Our 9 month old dog has suddenly developed a fear of going into our kitchen. He was fine until he slipped once when running too fast. No he won’t step foot on kitchen tiles or any hard flooring. Will only walk on carpet. No amount of treats or bribery works.

It’s now getting to point where we are having to carry him to get outside for toilet as he just sits there crying and barking.

We have tried treats, ignoring and even put carpet runners down providing a clear walkway to his food and back door. Still won’t step foot on it.

Any suggestions?

Your dog needs exactly what you and I need when tackling any fear which is time and no pressure.

You will need to continue to carry him for now because bathroom breaks cannot wait.

BUT.. every day, pay close attention to ANY moment where he, all on his shown, shows any kind of interest in the kitchen whatsoever and reward by tossing the reward away. It could be something as simple as looking its way, or sniffing the kitchen air, or standing a little closer to it than the time before.

Don’t bribe. I couldn’t pay you enough to get you to jump out of a plane if that’s an actual fear of yours.. and that’s probably how your dog feels.

But if all you felt you could do was to sit inside a plane and stepped in for a moment, you wouldn’t mind if I rewarded you for that. That would then be a reinforcer, not a bribe. This is very important! ☝🏼

Cultivate and nurture curiosity and will and you’ll see your dog will do the rest. But it has to be on your dog’s own time and pace. 😊

Praise and reward any and all progress. And the more your dog tries, the more you reward with food and with space.

It’s key that you toss the treat away from the kitchen after you see him showing interest, so that your dog really seed that there is no pressure and gets to choose to come back again, for another go. 🙂