For some reason our kitchen floor has become more slick. I'm not sure if it is because I changed my floor wash product to just steam instead of chemicals or if I'm not cleaning it as much as I used to but it has a slippery factor. Not bad for my husband and I but little Mookie (Wrigley's nickname) has a hard time getting his balance.
I first noticed he had a hard time going around our kitchen table to make it to the back door. If he was going any faster than a slow pace he wouldn't be able to get good gripping. Not a horrible thing, he just needs to learn to slow down. Then I noticed that when we throw toys to the kitchen for him to retrieve he would not go to get them. Now I know if your a Shiba owner that seems normal but Wrigley actually loves to retrieve his toys. Since we got him we have thrown things in the kitchen to have him run like a manic to get them. Not anymore though, he just looks at it all sad and goes to find something else on the carpeted area.
The thing that has made the slippery floor difficult is that one time when Wrigley was eating in the kitchen Husband scared him accidentally and he went all crazy trying to move fast but ended up slipping and sliding on the floor. So for the next day he would not go over to his food area. I didn't put it together until I remembered how weird Shibas are and something like that could actually have really bothered him. I moved the bowls over to an area where he could stand on a rug and sure enough he went right over and ate.
These dogs are so sensitive! I forget how if he has one bad experience it really makes him nervous to try it again or to venture out. Like one time when he was playing with his Bob-a-Lot (food dispensing toy) he kinda choked on a piece of food and now he wont play with that toy any more. I have tried multiple times and he still cowers when I bring it out. Moral of the story don't scare your Shiba while they are eating on a slippery floor or you will have to find a new spot for the dishes.
