Got a scaredy cat at your house???
Today my sweet Goldendoodle friend Lola and I were strolling through Galloway Gardens, soaking in the sunshine and admiring the golf course pond. It was a perfectly copacetic day. Not a cloud in the sky and warmer temps. Out of the blue, a giant rig came blasting along the narrow street where there were multiple walkers. Lola shied to the right, causing me to nearly roller coaster over her white fluffy body. Although Lola is still a young dog, she is a seasoned walker and she recently graduated with honors (her PHDog) from her obedience camp. So, I decided to do some research on pets and motorized vehicle fears.
So why do dogs often go bonkers at the sight of Postal and UPS vehicles? School buses and garbage trucks?
As it turns out, many dogs are just naturally scared of loud bangs and clangs, including trucks and cars. Dogster.com offers a few ideas: First, teach your dog to heel for control. (Lola is a star at this! And thanks to her expert training, she even does this with a loose lead!) This way your dog will not start running away when he starts to spazz out and it’s just plain good manners for your dog to know this. Proceed calmly and don’t react to your dog’s cues and reinforce fears. When he’s afraid, don’t pet or baby him! Repeated exposure to loud trucks and cars should gradually desensitize your canine. If you can, follow these trucks on their routes repeatedly, meanwhile paying no attention to the vehicle, all the better.
About.com mentions a few other phobias:
Fear of steps I have one of these living at my house right now. He’s especially blown away by going down a flight of stairs rather than making an ascent. Sydney is a 12 year old Corgi with a freight train back so I don’t push him too hard on this one. So, I’ll throw him that bone. Sometimes, this fear can be due to lack of early socialization. His mom Trasea leaned a tad towards the psychotic, so maybe that had something to do with it. About.com suggests making stair climbing a game for your pal, one step at a time, and he’ll most likely come around.
Loud noises Boo, hiss! Fear of thunder storms or astraphobia is often the BIG BAD fear. Pet expert Andrea Arden says most animals are in tune to changes in barometric pressure, electrostatic disturbances, and even smells associated with storms! Firecrackers, and gunshots are included in the noise phobia group. Look for signs of shaking, excessive drooling, barking, and bladder/bowel control issues. What can you do? Try a Thundershirt, which makes the dog feel swaddled and secure, sometimes medication can bring great relief, or crating in a safe place. Having your dog listen to pet lullabies (http://www.caninelullabies.com, see video below) can work wonders. It did at my house.
The dreaded home alone phobia This can be one of the worst phobias to deal with since it can result in a lot of destruction. Scratching at windows and doors, howling incessantly, chewing, digging, escaping from the house and hyperactivity can be part of it. So what can you do? Teach your dog to savor alone time. Rest periods in his crate with food-stuffed toys are a good idea. Make it a safe place. Play music while you’re gone. Arrange for a dog walker to come by and break up his day with some fresh air and healthy exercise. AND, don’t make it a big deal when you leave or come home. Try not to fall for his demands for attention.
Want to go a la natural? There are herbal potions and aromatherapy out there such as Rescue Remedy, DAP Spray which mimics natural calming pheromones, and AromaDog Chill Out spritzer that helps to soothe your pet’s anxieties.
If you’d like to know of more ways to calm your canine, call us at 901-647-2816.
