My dog got startled. Why is he avoiding a room and acting strange?

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.

That's a difficult situation! It could be the two changes in environment is a little stressful for him, and he may need a few more days to settle back into his normal routine. Dogs can get stressed when they leave home for a bit, stay in a new place, and then are returned to their normal home. I would give him a few more days to see if he returns to normal, and if he doesn't, I would take him into the vet for an exam. Sometimes, a medical illness such as an infection or injury can cause a dog to act differently from normal, and it would be good to rule that out if he's not back to himself in another couple of days.

Poor pup! One of the most important things to do is not comfort him. While you may think you are helping him by comforting him, you are acting telling him it's ok to react this way and are reinforcing the behavior. I would put him in a quiet dark room of his own to self-soothe, and when it's time to go outside, take him out on a lead. Acting normally, and he should relax following your lead.

Any abrupt change in behavior is a good reason to go to the vet. It could be there is some underlying medical condition causing his change. Your vet will do an exam, possibly some lab work and based on these results, should be better able to give you an idea of what is going on with your dog and how best to treat it.

Something must have scared her and it will take some time to get her to relax again. I would ignore her, go sit in the room with her and have very tasty treats ready. Hopefully Merida will investigate the smell of the treats and you can offer them to her. I would only reach for her if she's relaxed and not hold her if she wants to get away. Gradually she'll learn you always have good treats and she will relax and start to come to you again and then you can start petting and playing with her. Please be calm and speak softly and even play with her toys without looking at her. She should become curious and want to join in. Again this may take some time and if you are too loud or forceful it may make her more fearful. Be patient and things should gradually get back to normal. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Merida.

Hi, sorry you are having this problem with Chiquita. Sometimes dogs exhibiting this behavior are in some kind of pain. the not eating is concerning that she may have a health issue as well. I would take her to the vet and have a check up to make sure nothing is wrong with her, If she is healthy, you can try using treats to coax her out of your room. It is possible something happened to her that scared her or caused her pain and it will take some time for her to get over it. Be gentle and patient and go slow with her to show her that there is nothing to be afraid of. If you bring her food to her and she won't eat, she will need to see a vet. Good luck, I hope this help!

I would potentially have your husband bring a piece of kibble with him in the room so she can have a treat when he is there if this is a cause for concern. I would also recommend getting Holly checked out to make sure there is nothing going on with her especially if her behavior has changed. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.