Please help!

[alice]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any advice about fearful dogs. My dog is terrified of thunder, fireworks, even rain! There was a storm yesterday and she's still nervous today, I've been trying flower remedies but it doesn't have any major effect, she's worse if I don't give it to her but she's still a nervous wreck. She's refused to go outside the last two days and just follows me everywhere looking scared, I've also tried t-touch but it's just not working. I feel as if I'm losing my mind!

 

[Fran27]

I'm no expert, but I think you just need to try to help her overcome her fears. Make sure you act as if it's no big deal. Go under the rain where she can see you etc. How old is the dog? I think they get used to it after a while.

 

[bridey_01]

Your dog may simple be going through a fear period, how old is she? Nearly all dogs are terrified of fireworks, thats completely normal. If your dog is scared of thunderstorms, go out and buy a nature track with thunder in it (some are specially made to fix this problem) and play it very softly when you feed her. Gradually increase the volume over weeks. If there is a rainstorm in that time, chuck a doggy party. Get out heaps of treats, toys and play for the duration of the storm. Make rainy days great fun for her.

 

[furby]

I have always heard that it is very important NOT to make a big deal of your dog when they are frightened of something. If you try to console them then you are reinforsing this behaviour. By stroking your dog you are basically telling them that they should be frightened. Even though it seems cruel try ignoring her and carrying on as though there is nothing to be worried about and hopefully she will follow suit-might take a little time Good Luck

 

[bridey_01]

Coddling and behaviour modification are two different things. We are not being concerned with operant conditioning, here we are using classical conditioning to pair storms with food. If you were to continously treat a dog for fear responses to a real storm, that would be reinforcing the fear. That is why I recommended getting the tape and playing it at a low setting, reinforcing calm, normal behaviour.
This technique has never failed to work for me, ignoring the dog is less than likely to acheive any results.

 

[Angelique]

I have a different "take" on whether to comfort or ignore a frightened dog. I look at comforting with looking at the dog the moment it reacts, then petting them using a high pitched voice, as making US appear nervous. I know this is a little weird, but it just makes sense to me, from the point of view of the dog. So, I always act unafraid and calm when the dog is scared.

Yes, and focusing on fun and treats with a storm tape playing to desensitize them to the sound, while at the same time getting them to associate "good stuff" with the noise, is a very good idea.

 

[Doberluv]

I've never had a dog afraid of thunder since I was a kid. Of course, my parents and we kids probably made a huge fuss over the dog's natural nervousness over the thunder and it just got worse because the dogs saw us acting so melodramatic and "oh-h-h-h...you pooooor babies." I don't know. I'm sure some are more afraid than others anyhow. But they would be put down in the basement in the laundry room where it was dark and quiet so they wouldn't hear it as much. There was no window and it was partially underground. It helped a little.

But as an adult, I've always made a reaction to the thunder (when the dog looks a little alarmed) as "woooooo hoooooo! Hey! That's cool! Let's play." Really, I do act like a fool. I get out a few treats and a toy and start jumping around like this is a great time to play. We've got a cloudy day, complete with thunder. LOL. None of my dogs ever are worried about it or fireworks. I don't know for sure if it's what I've done or if they just happen to be dogs who aren't gun shy. LOL. But they started out looking at me bit questioningly and somewhat alarmed and then when I'd start acting like a fool, they looked like, "Oh, hmmm....she's not worried. She's actually enjoying this. Well.....OK then."

But all that is starting when they're very young. So, once your dogs are this afraid, I don't know that that would be the best way in your case. I'd work up to it though. I think the others have the better idea in desensatizing with tapes and so forth. I don't see anything wrong with comforting them a little as long as you're not making too big a fuss or making it out to be like a reward. You could find a dark room in the house to just sit with them for a little while....make them feel a little more secure by your quiet presence. But do act like it's not a big deal. And the treats in this case could be construed as reward for that feeling they have and would make them learn more that helpless feeling.

I used to get tranquilizers for my horses for fireworks. They didn't mind thunder but they would seriously have hurt themselves the way they got worked up. That is also a consideration if it's really serious.

 

[Doberluv]

Here's another idea: Play some Bach or even Mozart, but preferrably Bach quite loudly if you have a good surge protector. (2500-3000 jules) Try drowning out or at least distracting from the sounds of thunder or rain. Act really joyful. Well, you won't have to act. Bach has some great music out. LOL.

 

[Doberluv]

I've been thinking on this a lot and trying to analyze what I feel in my gut about ignoring a frightened pup. I know that I try not to make a fuss and coddle lest the dog sees that I'm worried to. But I don't think it's natural to completely withhold any attention or sympathy from the animal. I mean....the dog is very afraid of the loud noises and then on top of it, his mom is completely ignoring him? "That is something she never does to me and now, just when this super scary noise is happening, she doesn't like me either." It's not normal to ignore the dog. I mean...usually you don't ignore your dog, right? Unless, of course, there's some rotten behavior you don't want to perpetuate. But this is not like your dog is doing something on purpose. He can't help it. So all of a sudden there's this weird reaction (or non reaction) associated with the thunder. Now you've got a double dose of weird, scariness. The thunder and a silent Mom.

So, with something my dogs are afraid of or alarmed about, I usually say something like, "It's ok, it's nothing" in kind of a sing songy, care free type voice. I acknowlege that I'm aware of the thunder (or whatever) and that the dog heard it, but I try to get it across that although it's loud, nothing horrible is going to come of it. (I do that with my voice.) Can you believe me? LOL. I don't hover or act like something is super horrible and inadvertantly tell the dog that his fear is going to get him a neurotic amount of attention. LOL. Just a little bit. I have noticed my dogs look like they believe me and settle down a little bit...relax. I know this is an extreme fear your dogs seem to have, but I don't think a complete ingoring of them is a good idea. Just try to portray an attitude that you're confident, you're not worried, things are going along as normal, there can be a game, some treats for a sit or roll over trick....try distracting them a little. And play Bach. LOL.