outside at night, and if it happens to touch him, he runs up the stairs that he's otherwise scared of. Poor little guy. I don't like him to be scared.

I hope Rudy is soon back to being his unafraid self so he again can frolic with his doggy pals at the park.

[Mosby]

3. that happened with one of my dogs

It went away after a while, we just took out just Scout for a while.

What was happening is that Bailey was smelling a VERY dominant unfixed male in the neighborhood, it was freaking her out.

Can you try a different route?

[shenmue]

4. Dr. Tinycat recommends hugs and kisses

[TygrBright]

6. Have you tried a "stress sweater" or similar garment?

Something like a thundershirt might help, the behavior definitely sounds anxiety/stress related.

helpfully,
Bright

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7. We have a Thunder Shirt

And use it when we know a thunderstorm is coming.

I haven't thought of using it on our walks.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I second the suggestion to try a different route.

Instead of going to the right, turn to the left and see if that helps.