Considering Your Dog’s Fear From a Behavioral Standpoint
Now, why did your dog suddenly become scared of walking on a slippery floor? These dogs appear to dislike in particular walking on tiles, linoleum, or other slippery surfaces. One important consideration to keep in mind is the dogs age. Indeed, dogs go through a second fear period taking place when the dog is between six to 14 months. According to Sue S. Gelais:
Of course, other potential causes of sudden fearfulness of slippery surfaces are most likely negative experiences, such as slipping on them and getting hurt. You may not visibly notice any signs of injuries, but the dog (being quite stoic by nature) may hide the pain for some time. But most of the time, more than pain, the dog is simply shocked by experiencing sudden poor footing; this is most likely seen in weaker-nerved specimens that are easy to startle.
To a dog, a slippery surface is difficult to understand. The dog may not understand precisely what is happening, and he will feel as if the floor itself is moving under him and he has little choice in stopping it from moving. They may feel like they are walking on a treadmill. This can be a frightening experience to a dog, and it can be similar to what a person experiences when walking over a street covered in ice, explains dog trainer Kevin Behan. The only way to make peace with the floor is by negotiating with it, simply by finding the right act of balance and careful footing to make peace with the floor.
These dogs may be helped out with a good program focusing on desensitization and classical conditioning. That is making the dog face his fears gradually and by associating the slippery floor with good things.
When a dog’s afraid of hardwood floors: a common and heartbreaking scenario
When a dog is afraid of hardwood floors it means the dog is afraid to traverse some areas of the home. He often isolates himself to a throw rug, area rug, or a bed in the house. This is distressing for the dog because canines are pack animals. Your dog doesn’t want to be isolated. But he is physically unable to safely join the family fun if it is occurring in a room with slick floors. In addition to the physical impact of slipping, it takes an emotional toll on both the dog and his people.
I remember having a conversation with another veterinarian about this years ago. My argument: when a dog is afraid of hardwood floors in the home it impacts his or her confidence. At the time, there was such an emphasis on physical well-being that emotional words like “confidence” sounded out of place in a discussion about dog health. My colleague, an excellent practitioner, retorted that my concern about “confidence” was frivolous, almost anthropomorphic.
But it’s not. Confidence and fear are opposites. Both are obvious in the posture and body language of dogs. And I’m convinced that lack of confidence impacts quality of life.
How do I get my dog to walk on hardwood floors?
Use a non-slip surface to introduce your dog to a slippery tile or wood floor. You can place small mats that will not slip and slide under your dog’s paws on the floor in various places so your dog can use them as stepping stones to walk across the floor.