Afraid of the basement

All of the sudden Shammy is afraid to go down the basement. At first he was afraid of the stairs but we got him to go down and up them and he was fine with it. He would run down with us when we were doing laundry, checking the boiler etc. But now all of the sudden he refused to go down. Its like he is scared. He will stretch his neck around the banister to see us but thats it. He will go up and down the stairs going to the 2nd floor and in and out of the house so its not like he is afraid of stairs. We think its the basement. We thought maybe he got hurt down there but he hasnt never gone down without us (we keep the door closed) and we would have known if something happened. We cant figure out whats wrong.

Re: Afraid of the basement

My parents dog is the same way. He will NOT go down the basement stairs. It's even a battle sometimes to get him up and down the 2nd story stairs, but the basement? Forget about it. It was the same with her other collie though, too. We always thought it might've had something to do with the breed and the way their eyes are placed since they are almost on the sides of their head rather than facing front. It could make it scary to go down narrow stairs.

Re: Afraid of the basement

Jill- the thing is he used to go down then all of the sudden he seems afraid to and he has not problem going upstairs to the bedroom. I think what I am going to do is carry him down and see if he stays down there. If he runs back up I know its the basement, if he stays down there we know its the stairs.

Re: Afraid of the basement

My dog has been doing this as well. We never had an issue, ever with stairs, and now, he won't do it. How old is your dog?? I'm afraid my dog won't do it b/c he is older now and has a lump near his back leg and is not comfortable doing so.

Re: Afraid of the basement