Please HELP!My puppy is afraid of TV

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Please HELP!My puppy is afraid of TV

Posted : 3/12/2006 3:36:56 PM

3 days ago, a thunderstorm rainy night came, my 5 1/2 months old puppy (doxie) started to act very strange. She was awake when the storm was here. Nothing happened actually, there was few thunders but not very bad. She jumped out of the couch and went straight to her cage in the kicthen. She didnt want to come to the livingroom since. I thought she was sick so I left her alone that night and thought she would be ok the next day. The next day morning, I woke up and she was jumping around, playing with me so I was very sure that she was ok. The problem is she would not come to the livingroom for a reason, so I took her out to the park and spent some time with her outside of the house. When we came back, she didnt want to get any closer to the livingroom with me no matter how hard I tried to get her over here. We found out that she was trying to come to the livingroom to sit with us as usual but when she gets to the livingroom, she looked at the TV and turned around back to her cage. We knew she was afraid of something in the livingroom and we thought it could be the thunder scared her. We tried to make her stay in her cage in the livingroom with us that night. One day later, we got up and played with her in the livingroom for a couple of hours. I turned the TV on, she suddenly freaked out and ran straight to the kitchen. I tried this few times and 100% sure that she is afraid of TV because when I turned it off, she came sitting with us with no problems but once I turn the TV on , she jumps out of the couch and goes to her cage right away. She doesnt want to come around when the TV is on! I feel this is very strange but I really have no idea whats wrong with her. There was no accident happened to her from the TV or anything close to that area. We have been trying to put leash on her and make her stay with us when the TV is on but when I take the leash off, she walks right to the kitchen. Does anyone know what is wrong with my dog? I really worry about her but I couldnt help her at all. She eats, drinks, goes potty and plays as usual. She is not sick but wouldnt come to the livingroom when the TV is on. Please help because I dont know what to do!

Debbie R

Posted : 3/12/2006 5:05:57 PM

Probably a spark hit the tv from lightening or is it too loud?
I would take her in for a few min. keep the leash on, don't put it on so she associates it w/ the tv, bring great treats, play awhile turn on the tv, the minute she is relaxed and quiet and staying in the living room w/ the tv on give her a treat, and don't make a big deal out of it, when she runs out don't baby her or coo, she'll come around one of the trainers will be on and correct me if I'm wrong I hope.
I think the biggest problem here is that there are no pictures of that little doggie on here.

jeano

Posted : 3/12/2006 8:51:54 PM

I have to agree that she probably associated the scary thunder with the TV. It's a wrong association, but that means nothing to a little doglet, or even a big dawg!

Yes, I think you'll have to take some time to get her used to it being okay to be around the TV again.

Oh, and just for future reference, you did exactly the right thing, letting her go into her kennel and just huddle there when the thunder started. If you try to comfort them you actually scare them worse, because they feel you being upset, or because you are making a big deal out of it, etc. I went through a lot with Sofia regarding stuff like this, and the absolute best thing to do is to let them den up until they feel safe again.

Maybe you will have to just happen to have the most yummiest treats in the world next time you want to watch TV....