Help! My Dog is a Afraid of My House! (Vet Answered)
This question has been answered by a vet
Veterinarian & Animal Behaviorist
With nearly two decades in veterinary medicine, Dr. Paola brings hands-on experience across multiple species. A graduate of the University of Guadalajara, she specializes in preventive care, animal welfare, and positive reinforcement training.
The Question
“We had a repairman at our house yesterday and since then our dog is afraid to walk through rooms where the man was. My husband was there the whole time and Arlo was not on the rooms with the man. The area where the man worked were closed off to the dog so there was no contact.” – Michelle
Quick Info about Arlo
Hi Michelle,
This is unusual unless Arlo is not used to seeing unknown visitors in your house. One possibility is that Arlo was afraid of loud or unusual noises from hammers or machinery used in the repairs. Arlo might also be reacting to specific scents used in different chemicals such as glues, oils, or paint. You did not mention Arlo’s history but there might be a negative association with these smells and since dogs rely on their sense of smell to navigate the world, scents can trigger fear responses.
Regardless of it, the best advice is to give him some time, and hopefully, this will pass. You will then need to try to figure out the exact trigger and start actively desensitizing Arlo so he can learn that novel stimuli (people, noises, scents, etc) are nothing to be afraid of. If the repair man is to ever return, take this as an opportunity and get him to offer Arlo a couple of treats while entering your home. You can also anticipate days with new visitors and use some calming techniques beforehand.
Best wishes!
Dr. Paola