Recently, like the past month or so, Tucker has been hesitating to come back in the house after being let out to pee or play in backyard.
To best of our knowlege, he hasn't been "struck" by the door, had it closed in his face or anything traumatic that would've made him scared of the door. The first thing we thought of was that because we would let him out for one last pee before kenneling him for the night, he began to think "if I come back in house, i have to go to bed"....so we changed his routine, do his last pee out at 9pm, then are still up for 2 hours hanging with him before he has to go to bed.
It seemed to work for a bit, but now Tucker is right back to hesitating. It is getting really frustrating as he'll bark to come inside, be standing RIGHT by the door, peering in the window, and we'll open it for him...and he'll back up, and just stand there, looking at us. And won't move.
We have lured him in with food, but we don't want that to become a habit, that he only comes in when offered cheese ro whatever...
Any ideas why he's hesitating? Or how to put it to an end?
Thanks.