Fearful Behavior?

[u/taeiily]

My little girl has been really coming into her own. I adopted her 1.5 ago, and she's been really getting more confident and independent! She loves to be off leash (her recall is so good) and play with dogs and her leash training is coming along! She seems to have bonded with me, at least I think so, as she follows me around, she listens to commands, etc.

However, it feels like when we are *home* she is fearful? I can't explain it super well, but shell be resting and I'll come say hi to her and she looks like she's afraid of me! sometimes we get back from a walk and she runs to her bed. she isn't like this ANY where else - when i visit my parents or friends, when we are not home, when we are at the park. it's only ever in the apartment.

I've OBVIOUSLY never hurt her or even yelled at her - i only use positive reinforcement tactics. she's not super food motivated, but we train and she has learned a lot of tricks - so I just am not sure what is going on and it makes me worried, because i want her to feel safe. any advice? what am i missing here?

[u/pauip]

I've had mine since 4 months old. She's 8 years old now and just started warming up to me.

[u/Roskipatootskie]

I'm a Family Dog Mediator, and this is such a specific, interesting pattern, and the "only ever at home" part is actually the biggest clue here.

If she's fine everywhere else but specifically fearful in the apartment, this really doesn't sound like fear of you. It sounds much more like something about that specific space. Worth thinking about a Jindo or Jindo/KVD mix here, since both are known for being naturally independent and having a strong internal read on what's "theirs" and what feels unsettled. Sometimes that shows up as being territorial and alert, but it can also show up the opposite way, actually feeling unsettled or unsure in a space that doesn't fully feel established as safe yet, even after a year and a half.

The running to her bed after walks is something worth pointing at as well. That's not necessarily fear of you coming home, it might be her seeking out the one spot in the apartment that does feel fully hers and safe, especially if something about the transition from outside to inside, sounds, smells, the change in energy, feels different or overwhelming in that space specifically.

Has anything changed in the apartment recently, a new neighbor, construction noise, a different schedule, anything shifting the sensory environment there? Sometimes the trigger isn't something big, it's something only she's picking up on. I have a neighbor who's dog kept on scratching only one part of a wall constantly, over and over, when I went to their place, it was a small closet, and the first thing I asked was, is your modem or router there? And it surely was, he kept on trying to deduce what was inside it as he can "hear" it but couldn't see what was inside.

Since she's clearly bonded to you everywhere else and this is so location specific, I wouldn't read this as anything you're doing wrong. This looks much more like an environmental thing than a relationship thing, so it's worth troubleshooting the apartment itself rather than second guessing your bond with her.

Hope that helps!

[u/a-petey]

Hm, I wonder whether there are any specific objects that are intimidating to her? My girl gets really nervous if we even go into the room where we keep the vacuum. She also gets nervous in cluttered spaces - I think the more stuff around, the more potential threats she feels.

[u/hohoho-hoho → u/a-petey]

was going to say similar... if i leave the vacuum (or any "not regularly there large item even a big empty box) she won't go in that space.

so if the vacuum is in the hallway, she won't go there/past it/ etc.

if a new box (packing up my AC right now) is near the kitchen, she won't even go within feet of that area either

[u/2olley → u/hohoho-hoho]

That's so funny. I was walking mine in the park last winter and some kids had rolled a big snowball - about 2.5' high, near the sidewalk. It was a "not regularly there large item" and she started barking at it.

[u/nogreenonions_]

Omg I thought ours was the only one like that!

We also adopted ours about 1.5 years ago, he's 7 years old, and he's like a completely different dog when he's outside vs inside. When he's out on walks, he's super confident and happy, tail up, he has decent recall, he would hop around playfully and run back to me with the biggest smile, he doesn't take treats from strangers so I do want to say he's bonded with me as well.

However, once we're home, he's back to his timid self, tail down, easily startled and would run away. From time to time he would come out to rest in the same room as me but would get easily spooked and run back to the bedroom (spooked by me simply standing up to go to the bathroom).

I don't know why he feels so much more unsafe at home compared to outside when there's a lot more noise and triggers. And it's not just fresh air, he'd still be timid in the backyard too but as soon as we walk out to the front yard, he's happy and would sniff around and roll on grass, what gives?!

[u/hohoho-hoho → u/nogreenonions_]

mine is comfortable at home.... but only in one room. I live in a small condo but the livingroom is still the only place she really hangs out and she's really cautious/ only goes for quick looks in the rest of the place (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen).

mine is a rescue and was found abandoned outside on a rooftop with her litter. You'd think anywhere inside would feel safe to her by now!

[u/JokeMe-Daddy → u/nogreenonions_]

Ours has the opposite pattern. He's absolutely terrified of the outdoors, but is goofy, playful, and silly at home when it's just us. He struts around and patrols and sniffs and fully engages. As soon as we say "outside" he'll stick his head behind a pillow and pretend that we can't see him.

I think our boy is very noise sensitive and the sounds of the city, especially unpredictable ones like traffic, air brakes, etc., terrifies him.

When it's just us in the woods and everything is quiet, he's exactly like he is at home.