scared of noises dog

betterlatethannever

Hi,
I have a one year old Lhasa Apso, (female)
Shes terrified of noise. I can't walk her long a main road as any motorbikes/lorries/buses/slightly noisy cars scare her so much its pitiful. Her tail goes down between her legs, her head goes down and she tries to pull me back home.
She's always been great off the lead and gets walked in the park twice a day like this. Last week there was a noise, some distance off, and she ran home, across a busy main road and ignored my calls (ok screams) thankfully she was ok. This has now happened again and i have to keep her on the lead in the park.

Is there anyway i can get her out of this habit? my last Apso was fine, though she hated fireworks and thunder-as most dogs do.
Could a vet help or is there anything i can do to get her less nervy.
She's such a confident little love the rest of the time and really brave too (her best friend is a rottweiler) so i don't get this at all.
Can anyone help me please.

Thank you

pboae

Have a look at this CD
http://www.woofnwhiskers.co.uk/how-to-use-the-sounds-for-behaviour-therapy-cd-a-29.html

There's quite a few of them on the market, and they are all pretty much the same, but that site happens to have a good description of how to use it.

The idea is that you play it very very quietly in the house at first, and the gradually make it louder. It won't immediately generalise to sounds outdoors, but you should see an improvement over time. Then when she is a little less nervy you can start doing some work outside too. Sitting near (but not too near) a busy road and just talking and playing with her while lorries go past.

It's important that you don't *specifically* reinforce her fear response. So don't wait till a noisy thing passes and then go to comfort her, instead make the whole event a positive one, during which noisy things sometimes happen, but they don't matter, so just ignore them. Not sure I have explained that very well, so if you aren't sure what I mean, just ask :-)

sammy_kaye18

I know you can get a sort of mild doggy relaxant - its used mainly for things like bonfire night/construction work/loud noise in general so the dog is calmer during the noise and not as egdy. It doesnt harm the dog in any way and if i remember rightly i think it is herbal so wont effect any other meds the dog might be on (although would advise mentioning that the dog is on them to a vet if this arises jsut incase!) or need - its put in there water if i remember rightly too. Will see if i cna find it for you.
There is one called Valarium compound which is drops you can put on teh tongue or in water/food and the otehr one is called Mellow Out but im not sure which ones are on offer. My dog has a herbal rememdy tablet that i mix in with his food for a few days over bonfire night - as well as a thick fleece curtain over the door to keep it dark for him but he is happy and content and relaxed (hes a jack russell!).

Other than that i would say lots of praise. Plus if she is nervous can you not try keeping her on her lead but when you see she is scared/unsettled by noise - go down to her level and give her lots of cuddles,fuss and praise to instil in her that your still there and that shes ok where she is - adn that the nosie is nothign to be scared of. so she wont feel the need top bolt off at the first sign of what she deems 'danger'. I mean that in a constructive way though like showing her her fear is actually nothing to be scared of.

betterlatethannever

Thanks for the advice.

I'm going to give the CD a try. Not much to lose if it doesn't work

Sammy-kaye. The problem is we don't see it coming.She hears things we don't. One second she is fine the next, shes not and she's gone. We've tried the praise bit and telling her off for running off. Its now a case of having to keep her ont he lead at all times. Its a shame as shes such a sociable dog and likes to play with all the other dogs in the park, which she can't really do on the lead.

I did wonder if someone in the park had a dog whistle and that was upsetting her, but i can't find out.

I will investiagte the meds though. thanks

t_r

Sounds like you have a nervous dog not your fault she will have been born that way. You cant beat soacialization introduce the dog strange noises in a controlled area. If where you walk the dog is not secure don't let her off lead but keep her on a long lead (cant remember what they are called but you will know what I mean if you have a nose around) Good place to get doggy advice is dogpages.org

t_r

Oh lots to try before drugs there are some very good trainers and behaviourists out there who will help you resolve this Not to dear either my trainer charges around £300 for one year or something like £400 for the lifetime of the dog.

RooBee

If you get the CD, it's a good idea to play it while she's eating, playing or doing other fun stuff so that she learns a positive association with noise. Also, start out with it barely audible to you and VERY gradually increase the volume. I recommended this to my friend last year for her Yorkie which was petrified by fireworks. She started to play the CD at mealtimes etc about 2 months before 'firework season' and by the time it came around, the dog was fine with all but the very loudest fireworks.

Errata

How about clattering around in the kitchen, bathroom, any room with a hard floor, at every opportunity and getting the whole family to constantly drop things ? The other thing I would do is completely ignore her response to loud noises as she might start to understand any response from you means she's right to behave the way she does. You're wise to keep her on a lead at all times until this is sorted out - Lhaso's can't half shift !

betterlatethannever

:rotfl: your right, Lhasas can move very fast for something so little.

I know all dogs have acute hearing but hers seems exceptionally so. She can hear a biscuit tin being opened through several walls and doors:rolleyes:

The whole nervousness is odd though because, as i said shes a confident, brave little thing (again very Lhasa)

Thanks for all your advice and help.:T
I shall try ALL of it and see how it goes.

Errata

I rbelieve they were bread for their acute hearing, came in handy when they were guarding the temples. Although I have to say that any temple my LA guarded would be demolished by it in ten minutes flat.
They seem to be quite tough and ready to front up to anything, but perhaps occasionally they just latch onto something and decide to throw a wobbler. Good luck.

pboae

Please be careful taking the DIY approach and making lots of noise in the house. It can work, but it can also make a dog a lot worse. The last thing you want it for her to become fearful and anxious in the house as well, always waiting for the nxet scary noise. Maybe that's something you could build up to gradually with her.