Dog scared to go out for a walk

bailey59

I have a 1 year old & 7 year old Staffy. The oldest one has always been scared of bangs and fireworks. We live close to farms and fields that seem to be letting off crow/pidgeon scaring bangs more and more often. This is really freaking out the oldest dog. To the point where he now refuses to go out. He sits on the settee shaking like a leaf wheen I get my coat on and he refuses to come to the door. I have bought the bang noise CD but he's not daft, he knows the bangs are coming from the CD/TV and not outside. I honestly pretend nothing has banged when we are out and act normally but as soon as it happens he turns and heads for home.Sometimes its hard not to shout at him but I try and stay calm, difficult when I am being dragged home though! A 3stone staffy pulling a 9stone woman home is not good. I daren't let him off lead now in his once favourite field cos the last time I did and he heard a bang he ran off. Luckily he came back before he got harmed. So now I have to coax him out of the house, we get so far which is not vary far at all, could be 3 or 4 houses down the street, he does his business, then he thinks 'right thats me done now can i go home' and he turns round and if he could he would run home. I have tried just going round the next round and back again but he starts to hyperventalate if he cant see the house. Excuse the spelling. He used to love his walks. I drive him different places instead of doing local walks but then we hear bangs there 2 and then he hates going back there. Its now turning into a proper nightmare.
I now have a 1 year old staffy that loves walks and needs to go out, its not fair, they should be going out together like they did a few months ago. We live approx 2 miles from a clay pidgeon shooting place so its that kind of noise thats freaking him out. Also, and I dont know if this would make a difference but about 5 months ago the 7 year old male was castrated because of the new female pup. He was quiet and calm but timid before then, could this have made him worse? I just want him to be happy and enjoy walks again. Any advice please????

ameliarate

Hi, didn't want to read and run, though I can't say I have much in the way of advice.

The only thing I can suggest is, if you can, try taking him to places where you are fairly confident that there wont be a lot of loud bangs and see if he is better there.

I can't see how the castration would have affected him, but it might be worth talking to your vet about.

I hope you get the problem sorted.

loulou123

I have been in this position, so feel for you and your doggie.

My last dog became terrified of all things that 'bang' after someone let a banger off near him when he was about 9. (up until that point he had been fine)

I was living in the middle of the country side at the time, so the crow scarers were also joined by farmers shooting game in the evenings too - and dont even mention fireworks time of year! He used to do the same as your describing 'nip out' to do his business and then be straight off home at 100 mph.

I tried all sorts of things, one thing i had some success with was food treats. So i'd make him walk a few feet and throw a small piece of cheese (his favourite) a few more feet in front of him, so he'd have to walk a bit further and then repeat! Sometimes this would work better than others.

In the end, i took him to the vets and he saw a behaviourist, which still didnt help too much, but he became a bit better and would actually go out sometimes without too much of a struggle.

Have you got a car? As im wondering if taking him away from the area which he is scared of is an option for you?

Sorry i havent been able to be very much help, just wanted you to know i no how you feel.

kazwookie

Why not ring up the clay pigeon place and ask what their opening / shooting times are, and walk the dog when they are closed / not shooting.

bailey59

Never thought about Kazwookie! Will phone tomorrow. Unfortunately its not just that place, its also farms etc round us, but I am going to phone them all. I drive him all over but if we go to a favourite place and he hears something like a bang or even an ambulance he freaks then that favourite place becomes a place he wont go to again. I find us going further and further from home. I will try the treats loulou but i doubt it will work, have tried before and when he is in the zone thats it. thanks all xxx all advice and stories taken on board