Peanut is becoming more fearful recently.

I don't know if it's common or not to see a sudden increase in fear/phobias.  I do think consulting with your vet would be a good idea. There are quite a few drugs that might help her.  I just ordered a CD to hopefully countercondition and desensitize my JRT to thunder and fireworks.  I'm hoping it helps him.  Years and years ago I tried a similar tape (this was long before CD's came out) for several different gunshy dogs without much success.  I'm a little smarter now and will couple the CD with some rewards to see if it helps.  You also might try a Thundershirt for her.  It helped my JRT to some extent but not when the storms go on for hours or the fireworks are really close by. 

I wouldn't call this type of fear normal.  It may not be uncommon but there are many tens of thousands of dogs who are not fearful of thunder, fireworks, etc.  Most dogs develop the fear because of an especially loud, close clap of thunder or whatever the loud noise might be. Others pick up on the fear they see in another dog and will start to fear the same thing, in my experience.  Dogs with shy and/or fearful temperments are probably more likely to develop extreme fears to something at some point in their lives.  I don't know if that's been studied but it seems it would be true.  Many animals can be without certain fears through some part of their lives and then have a fearful experience that leaves them with lingering fear and anxiety about whatever caused that extreme fear. 

Dogs go through several fear periods and some develop fears that are lifelong due to becoming startled or frightened during a time when they are predisposed to being very impressionable. 

I would have a dog fully checked at the vet's if that dog suddenly became fearful. At the age, I would have them run a senior panel.  There are some physical conditions that can cause behavior changes.  I wouldn't want to go through the stress and anxiety extremely thunder phobic dogs go through if there were some things I could do to try and allieviate that fear. 

I think her annual vet visit is coming up.  The RV thing is all about noise and maybe motion.  She will still finally settle down and lay at my feet if the road is smooth (a rarity in Louisiana).  We have tracked down a few rattles and it at least helps us enjoy the ride a bit more.

 I have a feeling Peanut would be so put off by a piece of apparel that it would exacerbate her nervousness.  I will sometimes get her in my lap and squeeze her (like Temple Grandin's pressure machine for her autism and originally for cattle calming).  It works a while, then she wants loose.

Burl

 I have a feeling Peanut would be so put off by a piece of apparel that it would exacerbate her nervousness. 

Twister doesn't like to wear doggie apparel and he doesn't like being squeezed or hugged.  Most dogs don't. The Thundershirt doesn't have that affect on him.  It applies steady, even pressure but not to the point of being uncomfortable.  There is a big difference, in a dog's mind and perceptions, between being held tightly by a human, and the feeling the Thundershirt provides. 

 O.K., we got a thundershirt today.  Any advice on how to introduce her to it.  Will likely hear fireworks in coming days.

Found this: http://www.thundershirt.com/HowItWorks/#steps

I just put it on Twister and he stood there a minute and then seemed to forget about it.  I do recommend putting it on and off as many times as you can before a storm is predicted.  Let her wear it for different lengths of times and at random times of day. Put it on her before mealtime and leave it on while she eats. You don't want her to associate wearing the Thundershirt with an upcoming storm as she might then become anxious when the Thundershirt is put on.  There's a bit of a learning curve to getting it on the dog correctly.  But maybe that was just me. :) 

 JackieG

Thanks, those are solid tips.  Martha read the instructions and let Peanut have some treats while putting it on as well as eating a few off it as if it were a plate.  Went on easy (fits Red too - large size).  Peanut wore it on the sofa during a movie and was fine.  One incident, when Martha reached for a nail file, this usually agitates Peanut and she might sometimes jump down from the sofa, but this time she did not seem concerned.  Maybe we will have luck w/ it!

 There were no fireworks for Mem Day.

 Today, we had a moderateky strong afternoon thndr shwr, and the thundershirt seemed to help, but Peanut was still agitated.  It may be worth it, and we'll see with an RV test.  If it cuts anxiety significantly enough to avoid meds...Priceless.

 In the RV the TS also halps calm her a bit.  I set her on the dinette/bed corner where sje sleeps and stayed w. her a few minutes then returned to the passenger seat.  She stayed there for the entire (short, 20 min) trip, but she mostly sat up breathing a bit heavily.

In the house w/ thunder/rain, she is a bit calmer but takes to shivering.  If she stays in my lap and I lay my arms on top of her, she gets a good bit calmer and mostly stops shivering.

We think we will bring out the two soft kennels in the RV that we nevwr use.  One will stay in the RV and one next to me by TV where she often comes as thunder starts.  Wehope we can get her to just go in them when she is nervous - will continue w/ the TS.

Any thoughts?