Daughter looked after a disabled lady's dog during a hospital admission and that turned into a permanent placement. Shadow is half labrador and half jack russell and we've had her for just over a year. She gets dropped off to me on the way to work Mon-Fri.
Yesterday, she experienced her first thunderstorm and was totally traumatised, at one point I honestly thought I'd have to take her to the vet. It took her at least an hour to get over it once the thunder stopped. We already knew she hates fireworks but this escalated to a new level. Not keen on drugs - any suggestions?
More than likely your poor four legged friends first owner also hated large loud bangs and crashes and her feelings were passed onto her.
We once had a rescue dog who hated large loud bangs and crashes and would go into a mouth frothing and generally shaking frenzy whenever any loud noises occured.
Because of this, we always made sure that we made a game out of these events and played his favourite game along with lots of his special treats to hand to praise him for anything he did.
It didn't take all that long before he was far more at ease when large loud bangs were heard, but he never fully recovered.
Good luck
------------- There is a great World to be found out there, but by the very day, to find where it is becomes more of a challenge!
Again as the above poster mentioned, desensitisation is really the only way. Make a game of it, buy fireworks, make noises whatever it takes really. Dogs take their cues from the owner.
------------- Dogs die in hot cars!
They also die if you leave them in the freezer.
Please keep your dogs at room temperature!
Quote: Originally posted by GCMS2012 on 18/6/2016
Don't buy one of those 'Thunder Jackets' for dogs either...
One of the biggest waste / cons going for pets, along with the dog food 'racket'...
My Mum's dog had a thunder jacket and worked very well for him, he even knew when a storm was coming as he would ask for it to be put on.
When he died, Mum gave it to me for my dog who was petrified and would just shake and pant (yes we know you ignore them and don't make a fuss but didn't work with him) the transformation was incredible. It may not have worked for you but it did for our dogs.
We had the most enormous crash of thunder the other day quite suddenly. My poor dog hid under the bed for the rest of the afternoon. I've never made a fuss about thunder or fireworks before but this was exceptional. Poor dog cuddles up to me and quivers now even if she hears a car door bang or the rain hammering on the conservatory roof. She does calm down a bit if I cuddle her really tight, which I believe is pretty much what a thunder shirt does. It's also how we cope with cutting her claws, which she hates.
A dog can be predisposed to noise phobia's due to breed. Whilst not reinforcing the fear by giving what you feel is reassuring praise but may be positive reinforcement ignoring them is also not quite correct. Its a fine balance. You can offer calm reassurance, massage via tellington touch.
With my first dog we used a cd that had various noises on it; a track of thunder, a track of fireworks etc. We were told to play it every day, starting at a very very low volume. You could barely hear it to start with. Lots of treats and games while it was playing. Each day the sound was turned up just a tiny bit. So the dog gradually got used to the noises and by the time we were up to full volume he had no reaction at all.
I was given it by a dog trainer but I had a quick look on amazon and there is one called 'Clix Noises and Sounds CD' there are probably many others. Just a thought. Hope you find a way to help him.
Our rescue working cocker - past history unknown - loves gunfire (looks up to the sky, expecting a pheasant to drop out of it) & sleeps through thunder. But drop something loud in the kitchen like a pan lid and she's a cowering timorous wee beastie. Distraction with a toy seems to help her get over it. Hope OP can help the 'new' dog, plenty of excellent ideas suggested here.
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Topic: Help! Traumatised dog
