Scared Dog -Help

[cupcake0214]

I have a 7 year pitbull who is shaking and scared. Last night it was windy,we have a house fan and it made a loud bang. Daisy got scared and started to shake and pant then hid under the coffee table. Both of us didnt sleep all night. I let her out on the yard and we heard the noise again.I had to carry her in because she wouldn't move. She ate breakfast and is still nervous. Any advice?

[nomad100]

No advice just commiseration because my sweet dog now gets totally freaked out by anything that beeps more then once. Like a battery warning in a smoke detector. Removing the noise helps but it takes her a loooong time to settle down.

[cupcake0214]

Jun 3, 2018 7:21:13 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

No advice just commiseration because my sweet dog now gets totally freaked out by anything that beeps more then once. Like a battery warning in a smoke detector. Removing the noise helps but it takes her a loooong time to settle down.

I feel so bad for her. Guess I have to wait till the wind dies down.

[nomad100]

cupcake0214, As my pup has gotten older, noises seem to impact her more. She never used to be phased by firecracker but now, she wants me to hold her when the neighbors start (and she is about 50 lbs).

Good luck!

[cupcake0214]

Jun 3, 2018 7:35:33 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

cupcake0214, As my pup has gotten older, noises seem to impact her more. She never used to be phased by firecracker but now, she wants me to hold her when the neighbors start (and she is about 50 lbs).

Good luck!

That's what I thought she was never scared before.

[winecat]

You can buy pet friendly Rescue Remedy. It's a bit woo, but it can helpful for a lot of pets.

I'm not sure if a thunder shirt would help now?

[TBM]

Ditto to the Rescue Remedy recommendation. We have one dog who has a really hard time with thunder and fireworks (so basically summer in FL), and Rescue Remedy has been a lifesaver.

She is still glued to me when she is scared, but relaxes enough after a dose or two to to rest quietly next to me. She still has to be touching me, but without it she would prefer to be practically sharing my skin.

Get the version for dogs. They carry it at Whole Foods, a lot of pet supply stores, and most health food/vitamin type places.

When we were showing our dogs, a lot of the exhibitors used it to calm nerves (both theirs and their dogs), before going into the show ring.

[mcmel]

My pit is the biggest scaredy cat. Smoke detectors that chirp when the battery is low is her worst nightmare. I had to buy a massive rug that covers most of the hardwood bc she’s afraid of the floor.

Do you think turning the tv up louder would drown out some of the wind noises? Or maybe give her a treat when it gets scary so maybe she could associate the noise with good things? There’s also the relaxation treats that one friend had positive results from. I’m not sure the brand though. You could also try a thundershirt, but if your pup is anything like mine it would just scare her more lol. Poor pups.

[mrhanky]

Thundershirt, adaptil, soft music to try to drown out the noise. And if it’s tied to specific events like fireworks, try a sedative from the vet. If it becomes generalized where he’s getting increasingly nervous from small things (beeping, wind, you dropping something on the ground), you may want to try a daily med like trazadone.

[cupcake0214]

Jun 3, 2018 8:17:43 GMT -5 mcmel said:

My pit is the biggest scaredy cat. Smoke detectors that chirp when the battery is low is her worst nightmare. I had to buy a massive rug that covers most of the hardwood bc she’s afraid of the floor.

Do you think turning the tv up louder would drown out some of the wind noises? Or maybe give her a treat when it gets scary so maybe she could associate the noise with good things? There’s also the relaxation treats that one friend had positive results from. I’m not sure the brand though. You could also try a thundershirt, but if your pup is anything like mine it would just scare her more lol. Poor pups.

I laugh because everyone thinks they are all scary dogs and mine is scared of herself lol. I tried to tune the volume up but I think it made it worse. When I shut the TV off she calmed down maybe because I was calmer. I tried to get her in her crate because I thought she would feel better in there but she wouldn't move, she kept trying to get under the bed but she doesn't fit so only have was under.

[mcmel]

Jun 3, 2018 8:28:33 GMT -5 cupcake0214 said:

Jun 3, 2018 8:17:43 GMT -5 mcmel said:

My pit is the biggest scaredy cat. Smoke detectors that chirp when the battery is low is her worst nightmare. I had to buy a massive rug that covers most of the hardwood bc she’s afraid of the floor.

Do you think turning the tv up louder would drown out some of the wind noises? Or maybe give her a treat when it gets scary so maybe she could associate the noise with good things? There’s also the relaxation treats that one friend had positive results from. I’m not sure the brand though. You could also try a thundershirt, but if your pup is anything like mine it would just scare her more lol. Poor pups.

I laugh because everyone thinks they are all scary dogs and mine is scared of herself lol. I tried to tune the volume up but I think it made it worse. When I shut the TV off she calmed down maybe because I was calmer. I tried to get her in her crate because I thought she would feel better in there but she wouldn't move, she kept trying to get under the bed but she doesn't fit so only have was under.

Lol poor thing! I would probably just direct her to a good hiding spot at this point and let her ride it out. Behind the couch is my Great Pyrenees’s favorite hiding spot for storms. Maybe open up a closet and she if she’ll feel safer in there? Dogs are so silly.

[TrickyBob]

My pup is this way about all loud things...thunder, fireworks, airplanes (it is currently WW2 weekend here and it has been hell for her)

We kind of let her find her own hiding spot. For her, this is in the bathroom, inside the shower, bathroom door shut.

[zitiqueen]

Jun 3, 2018 8:44:10 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

My pup is this way about all loud things...thunder, fireworks, airplanes (it is currently WW2 weekend here and it has been hell for her)

We kind of let her find her own hiding spot. For her, this is in the bathroom, inside the shower, bathroom door shut.

This is the same for my childhood dog. The shower had sliding glass doors and that was where she felt safest, but she still freaked out. Valium helped a little too (vet-prescribed).

[dirtyred]

My vet recommended Zylkene (can get it on Amazon) and it made a HUGE difference in how my dog reacted to thunderstorms.  She used to cry, whine, pant, and endlessly search for a hiding place.  With the med, she would just come and get as close to me as possible.

We haven't had to give it to her since the first two doses; it appears to have really reduced her anxiety around loud noises.

[whiskeytails]

I’ve heard good things about CBD oil.

[kadams767]

Jun 3, 2018 8:44:10 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

My pup is this way about all loud things...thunder, fireworks, airplanes (it is currently WW2 weekend here and it has been hell for her)

We kind of let her find her own hiding spot. For her, this is in the bathroom, inside the shower, bathroom door shut.

This is similar to my dog.  Now that she’s older, thunder, fireworks and other loud noises freak her out.  The bathtub is her safe place.  We can always tell if there was thunder during the day when we were at work, because there is dog hair and little paw prints in the tub when we get home.  If we’re home, she needs to be either directly touching one of us, or in the bathtub.

[kkfeb04]

We use a prescription for his separation anxiety so we don't give him other supplements. On bad fireworks or thunder days, we let him use my daughter's weighted lap blanket.

[Deleted]

The Thundershirt did nothing for my scared/anxious pup and I didn't love the idea of using prescription anxiety medicines. We have started using CBD treats at the first sign of stress and they work wonders. She's still uneasy/upset, but significantly calmer than without. At least once she has the treat and it gets in her system she stops shaking and trying to hide and will lay with my husband or myself until she calms down.