this is not necessarily a behavior "problem", but I'm STUMPED. My almost 6 year old mutt has recently started to act nervous/submissive when going out and it seems to have gotten worse over the winter.
He spent his first 5 years in NYC so he has been exposed to every scary noise, smell, and sight you can imagine. he's great on a leash. we moved to the suburbs last March and has adjusted fine. we live on a one way street in a quiet neighborhood.
Towards the end of last year every once in a while when I would take him to pee in the morning (no fenced in yard so he is still walked) he would walk around like he's nervous and give me these nervous looks. it would take him a while to pee as he'd be walking submissively with his ears drawn back and back slinked. I would even try to not make eye contact with him because that would make him stop in his tracks. there have been a couple times Ive brought him back inside because he won't even walk. as soon as we're inside he's fine again.
Skip to the (first) snow storm NJ had last month and he loves snow, but I saw an uptick of this behavior. it's not even like he seems scared of something in particular, he just turns completely nervous and submissive. I try to get him to play and be upbeat but he quickly regresses to this submissive behavior. But I can take him out an hour later and he's skipping about happy as can be like nothing was ever wrong. he wears booties in winter which he has worn since he was a puppy so it isn't the salt or cold. I'm the only one who walks him so it isn't about him having a negative experience I'm not aware of. I tried bringing treats but he's the least food motivated dog on the planet and it didn't help.
Would love any insight!
submitted by /u/Creepy_Surprise_4893
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