Nervous dog (hates loud noises)

[Twohoots]

Can anybody recommend anything for a nervous dog who hates loud noises.

He's about 8 now and has always been nervous but since we lost our older dog he's even more so. There are bird scarers on our walks (which make massive bangs at irregular intervals). Some days they don't bang at all and he's on edge but OK and another day they're going off every few mins and he gets very scared. Same with people shooting guns, banging car doors, big lorries passing close by and fireworks .... don't even go there!

[tigress]

you could add some mimulus and rescue remedy to his water bowl,
these are from the Bach Flower range - from Boots or online

[RAS Site]

If your dog was 8 months of age instead of 8 years of age, I would recomend the following Cure For A friends Pup, You Can Still try.

First Prepare a Pot Of treats And Carry them Around With You When You Are Out or to Hand At Home. Secondly When there Is A Loud Go Against Your Instinct To Cuddle You Dog, Simply Call You Dog In A Normal manner, You must Not Be Worried About Your Dog It Will Sense Your Anxiety, When the Dog Comes to You Or You Catch It Speak to It Gently And Give It Some treets From Your Pot, Make A Normal Fuss and Continue What You Were Doing When The Loud Noise Occurred, If the Dog Rushes Up to You For Support Do The Same, And If It Runs Away try Not to Fret, Just Call the Dog And the Dog Will Return to You For The Treat, What You Are Doing Is Assosiating The Loud Noise To Receiving A Treet (Something Nice) It Takes Time And Aa Little Heart Ache, But If You Can Get It To Succeed It Is So Good, But I Must Point Out It Is The Signals We Give Out That Make The Difference, If WE Pretent It Is Nothing Or Something Nice And Deserving Aa Treet It Works, I Have Never Tried This On A Dog Of Your Age. I Truly Help It Works For You And More Importantly Your Dog.
Peter

[Twohoots]

Thanks very much - plenty to think about there.

[meadowsweet]

There are CD's you can get with fireworks and crow scarers etc on. Maybe you could try playing them really low in the house so they are only just perceptible to yourself then as he relaxes down to one level of the noise, knock it up ever to slightly, till he can cope with something a lot louder.

I've been playing the noises for my whippet and she actually seemed enjoyed watching the fireworks last year. We do re-enacting so I need her not to react to gun-fire and loud bangs.

I don't think age should be too much of an obstacle to a dog learning a new behaviour. If you are relaxed and consistent you should manage it.

I've just adopted a 3-4 year old rescue dog and going through training her to our regime and not her previous owners, very frustrating but I'm determined to get there with her. I'm not showing her my frustration and being patient with her "accidents" which she is finding truly bizarre as she seemed used to being hit for it and I don't do that.

Good luck and I hope your dog is able to get through all those noises that scare him.

[samdc]

i have just got a dog
and iv had one or two problems with it
i found the dog wisper to be a grate help
i typed the problem in to youtube and loads of adivce came up
the problems was not solved over night but knowing what to do really helped
give it a try
i would love to know how you got on