Need help with my noise-phobic dog

originally posted by: Dimithae
a reply to: VoidHawk

Your herding breeds tend to be that way. Least that is what breeders at shows told me. They said it made sense that the dogs get all excited and have a lot of nervous energy when storms roll in. If a storm rolled in on the British isles,the dog would be expected to round up the sheep quickly and get them away from the cliffs. It seems sheep are kinda dumb and if one falls off a cliff,the others will follow. At least thats what they told me. Never having had experience with sheep, I have no idea.

Its true that Borders are very excitable, they have so much energy and are extremely intelligent, but the fear that mine suffered from completely dissabled him, if we were out walking when thunder happened he would hit the ground and refuse to move, I'd have to carry him home, so he would have been of no use herding sheep.
BTW. Sheep are not dumb, they do have a very strong instinct to flock together, but they would not follow each other over a cliff, they will break away from the herd if they feel they the need. I watched two sheep work together to take out a nuisance dog, they waited for the dog to get between them and then they charged and crushed him between them, they dislocated the dogs hip!

As I mentioned to op, I think its we humans that cause a dogs fear of noise. When we first noticed our dog was frightened we all made a big fuss of him trying to reasure him, but in his mind all that fuss just reasured him that the thunder was bad and something to fear, what we should have done was take him out for a walk.

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

He's "stuck" in a mindset and needs to get out of it, not mask the issue with drugs.

Yep, I totally agree with this now. I never thought about it that way... him being stuck like that, but it makes sense, in watching him. I can't believe what a difference it makes by just not letting him go hide in the shower anymore. He's still not engaging with me, but at least he's in the same room. He's bothered now because the neighbor is cutting his grass. The other neighbor right next to me started cutting his grass earlier tonight, so I got the water hose out again. Mojo didn't pay any attention to that lawnmower, but as soon as I'd stop the hose, he'd want back in the house. I didn't let him, and he eventually quit hiding... he just wasn't happy to be out there, but at least he stayed for a while. Last year he's was running and playing next to me when I cut the grass, and barking and running up and down the fence at the neighbor when he was cutting his. I just don't get it....

And that's what it said in that article I was reading about the drugs... that's all they due is mask it. His mind is still like it was, he's just not able to physically react to it. He's not getting any more of those. I asked the vet if he could become addicted to them like people do, and he said, "You afraid you're gonna walk in the room and find him with a needle in his arm?" Ha ha, funny guy. He said dogs don't have the addictive capabilities that humans do, but that's physically, I'm assuming. I don't know about mentally....

I put up some cardboard on one side of the stairs so he couldn't see the floor. The other side is still open but very close to the wall. It didn't make any difference. He puts the brakes on at the top and refuses to move. I've gotten him down 2 stairs by putting treats on them, but after 2, he turns around and slinks back up. That's a good idea about school and incorporating them into his routine. Classes do take place downstairs and the steps are right there, but he's never had a problem with the school steps. He goes up and down them even when he's not supposed to. He actually runs and plays on 'em. It's probably just because he fell down these steps before we moved in and it scared him to the point of him not wanting to try it again. I don't know... he's weird.

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

Dang, now he's gonna have to go through hypnosis..... I wonder if doggie acupuncture works for this stuff?

a reply to: VoidHawk

Well, I said I don't react abnormally when loud noises happen, but maybe I do without realizing it. I do get pissed off about neighbors setting off fireworks in my backyard, though, and probably can't help my reaction to that. I have a fear about him being around other dogs. I'm just never sure how he's going to react to them, and vice versa, so I'm nervous in those situations. His obedience teacher told me that even though I wasn't reacting in any certain way, he could feel the tension in just my hand holding the leash. They pick up on that....so maybe I am reacting because I'm afraid of what it's doing to him and don't know I'm doing it. I'll have to do some homework on myself just to be sure. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I'll work on me as I'm working on him.

a reply to: OpinionatedB

Oh, I think it's entirely a psychological issue. [url=http://www.webvet.com/main/2008/10/13/how-calm-dog-scared-loud-noises]

The article says they get worse over time. Seentomuch on page 1 said her dog got progressively worse as well, with different things it was afraid of. I do appreciate your input, though. We'll have to agree to disagree on this, I think.

a reply to: hebegbes

Well, that link didn't work. I'm trying it again....www.webvet.com... ses

a reply to: VoidHawk

As I mentioned to op, I think its we humans that cause a dogs fear of noise. When we first noticed our dog was frightened we all made a big fuss of him trying to reasure him, but in his mind all that fuss just reasured him that the thunder was bad and something to fear, what we should have done was take him out for a walk.

Yep, I'm sure I did it somehow with the fireworks when he was a year old. But I don't understand about what makes it progress, both in its physical intensity and the different things he's afraid of.

originally posted by: hebegbes
But I don't understand about what makes it progress, both in its physical intensity and the different things he's afraid of.

I dont know that either, but they are dogs, and we are humans, maybe thats just the way it works with them.
I do understand your concerns, its awfull having to watch them quivering in terror!

My own experience with this behaviour lasted for about nine or ten years, until he became deaf. The only thing I found that helped was to remove him from the noise, so when fireworks were happening I'd take him to the sea for a two or three hour walk, he was happy while there and the walk tired him which helped him sleep when we returned.
With storms it was a bit different, he was only frightened by some of them! There were times when we were out walking when thunder happened, he'd look about, and then carry on as normal, but other times he'd freeze, hit the deck and refuse to move, and I'd then have to carry him home.

With storms I'd suggest seeing whether your dog is prepared to go for a walk, as I'm convinced this problem is a fear of the unknown! Hopefully your dog will learn the noise is up in the sky and get over it. I think this because my old mate was terrified when he heard his first shotgun, but got over it as soon as he realised what made the noise.

If you dog finds a hiding place in your home when he's frightened, place a fan so that it gently blows on him, they get very hot when they're frightened.

a reply to: VoidHawk

Good suggestions... thanks! Fireworks are the worse for him. I'm going to take him on long car rides out in the country the entire first week of July, I guess. Windows up, AC on, and the radio loud!

originally posted by: hebegbes
a reply to: ladyinwaiting

Dang, now he's gonna have to go through hypnosis..... I wonder if doggie acupuncture works for this stuff?

lol! I don't know, but if it works let me know. I've got one over here who has pica, and another who molests his stuffed elephant!

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting
and another who molests his stuffed elephant!

Could this lead to the worlds first Dogyphant?