My new rescue dog is scared of hardwood floors. How to help?

Hi, this is Dr. Johnson. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Rudy! You didn't indicate how old Rudy is or if this is a new change. Some dogs always have a hard time on hard, shiny surfaces while others develops this as they get older. Either from fear of slipping, orthopedic pain or even poor eye sight. If this is a sudden change and Rudy is older having him checked by your Veterinarian for vision issues or arthritis may help him. Things to try at home: buy more rugs for the floor and make a trail of carpet runners. I know that you may not want to but it will make things easier. There are also booties you can buy to place on their feet. Just be careful to not keep them on all the time because they can get foot infections. Also some dogs are scared of the booties and walk worse with them on. I hope Rudy does ok!

This actually isn’t an uncommon problem. But the fact that it comes and goes depending on the day and the used to be fine is a little more concerning. I would suggest a vet check up because sudden changes could indicate a change in health (maybe sight?). And I would want to rule out any medical causes. Next to work on this issue I would put lots of area mats down or a carpet runner. Your dog should be more comfortable walking on that. I would get the dog used to coming back in the room on carpet and king carpet to carpet. Please them maybe a foot apart at first and put treats on the one your dog isn’t on. The plan is to get your pup comfortable going back and forth between the mats and getting rewarded for it so it’s a positive experience. Once they are comfortably going back and forth you can start to increase he distance between the mats and repeat the process. Hopefully with some positive reinforcement and work your pup will get comfortable again

Dogs can become scared of walking on slippery floors if they have slipped or injured themselves on it. This is more common in older dogs or ones with orthopedic problems who are not as steady on their feet. I recommend Dr Busby's ToeGrips to provide traction on slippery floors. These are little rubber circles that go on the nails so the toenails grip the floor when walking. Most dogs are no longer afraid when they have good traction. You can purchase these online. Otherwise I'd place a track of rugs or runners so she has a safe path through the house. Chihuahuas are prone to luxating patellas and back problems so you don't want Bella Blue to get injured, or be scared to go where she wants. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bella Blue.

In situations such as these, time is your friend, as well as patience. 4 years living solely outside is a long time for a dog, and that's a lot of years of work to reverse. You may want to treat Perseus as if he were a puppy, starting with a similar routine for feeding, potty training, etc to get him used to being around people and in/out of a house. Getting him used to you can take time. Always approach by talking calmly and gently and tossing a treat toward him. Not directly facing him and/or crouching down can also make you less intimidating and scary. Let him approach you first rather than you approach him, and be sure to quietly praise or offer treats any time he does. As he gets more used to you, you can then treat only when he allows petting or approaches you and accepts gentle handling. This can take a lot of time, so patience and always maintain a calm presence can help. It is also a good idea to speak with a trainer or behaviorist in your area who can come to the home and offer more tailored advice for how to help Perseus. They can help formulate a training plan as in the case of a behaviorist may also be able to recommend medications to help keep him stress free and relaxed as he learns how to be a dog.

I recommend giving Ella some time. It can take up to 2 weeks for dogs to get comfortable with their new surroundings. Give her attention, love and play time. You should see her slowly warm up to you and your family. Congratulations on your new puppy! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

There is a product (it used to be called Tacky Paws but the name may have changed) which you can spray on Ginger's feet to make them a bit sticky so the wooden floors won't feel so slippery to her. I'm not sure if it leaves tracks on wood floors because it is mostly used in the show ring so the dogs won't lose their footing. You can try it--it will definitely give her more traction. To get her back into the playroom, start putting her food bowl just inside the room so she can eat with her feet still on carpet. Gradually move the bowl farther inside (this may take days or even weeks) until she has to step onto the slippery floor to eat. If she does not eat after 15 minutes, pick up the bowl and offer nothing else to eat until her next mealtime, when you will repeat the proess. Put the bowl down where she was last comfortable and try moving it all the way into the room again. In time she will realize that, if she is going to get her dinner, she will have to go into the playroom. Remember that you are not starving her. This is a battle of wills, because the food is there, every day. She is choosing not to eat. When she realizes that there is no other option, she'll go into the family room and eat. If amazon does not have the spray product, you can go to Cherrybrook.com Good luck with this!

Hello! If often takes some time for a pet to adjust to their brand new home and family. Most dogs need a few weeks to become confident and comfortable in their new environment. It would be helpful to know exactly what she is doing that is causing you to be concerned though. If you'd like to resubmit a question describing the possibly depressed or adjusting behavior (ie. hiding, pacing, licking, chewing, growling), I may be able to better advise. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!