Dog Community

Controlling Dog Phobias

Posted : 12/30/2011 8:41:07 AM

Hi there, This is my first post on this forum. I live out in the countryside, and over the last year or so my dog has developed a real fear of gunshots. I have had other dogs who've been scared of fireworks etc, but never to this degree. A year ago, I was able to take him out and let him off the lead secure in the knowledge he would always stay with me. In the last few months, however, he would suddenly turn and run home at the slightest sound of gunfire in the distance. As such, I only ever take him out with the lead on now. In the last few weeks, he's become uncontrollable. When he hears a shot he'll start shaking with fear and then try to run home. Even when the collar is on at its tightest, he has been able to get out of it and run off. And recently, I haven't even been able to get him so far as out of the door. Just today he became paralysed with fear, shaking/panicking uncontrollably, trying to get out of his collar, refusing to even walk down the garden. This is even before any gunfire has been heard. It's obviously developed into quite a deep-rooted phobia and I was wondering if anyone had dealt with this type of thing before and could offer any advice on how to deal with him? Thanks, Alex

JackieG

Posted : 12/30/2011 9:50:58 AM

It can be a very difficult problem to overcome. Go to Gun Dog Supply's website. They have a CD (search for gun shy on their site) that might help. It's based on the concept of desensitizing the dog to the sound. You have to follow the protocol to the letter or it won't work. There are other audio tapes available but they all work on the same principal. You might also want to get a Thundershirt. I would get one ASAP because of the upcoming fireworks.

In the meantime, you might get a properly fitting martingale collar to prevent him slipping out of his collar and bolting. Good luck.

DougB

Posted : 12/30/2011 9:58:51 AM

My Springer is a hunting dog. I have an answer-might not be the answer, but it worked with Piper. After several runs at a private hunting ground, with lots of birds and lots of shooting, she started to get a little nervous around guns. We have a trap shooting range about a mile away. I took her out to the range , kept behind the guns a good distance, and let kids pet and play with her while the shooting was going on.. We gradually worked closer to the shooting. One of my brothers uses a cap gun with pups to signal dinner time. The idea is of course to relate the noise to something pleasant. Once Piper learned that the loud noise meant a falling bird (sometimes), she lost all fear.

Hugging and sympathizing with the dog when the fear behavior is turned on reinforces the behavior. A Thundershirt, or mild tranquilizers may be needed for a while.

Good luck.

dogjunkie

Posted : 12/30/2011 10:20:10 AM

Like Jackie said it's a difficult problem to overcome. If you think they are going to be a lot of fireworks in you area I would definitely get him out of there even if it means driving a bit to find a motel room for new years eve in a quiet area.

JackieG

Posted : 12/30/2011 10:25:02 AM

DougB
she started to get a little nervous around guns

This is when you ideally want to start the process of desensitizing or in Doug's case counter conditioning the dog by helping it associate something pleasant with the fearful sound. With a dog who is at the point of the OP's dog, this would probably not work and most likely make the dog even more fearful. I've known of extremely fearful dogs to bolt and never be seen again when their owners tried to use flooding to overcome the problem.

shadowsgin

Posted : 12/30/2011 11:15:11 AM

Our Hot Shot is terrified of Thunder, gunshots, fireworks. He has a safe place in our home that he goes to. We know he was abused and also in a Tornado as a pup. We got him when he was 3. I cant say that he has overcome his fear but he is coping better than when we first got him. If we are outside he runs to the door to get in, if it is a gunshot we have lengthened the time it takes us to get to the door to let him in. Just a bit longer each time, all the while telling him he is safe, it is ok, ect. in a calm manner. We have even been successful in calling him back to the patio with reassurance and calm in our voice. The thunder is the worst as it will continue for long periods of time. He will let us know within 20 minutes of our hearing it, that it is coming by wanting in the house and going to his safe place. Another Idog member shared Valerian capsules with us and this helps Hot Shot relax and not shake. He will still go to his safe place but he is not near as terrified as before. These do no knock him out but it does calm him. We have not tried a Thundershirt but several on this forum have had success with it as well.

Jewlieee

Posted : 12/30/2011 12:26:38 PM

Great advise here. I just want to reiterate that you need to get a martingale collar for your dog asap. They are designed so that the dog can not slip/back out of them. This is essential for a frightened dog that will bolt in fear and then may get hit by a car, get lost, etc.

PawMaid

Posted : 12/30/2011 2:24:31 PM

2 of mine are very gun/ thunder bothered. Where I live there is shooting all the time sometimes you can hear it for hours.

Fire works are not illegal here anyone can have them.

We have managed to desensitize it to a lower level.

But there was a time we feared they would harm themselves.Our vet prescribed tranquillizers.

While working on desensitizing try Rescue Remedy. You can buy it anywhere they sell natural stuff, like food ,shampoo and oils.

We also play those cd’s that sound like a rain forest or the ocean.

griffinej5

Posted : 12/30/2011 4:46:39 PM

Do you have a basement, or some room in your house where the dog won't hear it as loud tomorrow? There's not much you're going to be able to do tomorrow other than try to prevent your dog from hearing it. Definitely don't go outside during that time. It might help, just for tomorrow, to really get the dog good and tired during the day, just to be sure you can avoid being outside during that time.

Alexfisher

Posted : 1/1/2012 3:42:19 PM

Hi Jackie, Thanks for your reply. Yes, someone mentioned about a CD of the noise to desensitize the dog. I'll certainly look into that as well as getting a better collar too!

Alexfisher

Posted : 1/2/2012 4:57:23 PM

Sorry, didn't realise so many people had replied! Thank you all so much for your help with this issue. I did manage to get him to come out with me the other day, but he refused at first, and I literally had to carry him half-way across the garden before he calmed down and decided to come. So I think patience is definitely important whilst hoping that the CD and the other options gradually take effect. I like the idea of using the gunfire to represent something good, he can be quite an intense personality especially for a 7 year-old, and behaves like a pup most of the time. So I think it's best to be gentle with the process at first, maybe just playing the sound softly in the house and seeing what happens from there. I'll also buy the other products mentioned, as I haven't heard of them. Will be back with an update soon. Thanks again, Alex