Hi, All. Have a very strange situation. My Jack Russell Terrier, 7 years old, has become terrified of his leash suddenly. He has been comfortably leash-trained for 7 years with absolutely no problems. Nothing traumatic has happened to him, he is very, very well socialized, goes to the dog beach daily & the dog playground daily so I know it is nothing odd in his normal day. Last week, he started shying away from me while on the leash -- after 2 or 3 times, I thought he was afraid of my shadow! Friday, I put the leash on him, which he will still come to me to have done, and the cord of the leash dropped onto his back -- he squealed and ran as far as the leash allowed and cowered. He was totally shaken up and it was only my determination to make him walk that got us through it. He appears to be afraid of the "handle" -- where I hold the leash. If I keep this out of his sightline, he does somewhat better, but only if he is in front or behind me, not on heel. If I try to bring to heel, even hiding the leash handle, he balks and will fight to stay behind or in front. What could possibly cause this?? I have wracked my brain trying to figure this one out! I tried a non-retractable leash in case it was the sound of the leash retracting -- no difference. I tried putting him on his tie-out in the yard -- same thing -- he will cower as far from the beginning of the tie-out as possible. Has anyone had this experience?? What can be done?

Are you the only one in the home? Do you have kids? This may or may not be the answer, but i've seen situations where people have animals and another family member/friend of the family comes and abuses the dog behind said owners back. If someone got frustrated with the dog and lashed him a good one (or repeatedly) that could be his problem, the leash is no longer a good thing but a negative energy. I've seen several people confess after many months of questioning, it's not uncommon. If this is the case, i'm sorry! If not, i'm clueless.

Actually, I have a grandson who was with me last weekend but he and the dog have a great time together and he is extremely gentle and caring. Plus, even at that, they were never together out of my sight, so I know he has not been hit. My first thought is he was acting like he had been beaten!! He has not -- is a very pampered and loved pet and, oddly, he'll come running and allow me to put the leash on. Yesterday, I took him for his daily walk to the dog park and dog beach. He did fine on the way there, played in the park, swam at the beach, came straight to me to be leashed to go home and then, within a block (nothing happened then, either), he freaked out and cowered. I tried the trick of keeping the leash taut and pulling slightly while not looking back. He resisted with all his might (all 12 pounds of it). Finally gave in and walked sideways (is on a harness so leash is actually mid-stomach and slid to the side) for 6 blocks, dragging his feet and resisting the entire way. I didn't give in to him nor did I react -- just kept forcing him to come along, even in his uncomfortable position. I paused at end of each block to allow him to correct himself but he would not -- would simply lie down until I pulled enough to force him back into his sideways walk.

This is really, really bizarre. I will say that he is fairly near-sighted and doesn't see well close up. He does react sharply to items being moved in the house (I tend to put this to us being the only 2 in the house and he doesn't adapt to change). However, this leash issue has simply arisen after 7 years. Never, ever a problem before. My grandson has grown up with him and we have never had problems -- they are best friends and play well together.

After yesterday, I am about ready to get doggie Prozac for him! He is totally shaken up and upset but, once I remove the leash, he relaxes and is his normal self. I even made him keep the leash attached to his collar and walk around the house with it on -- this didn't seem to bother him.

You ought to take him to the vet for a check-up, and maybe some tests, see what the vet says. Perhaps something medically wrong-- a disease, or a tumor-- could be causing him to "flip out." That happens to humans sometimes, why not dogs?

I agree, a trip to the vet is in order. Anytime a dog suddenly changes his behavior, there could be a medical reason. Perhaps his sight is getting worse, or there could be other medical problems that are at the root of his behavior.

A friend noted the eyesight issue, too. I had jokingly started calling him Mr. Magoo as he squints so much and had told her about that some weeks ago. She remarked this morning that it may be his sight as the problem. Made an appointment for the vet -- whatever it is, we need to address it. Yesterday, I tried again and watched him very carefully to see exactly when he freaked out. Nothing, absolutely nothing, different happened. That's what makes me think his sight may be the issue. He has always freaked out when I moved things around in the house and I blamed that on his poor vision so maybe that is it. I have had this fella since he was 6 weeks old and know for an absolute certainty that he has never been abused, hit, or even spanked. He is a well mannered dog and very friendly and loving. This is so stressful to him, too. I felt so bad yesterday that, instead of forcing him to stumble sideways home on the leash, I carried him. When I got home, I left the leash on so he would carry it around with him and see it. This didn't bother him at all. Anyway, thanks !! I'll get him to the vet and report what they find -- sure is an oddddddd behavior, isn't it?

[wishbone]

My cousin's lab been on that, he was diagnosed for eyesight issue. Her dog was given few medicines to take and soon he settled down. Make a vet appointment for your buddy, please give us some update too. Good luck.