My dog is afraid to come inside after a fire. What can I do to help?

This will be challenging to correct as Copper has developed an unhealthy fear of coming inside. So you will need to be very patient and try to avoid any negative energy as that will only feed into Copper. This is an instance when clicker training can really help pets. First you will want a very high value treat. Once Copper knows what the clicker means, you will gradually move closer to the door. Make sure to click and reward him for any motion that he makes to move towards the door. Eventually you will work through the door. You should also utilize the area for play with any favorite toys. With holding these toys at all times except in that area will further the positive experience with the area. Lastly, slowly moving his food bowl toward the door can also help. The idea is to make the area positive. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Slowly reacclimate him to going outside again. Use treats as rewards and bribes. If he is a small dog, carry him outside for ever increasing periods of time. Calming pheromone collars or sprays may be effective. Compression shirts such as the ThunderShirt may help as well.

Hi and thank you for your question. I am sorry you are having some behavior issues with Luna. Moving can be stressful for both pets and pet parents! Moving to a new area, new home, and the addition of changing to being an only dog is a lot of new changes all at once. Sometimes it just takes time for dogs to acclimate to their new life and new home. She is likely feeling a little insecure in her new place, but that is not unusual. Keep her busy with exercise. Lots of walks, lots of play time with you and gradually introduce her to new people making the experience positive with rewarding her for good behavior with a treat she really really loves. Lavander oil with an essential oil diffuser in your home can aide in calming the mood. Calming chews with L-Theanine in them can also help as well as a number of Rx medications that can help smooth the transition if you are finding yourself and Luna in a road block with progress. Also, working with a trainer around your area can be a very helpful to keep Luna on track and moving in the right direction. Please consult with Luna's veterinarian regarding all supplements and Rx medications. Best of luck!

I recommend thinking about what changes have happened in the last couple of days. Have you moved any furniture, replaced lightbulbs, or plugged in any new appliances? Some electronics can have sounds that we can't hear, but can trigger anxiety in our pets. There are a couple things you can try for anxiety; Composure chews and Adaptil diffusers. Adaptil is a pheromone that can help with anxiety. It is available as a plug-in room diffuser for large areas, and as a spray for small areas like a mat or bed. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-calming-aids/comfort-zone-diffuser-with-dap-for-dogs Thanks for using PetCoach.

Dogs are incredibly good at picking up on body language and routines. Either your schedule is very consistent so Luna knows it's harness time, or there's something you unconsciously do differently when picking her up for the harness. This sounds like an anxiety based behavior. I would recommend amping up your treats (peanut butter, liverwurst, baby food, hot dog are all good choices) and working on counter conditioning her to the harness. Counter conditioning is the process of changing a dog's emotional reaction to a situation, rather than trying to start by changing the behavior (basically teaching her to LOVE the harness so she gets in easily, rather than teaching her to stay really still so you can get it on but she's still freaking out on the inside). If possible, working with a trainer who can help you with this process would be great. I can also do a consult with you to go over more details for steps. Alternatively, here is a pretty good video to work along with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7edMjwEY1c I would also recommend getting Luna an ADAPTIL collar. This is a pheromone collar which can help with anxiety. Good luck!

It will probably take some time to adjust to his new environment. You could try an Adaptil collar and Solliquin chews to see if that helps relieve some of the anxiety and stress he may be experiencing. https://www.adaptil.com/us#redirected http://www.solliquin.com/

Is she food motivated? Using treats to entice and reward her maybe helpful. Also, seeking the advice from your veterinarian about using antianxiety pheromones and possibly medications may be helpful as she is adjusting. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.