[emeraldecho]

there is one detail i did forget to add however, and i have noticed him doing it after the 'incident' - he is going into openings/walkways leading to house doors quite a bit, like checking everyone, 'visually' appearing as if he is checking 'is this my home - nope'.. that is definitely a new behavior.. he has ALWAYS randomly checked driveways/walkways of course, and even has his few where he goes in a few extra feet - but this is visibly different, it isn't about sniffing the smells, it's like he's checking each house.

This sounds a bit like confusion. The basis of which could be either mental (looking for familiarity, similar to what some dementia patients do), or physical (perhaps he's losing sight or smell). Either way, I'd direct the question to a vet.

 

[emeraldecho]

Agreed, it sounds like noise is the trigger. I might ask the vet about hyperacusis (a.k.a. noise sensitivity). They may be able to test the hearing or rule out some of the known causes (such as head injuries, viral infections, TMJ disorders, Lyme disease, and diabetes).

 

[emeraldecho]

i mean these noises occur around our house as well, when out in the backyard they don't affect him. BUT, yes this is a safe zone so to speak

I've got some experience with noise sensitivity myself, and it's been my experience that familiarity with the environment can make a lot of difference. With noise sensitivity, it often feels like it takes extraordinary effort just to mentally process normal sounds. In a familiar environment, most noises are a recognized part of the background, so that processing can be focused on anything new or unusual. Being in an unfamiliar environment means that every sound is 'new or unusual', so it's much easier to get overwhelmed.