7 month old lab suddenly can't/won't walk on hard floors

[WeAllHaveWings]

He seems fine, no problems on carpet and running about outside as normal, but suddenly seems terrified of the hard floors we have in the kitchen, hall and bedrooms.

On fireworks night he was in the kitchen when a rocket when off outside unexpectantly and very close/loud, he scarpered and slipped out the kitchen very quickly losing his footing, dh thinks he's had a fright on the floor.

I don't think he has hurt himself as he's running about and playing as normal, but refuses to go on the hard floor and if I try to encourage him onto it, he's like bambi on ice (but scared).

I've put towels down on the floor just now so he can get around. Anyone else had a similar problem or any ideas what to do?

[cathpip]

My lab was exactly like this on wooden bridges, decking, etc, would eventually walk over it but looked like Bambi's on ice the entire time. Was highly funny and am afraid he was like it till he died of old age, sorry I could not be more help, I do hope you can coax him out of it. Most labs react very well to food treats!

[WeAllHaveWings]

Anyone tried this, paw wax or something similar? I wonder if his pads are too dry/slippy with the recent wet weather and muddy fields.

[ender]

Was so pleased to see this (sorry OP) as my 3 yr old lab has recently started doing the same. I think our new rescue bashed into him a couple of times making him nearly slip over so he doesn't want to take any risks. It started suddenly with him refusing to get off the sofa and come for his dinner, he just barked continuously looking really upset until we finally twigged and put towels on the floor and he was off to his bowl like a shot.
We've bought lots of cheap small mats from The Range for him to use as stepping stones which he likes. Sometimes he forgets he's scared of the floor and walks on it, then realises and starts wobbling hopefully its just a blip and our dogs will get their confidence back.

[WeAllHaveWings]

Yes, our pup was the same, managed to distract him a couple of times with chicken and he was ok for a few seconds, then he realised where he was and struck the scared bambi pose again.

Have now massaged Vaseline into his pads and ordered some bloody expensive paw cream for him, hope it works. His pads do seem less slippery now they are more moist. He was fine with the floors up until Tuesday. Our hall is laminate so he's refusing to walk between rooms just now, had to put towels down into the kitchen so he could get to his food and water.

[ApprenticeSeamstress]

I saw a great dane with same problem on you tube, it was a dog whisper story. might help if you can find it.

[ApprenticeSeamstress]

I saw a great dane with same problem on you tube, it was a dog whisper story. might help if you can find it.

[WeAllHaveWings]

Found the YouTube video of and the way Kane is acting and standing is the same as our pup, but in the video Kane looks terrified, also found this:

Regarding flooding and positive punishment, the first episode of "The Dog Whisperer" that was aired comes to mind. Millan was working with Kane, a Great Dane with a fear of shiny floors. Millan first took the dog out for a run to get some of his energy out and then ran straight into the kitchen (with a shiny floor). In order to force the frightened dog to follow his lead, Millan "high collared" Kane which involves fitting a collar on the neck "up to the dog's ears with the intention to cause pain by "putting the collar in this nerve rich, muscle poor area of great sensitivity" (Clothier, 1988).

High collaring a dog simply makes it easier to force it to follow by inflicting pain into the neck. Kane's reaction was that of extreme stress, fear, and excessive drooling that was captured by the cameraman. At the end of the session, Kane was lifted up and placed back onto the floor panting, drooling and with ears back - all of the signs of a stressed and frightened animal (Scott, 2004).

Kane displays heavy drooling Cesar drags the terrified dog across the linoleum floor The high collar technique
a) Kane displays heavy drooling b) Cesar drags the terrified dog across the linoleum floor c) The high collar technique

Millan uses fear, intimidation, strenuous exercise, and force to get the dogs he deals with to comply, claiming that he is acting as the "alpha" or dominant pack member. According to Millan, the "alpha" leader of the pack gets to that position by exerting his power over the lower, subordinate members of the pack through force and physical domination - an idea developed from flawed studies of wolf packs to be discussed later. Millan's method of choice for a dog with a dominance issue is called an "alpha rollover", meant to force the dog to exhibit what he calls "calm submission".

dog whisperer sounds so gentle doesn't it, have seen clips for the shows before but never actually watched, don't think it's for me.

[Lilcamper]

Good decision, that's the perfect example of how not to handle it! Dog training has come on so much and Mr Millan has refuse to move with the times!

YouTube 'kikopup'. She uses kind and effective methods.

[beingagoodmumishard]

My parents' Golden Retriever started to do this when he was quite young, think it started after he slipped on the floor. They ended up having to put rugs everywhere and this continued up until he died. The only way he could cope with a tiled floor etc was to walk backwards on it

[ender]

Looking on the bright side, it's better for big dogs to be wary of slipping than to rush about, fall over and damage their hips.

[haggisaggis]

Our last rough collie was like this - slipped as a pup on the kitchen floor and from then on would not walk on anything he thought may be slippy - had to buy rugs to put on our wooden floors and he would rush from one to the other. Went for a walk once where there were rocks which sparkled a bit - he thought they might be slippy and refused to walk on them. It was areal nuisance and nothing worked. (thankfully the current rough collie pup seems to think sliding on wooden floors is fun..)

[WeAllHaveWings]

thank you lil found , looks much kinder. Will give it a try.

Its a little worrying to hear that some dogs have a phobia of shiny floors their whole lives, hopefully we'll be able to resolve it before the behaviour becomes too ingrained.

[GladitsnotJustMe]

Is your dog motivated by food?

You said you managed to distract him a few times with chicken, before he realized where he was and got scared.

How about tempting him a short way onto the floor, giving him the chicken, and quickly leading him back out, then making a big fuss of him. He's out before he realizes it. If he's really reluctant, just start off with you standing on the 'slippery floor' but letting him stand outside the room and take the treat from you.

Make it quick, don't focus on him taking steps into the room, just let him come in, take his treat then get out without thinking about it.

Then slowly make him come further and further in. I would do this several times a day, every day. Any tempting morsel of food should do it. (he's a lab after all!)

Keep the sessions short, and always end on a positive note - so if he does get freaked out, take the training a step back, and just tempt him in a shorter distance to get the food - always let him 'win' at the end.

Over time (and I bet it wouldn't take long), you may be able to progress to placing the food in the room and telling him to go get it, then come back to you. Don't encourage him to run, as that could make him slip.

I would think trying this on a daily basis is better than resorting to expensive foot creams or having to adapt the room with rugs to suit him.

I agree with some of the criticism of Caesar Milan that you pasted above - but one thing I think he is correct on is that you shouldn't focus on, or reward, the fear behaviour. So if your dog is freaking out, don't make a fuss and carry on with the training.

Don't let this go on, it will get worse and your dog may have a phobia for life.

Let us know how you get on!

[laughingeyes2013]

My lab was always like this on laminate flooring. She was fine on wooden or heavy tiled floors, but not on anything overly smooth.

I pitied her nervously dancing in doorways and bought some neutral washable runners that she could use as Islands to jump between. It worked perfectly and, because it was only in the hallway, actually enhanced the look of the whole area anyway.