Scary Kitchen

[Margot M]

A couple months ago our 2 year old female Boerboel all of the sudden became afraid of walking across a certain area of the hardwood flooring in our kitchen.  This has never been an issue whatsoever until recently for some reason.  The 'scary floor' place is of course right by where her food and water bowls are, and the door to go outside- and she ends up sitting there crying because she's too afraid to cross it herself. We've tried the Cesar way and just making her go across the spot (basically dragging her by the collar with all four feet spread), and tried food/treats, but nothing seems to stick (it may work briefly but she's scared the entire time).  Has this happened to anyone else's dog?  Does anyone have any advice??  It would be greatly appreciated!!!  Thank you.

[Saskia Vermeulen]

Hi Margot, my boy also is scared of hard wood floores and floor tiles, he just about crab walks across them if he has to, I think his problem came from the bathroon floor tiles, he didnt like being washed when he was young, he still wont set all 4 paws in the bathroom, only 2, back legs are always in the hall. What i do when we go for a walk, as we use the laundry door , so the tile issue agian is cover the floor with old towels, it seems to work. Your issue is a bit strange though as there is usually an incident with this type of behaviour. All the best.

Saskia

[Margot M]

Thank you Saskia.  I think too that something must have happened in the kitchen for her to be fine one day and scared all of the sudden the next, but I can't for the life of me come up with anything.  For the first 8 months of her life we had another female dog Cleo that she used to follow everywhere, and Cleo was not phased by anything, but then we lost Cleo at 14 years of age and Leeloo lost her 'role model'.  Actually now that I think of it, the spot in the kitchen Leeloo is afraid of is exactly where Cleo died, which was over a year ago but maybe there's a connection?  In the meantime since you mentioned using towels on your floor so maybe I just need to get some runner rugs to lay around the kitchen and that would make a difference.  Thank you very much for your input.

Margot

[Mrs David/Bonnie]

oh, Shame, poor Leeloo. Can u not relocate her food n water bowl for now? I'm not a trainer but whenever my dogs have had a problem, the advice I have been given is not to force them but to positively reinforce them that it is ok, with treats n cuddles. Hope someone has good advice for you

[Margot M]

Thank you for your reply.  I have tried her bowls in a couple different places, which works for that, but then there's still the problem of crossing the floor there.  I definitely want to give her positive reinforcement- whenever she does decide to 'scurry' across the floor on her own I try to praise her as such a brave girl!!  I'm just so torn when I hear her crying because she's scared to walk across there- part of me wants to go help her-tell her it's OK, use treats and show her there's nothing to be afraid of, but then the other part of me thinks maybe she needs to get over her own fear??  Just at such a loss of what to do...

[Saskia Vermeulen]

T think you may just have to leave it for a while, you are probably right, the area must bring back bad memeories for her, maybe she just realized, maybe she will walk across there in her own time, boerboels are such a smart dog and cant be tricked into anything they dont want to do, my boy is 3 1/2 and he still has the same problem with floors, to go for a walk i have to hold the laundry door wide open and really praise him up, I can see his mind ticking over and then he will scurry crab walk as fast as he can to get through the door, coming home is another problem, he will not come in that door, have sat out there and tried for ages, so now we just come in through the front door. Have vistited friends with wooden floors and he just dropped to the floor legs out, he was so frightened, poor boy, we ended up putting mats all over the floor so he could come it, then he was fine. maybe she slipped there that you dont know about?

 

cheers

Saskia

Margot M said:

Thank you for your reply.  I have tried her bowls in a couple different places, which works for that, but then there's still the problem of crossing the floor there.  I definitely want to give her positive reinforcement- whenever she does decide to 'scurry' across the floor on her own I try to praise her as such a brave girl!!  I'm just so torn when I hear her crying because she's scared to walk across there- part of me wants to go help her-tell her it's OK, use treats and show her there's nothing to be afraid of, but then the other part of me thinks maybe she needs to get over her own fear??  Just at such a loss of what to do...

[Marco]

Hello Margot, thanks for posting, and I hope you are able to find a solution to your problem soon.  Wood flooring or slippery floors like it can be a tricky thing for dogs.  It can be tough on their joints, especially on larger breeds.  At times they have to fight to keep their feet from slipping out causing strain on their joints.  I would try putting down a floor runner or mat of some kind first in the problem area.  Even a towel or blanket will work to change the surface.  It may be she slipped there once before causing pain.  Below are two articles on the subject that came up while doing a google search.  I have not read them due to time I have available at work, but they may be helpful to you.  Please keep us updated, good luck!

 

My Dog Suddenly Scared of the Slippery Floor?

Canine Behavior

 

[Margot M]

Thank you very much for the informative links Marco.  I've gone ahead and ordered some runner rugs for our kitchen so hopefully very soon she will be more comfortable and not so fearful.  I appreciate your input- it makes a lot of sense about their joints, and maybe she did indeed slip one day and hurt herself.  Thanks again!  Margot

[kate nicholson]

Hi Margot, is it all of the hardwood floor or just a particular patch?  As a very random idea you may check if by any chance there is wiring under the floor there that may be "funny"  they can be very sensitive to that sort of thing.  Just ask mine who dug 1 foot down in the dirt to unearth the cable when it was frayed and making odd vibrations!  Just something to think of as it came  on so suddenly if it is in a small area.  Kate

[Margot M]

It is just particular area that is afraid of, not the entire kitchen.  You've definitely given me something to check into!  Thank you for your input!  Hope yours didn't make too big of a mess getting the evil cable out :)

[Lisa Tiro]

My boy did this type of thing when he saw his shadow for the first time. He was never afraid of my kitchen floor and then at night when the lights were on it cast shadows and he (I think) thought the shadow was a drop off or something and his shadow moved when he did and it freaked him out. It did pass rather quickly but it was pretty funny.