timid cocker

Question
We have a beautiful black cocker bitch of 7 months, we got her when she was eight weeks old. At first she was very bold and playful but recently she has become scared of any noise in the house or garden and literally walks close to the wall when walking in the house, sitting as close as possible to us at all times. It started with the sound of the window cleaner they clean the front and back at the same time and she shook with fear the first time she saw them, but soon recovered. Now for days afterwards she is scared and hides at anything that sounds like ladders been put up. Outside the house she is fine loves all dogs and people. We try to ignore her when she is scared but it breaks our hearts to see her peering at the windows in fear all day long. Any help would really be appreciated

Answer
Here's what I'd like you to do first, Jayne.  The next time she seems fearful, put her short leather leash on her - attach it to you (belt loop or whatever) - and where you go, she goes.
No Chat.  No soothing.  Just do what you're doing.  The most you should say is "let's go" if she's dawdling :)

And also - at this age they go through phases and just as you've read up, asked for advice, etc. and think just maybe you've found a solution - they're over it !

But the leash is a powerful tool.  Anxious dogs are calmed and oddly, aggressive dogs get more submissive.

It's quite interesting (and good) that she's fine with dogs & people outside and I'm suspecting this might be fear of "what she can't see".  It also might be an idea to put her leash on and walk her all around the outside of the house.  Let her "investigate" and then bring her in and see what happens.
Delores

So try that...let me know her reaction and we'll proceed from there.