A dog’s unusual fear of doorways and the creative workaround he invented to deal with it has taken the internet by storm. His owner, Vanessa Thedford, posted a clip on TikTok that left viewers equal parts baffled and charmed, racking up more than half a million views. The dog in question is an Australian shepherd and border collie mix, and his approach to crossing a threshold is anything but ordinary. Rather than simply walking through a door like most dogs would, he has developed a system entirely his own.
In the footage, the dog approaches the doorway, then abruptly turns around. He proceeds to carefully back across the threshold, occasionally pausing to sniff and assess his surroundings, inching his way through until he is safely on the other side. As Thedford described it in the video caption, “Our dog is scared of doors and has come up with his own solution instead of directly facing his fear.” The comment section erupted with people trying to figure out what could have possibly triggered such an unusual behavior in the first place.
Viewers offered all kinds of theories, with one writing, “I really don’t understand how he even started being afraid of doors?” Another speculated, “I wonder if someone slammed a door in his face or something like that.” A third user offered a different take, suggesting, “Maybe he ran into a glass door because he couldn’t see it. That was the first thing that came to mind.” Each theory reflected a genuine curiosity about the psychological origin of such a specific and deeply ingrained fear response.
@vanessa.thedford Not really “facing” his fears, but he’s trying #aussiesdoingthings #bordercolliesoftiktok ♬ original sound – Vanessa🧡✨
Some commenters drew from their own pet experiences to shed light on the mystery. One person wrote that they had seen the same issue before, explaining that a dog they knew had slipped on a hardwood floor and then started backing into the bedroom as a result, and that the problem was resolved by placing a rug down. This particular detail caught Thedford’s attention, and she responded thoughtfully, writing, “That could be the issue with our dog too. I tried putting a rug over the threshold at one point which kind of helped, but he was still very hesitant. I’ll try again though!” It seems the flooring theory may hold at least part of the answer.
While a fear of doors might seem like an oddly specific phobia, anxiety in dogs is actually quite widespread. According to a 2018 Statista report cited by Newsweek, around 40 percent of dogs are most commonly afraid of fireworks. Roughly 28 percent show fear of vacuum cleaners, loud noises, and vet visits, while only about 18 percent of dog owners reported that their pets have no fears at all. These numbers suggest that anxious behavior in dogs is far more common than many pet owners might assume, even if the specific triggers can vary wildly from one animal to the next.
Dog anxiety is a well-documented behavioral issue in veterinary science, often rooted in past negative experiences, lack of socialization during puppyhood, or genetic predisposition. Border collies and Australian shepherds, like the dog in Thedford’s video, are both highly intelligent and sensitive breeds that are known for being more reactive to environmental stimuli than many other dogs. Their sharp minds, which make them excellent working and herding dogs, can also make them more prone to developing specific fears or fixations. Interestingly, these breeds are also highly trainable, which means that with patience and positive reinforcement, many of their anxiety-based behaviors can be gradually reduced or managed over time. Desensitization techniques, which involve slowly and repeatedly exposing a dog to the source of their fear in a controlled and positive way, are among the most commonly recommended approaches by animal behaviorists and veterinarians.
If your dog has a quirky fear or an unusual way of coping with everyday situations, share your story in the comments.
