Me and my dogs have been spat on swore at asked if I *uc* my dogs etc people can be vile. I really sorry about it too
An update. Homer has been on Pexion for a few weeks now, and it does appear to be having a positive effect. Over the weekend there have been a few local domestic firework bangs. Between 5- 10 bangs each time. Last night I let H out for an evening pee just as the bangs started. He growled at them then came inside, walked around a bit (not full on passing) and then settled on his bed next to ours. This morning he walked passed scaffolders putting up scaffolding four houses down from us, no problems, although aware of the noises. Only problem now, over the last week H is much more interested in other dogs. Normally he'll walk passed most dogs or give a cursory sniff then follow on, unless there is a dog obviously on heat but If I take him away 15 a 20 meters on lead he'll follow me again forgetting about the other dog. This week has begun to be different, sniffing for longer, not coming back when called, twisting to go back for more sniffs when I've put him back on lead. His recall was quite good before so feeling frustrated. I'm doing a lot more recall work at home and in the park with extra tasty treats here and there.
That sounds positive. I wonder if his increased interest in other dogs is due to a reduction in anxiety, too? If he was avoiding contact because he was a bit anxious before?
Good news, you are making progress. I can't think of any other reason why his interest in other dogs and the environment has gone up, other than he was generally feeling anxious previously. I'm sure this is frustrating, but it'll easily be trained to improve.
I have two labs Molly of 8 and Coco of 5 , the younger is good for going out anytime any weather but molly is a tricky one , she can be really slow going out likes to sniff everything and at her own pace where as coco is everything at a 100mph so it makes the walking sometimes difficult , and now we are entering the darknights molly is not even keen to going out then and if any fireworks go off the walking at nights is a no no really she happy to out in the garden and just back in the house . But if you mention the car at anytime she is up for going out , we have lovely walks where we stay I can vary the walks etc but it can be difficult , I have seen me take coco out then back try molly out which will just end up in the garden , I do get a bit frustrated with her , is that just her way ?
Hmm. Has Molly always been this way? Or do you think she got startled by something? I can see this would be difficult. Sounds like having Coco with her at least gives her some confidence as she won't go without him?
hi thanks for your reply , yeah she always been a bit timid doesn't like bangs fireworks etc , once we get away out she is fine but the dark nights are not good because of fireworks as soon she hears the first one that's it , darkness means fireworks maybe , she can be hard work sometimes maybe just her way .
I had to drive Homer to the bottom of the road a few times after builders threw something into a skip down the road and he will still sometimes just not want to go out for an afternoon walk. He's got better with his medication but still won't go up towards the main road not even for free cheese at the corner pizza shop.
So are there fireworks often where you live? Here (in Canada) there is only fireworks a few nights a year, so I'm just trying to understand what is going on. Is it just the sudden loud bangs that she is afraid of? There are ways to desensitize dogs to noises using CDs of loud noises (playing very softly at first and giving treats for no reaction and very gradually bringing the volume up until the dog is not reacting to the noise). Others have done this with good results. But if there are multiple things she is afraid of it might be worth getting a behaviourist in to assess her and give you some ideas.
Last year there were various official firework displays and other unofficial fireworks in gardens around us from the last week of October all the way through to mid November. And then again over New Year. I'm not sure of the exact laws regarding the sale of fireworks but many crackers get into the hands of teenagers. In our case Homer has generalised his fear to all sorts of noises out and about, deliveries, builders and even car doors closing. Although the CD is a good starting place, Homer could not tolerate it being played even at the lowest volume. It is also important when using the CD that your CD player and HiFi speakers are set up correctly to achieve the most realistic sound possible.
The drugs work. Yesterday we joined a local dog walker on a group walk. Homer did so well, firstly the meeting point was at the pet shop on the main road, although I had to take him down the river bank then up towards the shop, as soon as he knew we were going towards the shop he was happy to go that way. He didn't want to wait there but was happy to wait just around the corner. This is the first time he's gone that way for months. He loved walking with the other dogs and followed with the others across another main road that separates two parts of the common and back again. He has not wanted to go anywhere near this part of the field near the road for a long time. Then last night there was a Firework display near by. Homer's reaction was so different from before, no excessive panting, pasing or scratching. He barked quite a bit at the bangs but settled down in between the noises quite easily. Hubby had gone to bed and slept through it all! I'll take a bit of barking any day compared to complete fearful anxiety, racing heartbeat, panting and frantic scratching. There's still a long road ahead to wean him off the drugs eventually.
Omer has been pacing a bit in the evenings at dusk. On mondayvevening I got home about half an hour after he was dropped off by his dog walker and his ears were back a bit and he was walking up and down until I gave him his dinner and his medication. There were a few kids running up and down the street but fortunately here most are supervised by parents and are all back home fairly early it being a school night. Yesterday hubby stayed to work from home and H was fine until it got dark and started pacing. But with some distractions was fine and settled down.
We've managed to avoid the worst of the bangs over the last two nights. On Friday evening we drove out to have a supper with Hubbys dad who lives an hour and a half away, stopped for fish and chips with them then back home again by 10:30. Most of the official displays had finished by then although there were still a few random bangs till after midnight. Last night we drove along the M4 to a service station the other side of Swindon for Burger King. Saw some lively displays along the way while listening to the soothing sounds of Radio 4. Unfortunately there were still some bangs when we got home after 10pm, you can only imagine my thoughts as I opened the car door to a crescendo of fireworks still going off! Homer spent the night intermittently scratching and trying to hide, so still distressed but it's now much easier to calm him down. I have to sit with him, hug him and rub his tummy. Hubbys snores helped too as they drowned out the noise of bangs further away, only time I've been wishing him to snore more loudly! I think the snores are also a calming and reassuring noise for H. Homer already had his thunder vest on and we gave him a dose of Nutracalm before bed. This is on top of his increased dose of Pexion. Our local church on the common is having a firework display tonight but we'll just have to delete with that at home. Baton down the hatches and brace ourselves. Hubby wrote to them and they say it will only be a small one to celebrate their Saints day. ?!
