The dog is afraid of the elevator: what to do?

When you are dealing with a puppy, it is important not to miss the socialization period. This is a good time to introduce him to the different things that your pet will have to deal with in the future. Including an elevator. And if everything went well, there are no problems. But what if the socialization period is missed, and the dog is afraid of the elevator?

First of all, what not to do. No need to panic yourself, drag the dog into the elevator by force or force things. Be patient, gain calmness and confidence and give your four-legged friend time to adapt.

One of the methods for training a dog to use an elevator is desensitization. This means that you gradually desensitize the dog to that stimulus. The essence of the method is in a phased approach to the elevator. At first, you keep at a distance where the dog is already aware of the proximity of the elevator, but has not yet reacted to it. You praise the dog, treat it. Once the dog can comfortably stay within that distance, you move one step closer. Praise again, treat, wait for calm. And so on. Then enter the elevator and immediately exit it. It is very important at this stage that the doors do not begin to close suddenly and do not frighten the dog. Then you go in, the door closes, immediately opens, and you go out. Then you go one floor. Then two. And so on.

It is very important that the dog remains calm at every stage. If the pet panicked, then you were in too much of a hurry – go back to the previous stage and work it out.

You can play with the dog next to the elevator (if he can do this), and then in the elevator – entering and leaving immediately, driving some distance and so on.

If your dog has a calm and fearless canine friend, you can try to follow his example. Let the dogs chat near the elevator, then go into the elevator together. But be careful: there are dogs whose territorial aggression is stronger than friendship. Make sure this is not the case first. Otherwise, the fear of the elevator will be superimposed on the negative experience, and you will have to deal with it for a very long time.

Another method is to use a target. You teach your dog to touch your hand with his nose. Then you do this exercise near the elevator, encouraging the dog to touch his nose to the hand pressed against the closed elevator door. Then – to the hand, which is inside the open elevator. Then – to the hand pressed against the back wall of the elevator. And so on in increasing difficulty.

You can use shaping, reinforcing all the actions of the dog associated with the elevator.

Do not forget, please, that it is worth moving gradually, taking into account the readiness of the dog to move on to the next stage. You take the next step only when the dog calmly reacts to the previous step.

And it is very important not to be nervous yourself. You can use breathing techniques and other ways to calm down. Remember: if you are nervous, the dog will be even more anxious.

If your dog can’t handle the fear of elevators on your own, you can always seek help from a specialist who works with humane methods.