Meet Sam the agoraphobic dog too scared to go outdoors

Its one word guaranteed to have almost any dog scrambling to the front door in a bundle of excitement. But for Sam the German shepherd cross just the merest mention of "walkies" is enough to have him scurrying in the other direction. The 12-year-old suffers from agoraphobia and is terrified of venturing outdoors. For him, the idea of splashing around in a muddy puddle in the middle of a raid-sodden field is a nightmare. Any attempt to take him out into the great unknown will see him dig his paws into the ground and arch his back in a bid to remain within the safety of his home. Mystery surrounds why Sam has developed a fear of the outside but one theory is that he spent too much time confined in a small area when he was puppy.