Keeping a 10mo Shih-Tsu this weekend who is admirable except extreme
reactivity to loud, unexpected noises. Because they're unexpected, I
can't prepare him for them. (Probably, this started when his owner took
him to a July 4th display when he was a pup. They don't think it's much
of a problem because they think all little dogs are that way. Little
dogs suffer from low expectations.)
I'm lacking a confederate this weekend who can drop noisy objects in
another room. I'm thinking of putting strings on heavy pots that I can
tip over from across the room.
His owner's brought him un-neutered, without tags, microchip or other
ID, an indication there will be no follow-up. I've never had any luck
with those recordings of noises; I think dogs can tell the difference,
don't you?
Any inspirations? Thanks.

(Chris Williams) wrote in
:

Little dogs suffer from low expectations.)

They do, indeed. Do *not* get me started on the Chihuahua in #5.
Aieee!

Any inspirations? Thanks.

I don't think this is something you fix in the short term. My
approach has been to make a big joke of it whenever my dog startles
at loud noises. I laugh and tell her not to be a dumbass. I don't
think setting her up with deliberate noises would be very helpful,
but maybe someone else has a different perspective?

I've had Harriet 8 years, and she still startles at many loud, sudden
noises. Not as often, and not as violently (she used to lose bladder
and bowel control), but she's still tweaky.

Tangent: One of the things she was tweaky about, way back when, was
loud voices. Any time someone raised their voice, she'd cower and
try to hide. I've worked with her, using various levels of vocal
volume and intensity, and she *has* improved, there. We occasionally
do the "I'm shouting at you because you're a goddamn good dog!"
routine. She "gets it" and now, it turns her into a quivering,
boinging, kidney beaning damnfinehappydawg. Weirdo.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

Shelly, I think "tweaky" is the best you can hope for even after much
hard work. I'm following your lead: I've got several noisy objects on
strings and intend to get him very involved with hilarious play when I
pull them down and keep right on going.

His family has been good about following detailed, specific
instructions. They got him through the first months with no rough play,
and he has a nice termperament. Then, they overlook the most obvious
things.

Anecdote: at an APDT conference, a trainer brought her 6mo pup as a demo
dog. They started up some back stairs just when a noisy, laughing group
started down. He panicked, and it took her 6 months to get him to go up
stairs. And, she's a _gifted_ trainer.

"Chris Williams" wrote in message
...
Keeping a 10mo Shih-Tsu this weekend who is admirable except extreme
reactivity to loud, unexpected noises. Because they're unexpected, I
can't prepare him for them. (Probably, this started when his owner took
him to a July 4th display when he was a pup. They don't think it's much
of a problem because they think all little dogs are that way. Little
dogs suffer from low expectations.)
I'm lacking a confederate this weekend who can drop noisy objects in
another room. I'm thinking of putting strings on heavy pots that I can
tip over from across the room.
His owner's brought him un-neutered, without tags, microchip or other
ID, an indication there will be no follow-up. I've never had any luck
with those recordings of noises; I think dogs can tell the difference,
don't you?
Any inspirations? Thanks.

Perhaps it would best to advise the owners how to tackle this. The pup
will be in a strange place and doesn't know you so he's going to be more
stressed
than normal, even before you start with the noises.
You could suggest a DAP collar for him.
I did the same as Shelly with my little dog, speaking in a jolly voice
and doing a funny dance though other humans find that scary Gand it
worked for him.
Alison

"Alison" said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

I did the same as Shelly with my little dog, speaking in a
jolly voice and doing a funny dance though other humans
find that scary Gand it worked for him

I like the method I used for good ol' Murphy's fear of thunder:
sitting in front of the big bay window during lightning storms,
drinking wine and eating dog biscuits.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

You bring up something I have long wondered about. Didn't know they
made Dog Appeasing Peronome collars; I've only seen the plug-ins. Has
anyone had experience with either? Would you recommend them?
Gonna call the local pet shops. If they have 'em, I'll dash right
out. It's worth a try.

"Rocky" wrote in message
...
(snip)
I like the method I used for good ol' Murphy's fear of thunder:
sitting in front of the big bay window during lightning storms,
drinking wine and eating dog biscuits.

Ahh..it just doesn't get any better than that...

Rocky wrote:

"Alison" said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:


I did the same as Shelly with my little dog, speaking in a
jolly voice and doing a funny dance though other humans
find that scary Gand it worked for him


I like the method I used for good ol' Murphy's fear of thunder:
sitting in front of the big bay window during lightning storms,
drinking wine and eating dog biscuits.

What works for Scully:

At the first signs of an oncoming storm, or when she first displays
signs of anxiety we go out to the kitchen and everybody has a chance to
work for pieces of cheese. One of Scully's treats also contains 5 mg of
diazepam.

We go back to the bedroom, close the blinds, turn on the oscillating fan
and the bathroom exhaust fan to provide a little white noise. We make a
nest of pillows on the bed and turn on the tv. Then I pull her in close
and we spoon, with her head tucked under my chin and my arm across her
chest. No jolly talk, no "poor babies", just the occasional "put your
head down, I can't see".

In full body contact like this I used to be able to pinpoint, to the
minute, when she'd absorbed enough of the diazepam to start relieving
her anxiety. Lately it starts sooner, too soon for it to be the pill
alone working. I think that the she finds the whole ritual comforting,
and since she's learned that she'll be feeling better soon, that she's
not going to feel like this forever, she begins relaxing almost immediately.

It would be nice to eventually be able to just do the behavioral stuff
instead of medicating her, but even if we never get to that point, I
don't see anything wrong with relieving such abject terror and anxiety
chemically.

Kathleen, it sounds as if you're using a much superior, human version
of the "anxiety wrap".
Has anyone tried that? I think Temple Grandin brought it to attention
in her "Animals in Translation" when she wrote she uses it for her own
autism as well as for animals. Now, I see it advertized in "dog-mags"
and available from online pet suppliers.

Kathleen said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

It would be nice to eventually be able to just do the
behavioral stuff instead of medicating her, but even if we
never get to that point, I don't see anything wrong with
relieving such abject terror and anxiety chemically.

What works fastest, works best. I see nothing wrong with
appropriate drugs and have said so.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.