Thanks, everybody!
As a puppy Monty was afraid of the fireplace because of the glass front and the mirrored image of the dog that he'd see when he approached it. Then I turned on the flame one time to remove the mirroring and he freaked out and since then has hid when we had the flame on. However that was all. Otherwise he was fine.
However, a few days ago we fiddled with the fireplace during the day and then in the evening there was the noise of the snow hitting the chimney and the occasional boomish noise from the furnace turning on which echoed a bit in the chimney. I suspect that did it.
Anyway I've been busy with treats and lots of praise today. Luckily too the younger dog has decided his older brother is being silly and has begun to spend time with us again (for a day or so he stayed away with the older dog) so we're no longer entirely dogless. I think it helps having the other dog now behaving calmly as if nothing is wrong (he's even actively trying to get his older brother to play with him in the family room).
I'm also using the dog gates to keep the two dogs with me in the family room in the evening. There's room for the older pup to "escape" into an area where his bed is so he isn't trapped. Tonight he even emerged a bit to get treats and work on tricks a bit and even played a bit by the edge of the room. Later in the evening he even jumped up on the couch before he seemed to recall -- "Oh, I'm supposed to be afraid and have to go".
Fingers-crossed that the improvement continues. I miss his company!
Linda |