Lucas is my 5 year old American lab. He just started to be afraid to walk on the trail where we always walk every day. He runs for the exit and crouches down his body and runs ahead of me. I thought maybe its all of the noises in the woods. He does not like fireworks or motorcycles noises either. C
Maybe something has spooked him. Could you change you walk a bit, walk a different way, introduce a new toys or some amazing treats to try and make it a positive experience again for him ?
Our previous Lab, Cooper, became spooked by a power gate in our HOA. She did not want to go past it leaving our HOA, though she would come back in. This went on for over a year. We worked on it, primarily by throwing tennis balls down the road through the gate. She was really ball driven. She eventually got used to going through the gate and everything went back to normal. in her case it seemed that getting used to it without being forced was the answer.
Have you tried observing Lucas's behavior closely to see if there are specific triggers causing his anxiety on the trail? Understanding what sets off his fear can help in finding solutions to ease his discomfort.
