SearchNeed Advise on Fear of Noises
Hi everyone, I am having a new issue with Loki, his fear of noises. About a couple months ago we were out walking and a gut sped by on one of those segways-(I think that's how it is spelled those motorized two wheelers) AND he was speaking loudly on his phone. Totally freaked Loki, he began to panic, tucked his tail and wanted to run. I stopped him, tried to relax and calm him but he could not calm down. We went home with him looking panicked over his shoulder all the way.
A little background on where we live, in the heart of downtown Chicago, there are trains, buses, cars constantly these things don't bother him. But since this incident things such as a garage door going up unexpectedly, or a child bouncing a ball and skateboards, scooters of any kind send him into a panic. I can now only walk him in a two block radius before he will hear something that will scare him. I have purchased rescue remedy and have given this to him and it has helped a little. I tried treats to distract him but as motivated as he usually is with food this has no effect. He will not even eat a treat and I have tried many. I praise him for every extra step we take out of his comfort zone but I am wondering if there is anything else I can try. Any advise would be appreciated.
Cyndy and Loki
Those were good ideas Tali! When I was reading the Cyndy's question I couldn't help but think of that Ceser episode with the scared Visla in downtown Long Beach. All he did was strap on his roller blades and ran past all the scary stuff. It helped keep the poor dog's mind from focusing on all the noise around him.
Thanks Tal, I actually remember that episode with Cesar and did try this for a day I will keep at it. We can certainly walk at a fast pace but jogging is not my forte (unless someone is chasing me with some type of weapon, lol). Hopefully if I keep at it he will gain his confidence back. Today a couple with their child in a stroller walked towards us and he began to panic, the couple appeared to be fearful of him and I told them he is afraid of your stroller you could see them physically calm down and laugh at the thought of this big dog scared of a little stroller. Loki did okay and at least did not try to run. I give him praise each time he makes it pass something. We keep working.
Hi, I totally agree with Talisin's suggestions, I remember that episode on Cesar too. The other thing I remember him saying is not to feel sorry for Loki when he panics but to keep calm and don't fuss him as this will only encourage his nervousness, keep moving forward in a confident manner and he should follow. Good luck, hope things improve soon, poor baby (don't tell him I said that though !)
If people passing by you with scary things are amenable, you could tell them you are training Loki, and ask them for assistance. Have treats! :-)
When Gabe was a pup, I'd take him to a park where there were lots of people, bicycles, skateboards, and kids. Lots of people would stop, and I would ask them for help. The kids got to ask Gabe to sit, and gave him treats. (And oh, boy, did they love that!)
The skateboarders would stop, and I'd line up treats on the skateboards. I'd put treats next to bicycle wheels.
Still to this day, if someone comes up to Gabe, he'll sit right down! (And then look at them like...HEY! Do you have a treat?)
For me, when Gabe is scared or upset, a redirect and SIT works well too. He's come so far! We had a Jack Russell rush up to him two days ago, and Gabe backed right up and sat right next to me. No agitation, no snapping, and they just sniffed each other. (Gabe has been bitten by a couple of loose dogs, and would go after loose dogs to get them to stay away from him.)
I was so proud of my boy! He trusted me to keep him safe.
Our Kevin (being young and meeting things for the first time) has been scared of anything on wheels on our walks. I'm not sure if Loki walks ahead of you or at heel, but if he walks ahead you can bring him back on your walks and make your presence known to him. When we see something new approaching on our walks, we (the humans) approach it first and talk to it first so Kevin sees it's okay. We ignore Kevin and let him come to it when he's ready. Treats or kibble are great for this too like Kim said.
Thank you everyone so much, I think I will try to work with the kids around here too like Kim mentioned we have tons of kids everywhere. Its the adults who are usually leery of Loki's size so this will be a good exercise for me as well to talk to people. Excellent idea of treats on the scooter or skateboards!
Scotty we won't tell him poor baby, he's still a brat as he is now shoving his nose into my armpit and giving his little moaning whine to stop typing and play with him. Today I will go out with him and try these things will keep all updated as we progress.
He's going for the laundry to make me pay attention to him.
Oh, I thought he was going to do the laundry. LOL If he does, can he come teach that trick to Tony and Tory? Sounds like you have some very good ideas to work with. Good luck and keep us posted.
Chris
Well it has been a couple of days now and we have made it completely around my complex without him going into panic mode. I do a power walk and keep him held close to me not in front. He is still on high alert but he hasn't pulled out my arm trying to get home.
Thats wonderful! I am so happy to hear it. Soon he will forget there is anything to be scared about and will be walking with his head and tail held high!
yayayayaya progress is always good, so happy for both of you!!!
Not sure what you are doing or saying when this happens but make sure you aren't inadvertantely encouraging his fear by talking softly or stroking/petting him saying 'its ok' like you would to a child. Dogs interrpret those calming, coddling actions as 'what I'm doing is correct and I should be scared'.
Don't baby them, When they do anything like that I would just keep walking like nothing is happening and if needed a quick correction on his collar and say 'Enough, Come on' in a normal but firm voice. You continuing like normal will help show him there is nothing to fear. If you react, he will react.
Thanks Lori and yes this is exactly what I had been doing, now I realize it was not helping. I am now forcing him along briskly when he hesitates. Today we met a standard poodle, Loki is always happy to greet dogs on his walk and it helps to take away his fears. I am finding that most men on our walks are not as fearful of him as women tend to be. Loki has been called a "great looking hound" quite a bit lately, not sure I like calling him a hound much even if he is. Anyway we are getting better.
What dog park do you take Loki to? Ava and I go to East Lakeshore village, Grant bark park, and sometimes that one at Kinzie and Jefferson. I don't remember your dog from anywhere downtown.
Hi Shaun, I am in the south loop near 14th Wabash, the park at 14th Clark, we've walked near Soldier Field. Good to know someone else on here from Chicago!
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Talisin's CrittersOh my I can see where this would have scared Loki but sorry to hear it has affected him in such a negative way. I know some here do not like anything that Cesar has to say or do, but I always find something in each person's ideas on dog behavior that works and on this problem I did take Cesar's suggestion and I had my husband try the method of keeping the dog's brain moving forward by keeping the dog moving forward - both keep the dog from focusing on the negative issues, we had a dog that was a frantic on walks and impossible - Goofy to be exact, and we followed the idea of moving forward at a very rapid pace without slowing down, and continued to "run" past the negative issues - worked liked a charm on Goofy. And since you say that you now are back to square one this should get you further and further down your own streets over time, and what happens is the dog's confidence builds as he realizes that he CAN pass these objects of fear without getting hurt, as the confidence builds you can then move further and further out but the key is to start the dog out moving at a a rapid pace and keep the intensity up as you pass those negative things the dog doesn't have time to slow down and focus cause he has to keep moving forward; plus if you could find someone with one of those things to come up and introduce Loki to the machine and the person it might desensitize him a bit, if you feel comfortable you could jog with Loki next to the segway thingy so he realizes it isn't there to hurt him or as a threat......just a couple of ideas.....