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Vankaye
Puppy
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 10
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 Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:35 pm Post subject: Amstaff afraid of Thunder |
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Hi All,
My boy Max turns into a complete wuss when a thunder storm is near.
This time of year it's almost daily here in Florida. He's beside himself, shaking and cowering. The stress makes him very tired and lathargic.
He's so worried about it he looks up when he goes outside in the morning.
If the skies are gray he heads right back inside refusing to do his business.
Distant fireworks have the same effect.
Any suggestions of how to get him passed this? I think it would be better for him to get over this fear. |
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senta111
Omega Dog
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 100
Location: upstate NY
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| Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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Poor little guy!
How old is he? If he's a young pup, time may cure all when he becomes accustomed to hearing the thunder more often.
There is a chance he will always have this sensitivity, and as he grows older, I'd be observent about whether it leads to a fear/aggression response of any kind.
Do you know his history? Could be some sort of trauma association.
Best, |
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Skylar
Pack Members
Joined: 01 Jul 2008
Posts: 333
Location: Everywhere
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| Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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when the thunder comes... play with him - maybe his favorite toy or tug of war or whatever it is that would excited him.. do it during the thunder so that he knows that you're not afraud of the thunder and maybe it would help ease his fear...
I don't really know how to advice you other then what i just written above... My dog is ok with lightening and thunder.... my first experience outdoor with bad lightening and thundering with my dog was last week and i just walked on and my dog followed without fear.. Maybe because she sees or sense my feelings that i have no concern over it?
It could be something to do with his past traumatic experience that is associate with sudden noise...
Does he jump when there is any sudden loud noise? If so then that could be the problem.
I'm not going into it about what happen but to put this in short.. My dog is weary of the shop because something had happen when she was outside the shop. But as i keep praising her for walking on without backing away when walking past the shop.. she had improve gradually. |
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Amanda Reichelt
Shamans
Joined: 12 May 2008
Posts: 505
Location: Colville, WA (USA)
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:33 am Post subject: |
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Hi Vankaye,
How old is your dog currently?
Desensitize your boy to the loud noises (thunder and fireworks). Get a recording of both noises and start just playing it SOFTLY for your dog at first, then gradually (as your dog is comfortable), increase the volume. Feed him an extra tasty bowel of food while you play the recording so he will associate really good food with the sound (like add fresh chicken or hamburger to his regular meal - make it special for him!). You can also try playing with your dog during a storm/fireworks (but if he is SUPER afraid he won't want to play at all and you'll have to try something else). Never ever baby your dog, pet him/cuddle him or talk to him in a soft soothing voice when he is showing fear of noises, you will reinforce the behavior and make it WORSE this way! Ignore all fearful behavior and be calm and relaxed yourself at all times. If you are stressed over your dog he will sense that and become even more stressed than he already was in the first place. Give him lots of good treats for calm/relaxed behavior around the sounds every time you see him doing it.
If your boy is extremely scared of these noises and just won't seem to get over it no matter what you do, you can try just putting him away in preferably a bathroom with NO windows and turn on the fan to try to drown out some of the noise for him. Or play soft music for him in the room to try to drown out the sounds. Also "white noise" will mask any firework or thunderstorm sounds (though that sound might drive YOU nuts). Also, you can try giving something to ease and calm him down: http://www.naturalcanine.com/html/rescue_remedy.html
I hope this helps you some, good luck!  |
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TRUE STAFF
Omega Dog
Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 215
Location: Denmark
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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| in denmark you can get a sound cd with thunder - firework - car - piston and so on, then when it is nice out site you can put it on and go arround making you daily things and the dog will bit afer bit get use to it and se that it is not bad. you can stard with low sound and in time turn up- |
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Vankaye
Puppy
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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Great advice so far.
Max is just over 2 years. (27months)
We've had him since he was a pup (8weeks)
I know his history. It started about a year ago... I took him outside
to pee in our fenced backyard. I happened to stay out there with him
and lightning struck a few houses away. It scared the crap out of both of us.
To clarify, it startled me for the moment but put a good solid fear in him.
I'm sure he witnessed me jump about 6 inches off the ground. It got me good! 
I see a problem with reinforcing the behavior. My wife gets all bubbly with him when he's scared. She thinks it's cute. I have been trying to encourage her not to acknowledge his fear... but it seems to be her natural reaction.
He shows no fear aggression at all. We've been playing with him and trying to push him through it and it has resulted in some improvement.
He doesn't shake/shiver anymore. But he does seek comfort and shelter.
Right now, he is laying at my feet because there was thunder a few minutes ago. However, I do noticed that he is stressed along with the fear. It's hard to describe. He's just restless and stressed out. The positive thing is that he does want to be near us for protection and comfort. I think that shows his good nature. |
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Ph1ngering
Alpha Dog
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 890
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| Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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My brother in laws dog is the same way, just doesn't like it wants to hide.. I don't think its a big deal to be honest, but keep on trying to build his confidence can't hurt at all.. Keep it up..
Our boy is the opposite, runs towards the fireworks and thunder.. I think he's still afraid of it, but wants to get close to try and understand it or something.. |
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lovemynutty
Puppy
Joined: 14 Aug 2008
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:26 am Post subject: |
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I honestly think some dogs are sensitive to a shift in the atmosphere or something. I don't think things like trying to get them to play will help at all, nor do I think it's something they can be desensitized from.
One of my dogs is super sensitive to thunderstorms - he can sense them WAY before you'd even know one was coming. He shakes and pants - and nothing in the world would get him to forget about the storm (not food or even the water hose, his 2 favorite things in the world). What I've found is that he is better off when I don't coddle him during it - that just makes it worse. I just let him be during the storms.
I don't think this is a temperament issue at all - he has one of the most solid temperaments that I've ever encountered and even during the storms he is fine with my children (3 years and 7 months). |
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Sagebrush
Omega Dog
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 147
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:03 am Post subject: |
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| lovemynutty wrote: |
| I don't think this is a temperament issue at all - he has one of the most solid temperaments that I've ever encountered and even during the storms he is fine with my children (3 years and 7 months). |
I believe it is a component of temperament, that they do seem to be born with, and I have seen it in a family of dogs (a mother and two of her grown pups). It is very specifically a sensitivity to sudden sharp sounds like thunder, fireworks and guns. The rest of the temperament can be totally normal. I don't particularly like it in my dogs, but it's not a lethal defect!
Carla |
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