Dogs can sometimes be afflicted with certain crippling fears. Such fears may be caused by something as simple as everyday noises. To certain dogs, such noises can trigger traumatic experiences and affect their ability to function.
Amos is an extremely anxious dog. He often becomes very uncomfortable whenever he hears loud noises. A frequent source of this is a laundry room door inside the house that never stays shut and often bangs loudly. Due to such a predicament, he prefers to stay inside his owner’s room throughout the day.
Melissa, the owner, did her best to train Amos to overcome his fear. Her goal was to make him confident enough to walk in the corridors despite the occasional noise from the door. To achieve such a result, she enticed him with dog treats.
Melissa placed several plates outside her room, forming a line leading towards the living room. Every time Amos would take a step towards a plate, she would give him treats. This continued until the dog was able to walk outside the room on his own.
As Amos became more confident, he developed an interesting habit. As a way of conquering his fear, he clutched a pillow in his mouth while coming out of Melissa’s room. This continued for days until it became a permanent part of the dog’s daily routine.
Some dog trainers might have frowned upon Amos’s new habit. Melissa, on the other hand, never had an issue with it. She believes that the habit of stealing pillows was a good price to pay for the dog’s newfound confidence.
Melissa would never get in the way of Amos in his most happy state. She recognizes that it’s natural for a dog to do silly things. In fact, the dog’s silliness taught Melissa how to become more appreciative of the small things in life.
Source: The Dodo via YouTube.
