[SiÐ]

Hello, I have had a bitch for a year now, she’s two years old, spayed. She is afraid of tall objects in the city, especially when it’s sunny, like really sunny. I’m assuming it’s the way the sun hits the object or the object’s casting big shadow that scares her. I haven’t noticed this behaviour previously it almost came out of the blue.
I think she wasn’t socialised in the city much as a puppy, but that hasn’t caused me any of the weirdness for the last year as it causes now. She is scared of billboards, some tall fences and it’s starting to transfer to random trees and vans. She has good obedience so I just make her heel and walk past the object, or if it’s a billboard I will walk her back and forth until she walks adequately. I don’t know what to do about it. Should I keep exposing her as I already do and hope for the best?

 

[Maddie]

Id get her eyes checked. If all was well, try to desensitize by gradual exposure and maybe try rescue remedy as a next step.

it’s not uncommon for dogs to be disturbed by differences in perception in light and shade.

 

[SiÐ]

Yeah I thought about eye problems even read about brain tumours, her pupils seem fine, no photophobia as well, and she doesn’t freak out in the field, or other such open spaces, only tall objects.
Thanks, I’ll look into it.

 

[Maddie]

Where I Train there’s a lot of deep shadow at certain times of the day, many dogs don’t like moving from deep shade in to sunlight.

 

[JohnW]

Where I Train there’s a lot of deep shadow at certain times of the day, many dogs don’t like moving from deep shade in to sunlight.

Or the other way. When instructing a puppy working gundog class I often did a simple marked retrieve from bright sun into the edge of a thick wood, and often had pups needing encouragement to enter the wood. My object was to demonstrate to the handlers what they needed to work on.

But getting to the case in hand, There are no visible signs with some eye problems such as PRA. It would need an expert to diagnose. Dont make a big thing out of it. Treat it as if it is unimportant. Exude confidence.

 

[SiÐ]

Or the other way. When instructing a puppy working gundog class I often did a simple marked retrieve from bright sun into the edge of a thick wood, and often had pups needing encouragement to enter the wood. My object was to demonstrate to the handlers what they needed to work on.

Should I try this training method when the dog is more comfortable around the object to boost her confidence maybe?