I'm watching my friend's 2-year-old big tough German shepherd for a week while she's visiting relatives back in Finland.
The dog knows me very well and obeys me on almost everything. :) He's tough-looking, but in reality, he's as sweet and warm as my cat.
Anyway... there's something wrong with him. I dropped my friend off at the airport the other day and drove back to my apartment. The dog has never been there before. He was beyond frightened when I tried to lead him up the stairs to my 3rd floor apartment. He simply froze and started howling like I was about to murder him or something... also made very sad, pathetic dog sounds. I picked him up and held him like a baby... then I walk up the stairs like that. (good exercise, I guess)
It's the same story going down the stairs... no go. I called my friend and she said the dog had never behaved like that before... although the dog also never had any experience with stairs. (my friend's house is a single-story 3-bedroom house with no basement)
I tried luring him up the stairs with his favourite treats and that didn't work. When he is inside my apartment, he's totally fine.. playing like a regular young dog. Also played with my cat like they are best friends.
Does anybody have any clue as to why he's afraid of stairs? :(
Thanks!
