Me again...

ok, so Sonny has a problem with loud 'bangs' or noises, esp fireworks... And now it's building up to that crazy time where fireworks are being let off all the time in the lead up to Nov 5th...

Sonny's reaction tho is one I've just 'put up with' but it's kinda stressing me out a bit now, and forseeing it's only gonna get worse as the noises get worse, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to cope with or even alter his behaviour?

What he does is the noise - firework let's say - goes off kinda like a gunshot or car backfiring... he growls, and immediately grabs something in his mouth - can be the nearest thing no matter what it is... tonight the fireworks have started and he's grabbed a shoe, his dog cushion, a sofa scatter cushion, a coke bottle... and what he does is what I call the 'death shake' - he shakes his head violently from side to side with the object in his mouth, growls a lot and runs/paces frantically around the room...

It's awful cos he's otherwise perfect inside... And there's no way to get him to stop (that I've found anyways) so it usually means I have to turn up the TV really loud in an effort to drown out the outside noises in a bid to get his focus off the sounds... yesterday he got hold of his bed cushion and was shaking it around the room and sent some candles I had on flying - shattering one of the glass holders which then led to pandemonium as he was freaking out at the noises and I was panicking thinking they were gonna get glass in their paws...

Any ideas on why he does this? and is there anything to do to train him out of this behaviour? It sometimes is quite an intense response to the noises - and it is only 'gunshot' type noises, nothing else triggers it, that we were worried over my niece coming here - all I could imagine was Sonny going into this reaction and grabbing her... like I said he grabs a cushion off the sofa, a shoe, a remote... whatevers nearest and shakes it 'to death'....

It's so bad that for months I've been wondering what to do over bonfire night... there are an awful lot of people nearby - including people who live in this cul-de-sac here - that let off fireworks... Archie is superb and not phased by them but Sonny's reaction sometimes makes me think he could give himself a heart attack over this if he had to endure a whole evening of it... I did think about a sedative from the vets (just for Nov 5th) like I know some people use, but after hearing a post on here last year about a dog that had been given a sedative but then broke it's neck and died after falling off a bed whilst drugged this way, I've been totally unsure of what's best.... I want to give them as easy a time of it as possible....

I wish I could help Tinks, fortunately we don't suffer with the reaction to bangs like that here but all I have read is that gundogs are often introduced to gun shot in stages but it doesn't seem that there'll be enough time to do this for Sonny and fireworks often give off such extreme sounds that even that may not help.

The other thought is could a kind of TTouch work? It certainly had a very profound effect on the Fling.

Hope you get some more help

Steve

I can empathise with you. My big Bracken became a quivering wreck at the sound of any firework, even sparklers. I tried taking him to bed, putting cotton wool in his ears, turning the TV up, rescue remedy, everything. Nothing worked

Some people believe a combination of rescue remedy and a tight t shirt is beneficial. But I guess it all depends on the severity of the reaction.

I took advice from others here when I got Brodie by taking him outside as a puppy when fireworks were going off before bonfire night, and playing games with him to distract him and help him associate fireworks with nice stuff. It seems to have worked.

But my old Hamish is still terrified by fireworks. The best he has been was when he was out walking on the golf course whilst some were going off. He was more interested in the smells of rabbits.

But I doubt half a dozen rabbits running around my living room would last long with Brodie.

Good luck in finding a solution.

I would dose him with liquid Valarian, 1ml morning and evening.

It will help keep him calm and make him sleepy.

Hi Tinks

Have you tried desensitising hinm to these noises using something like a 'sounds scary' CD????

Another thing you could try ready for the weeks leading up to and after Nov 5th is a DAP collar, also, T-Shirts put on your dog (tight ones) can help them find comfort, I also ply mine with rescue remedy.

I think Sonny has chosen his own 'way' of dealing with his anxiety in the picking up of 'things' - Princess will do exactly the same when she is stressed at home. For me it is not too much of an issue . . it is her way of coping and I don't feel the need to stop her (though she hasn't picked up anything valuable or broken anything yet )

As you have already said, you are wary of using sedatives, and unless other options have been exhausted and the dog may be at risk of seriously injuring itself or others, I wouldn't go down that route. Some people still recommend use of ACP's (tranquilisers) for fera/phobia of these types of noises. ACP's stop the dog from being able to respond to the stimulus . . . but they are still fully aware of it and just unable to do anything about it . . . . that must be sooooo frightening for them.

Hope you get somewhere with him

I didn't realise this... and you're right, how scarey for them... kinda like a human being awake during an op, feeling the pain but not being able to stop it...

TTouch is something I do with both dogs Steve, and I can't recommend it enough... Archie responds the most, and some improvements on him I can't believe... But Sonny isn't a 'touchy feely' dog anyways... he's a bit of a grump/loner when he wants to be That said, he loves being groomed so was wondering if I could keep a brush on the side, handy so that if noises start then I can distract with some grooming...

And Cath... when he's outside, where the noises are louder etc, I'd have thought he'd have been worse but he's fine and if we're on walkies he ignores them as he's got so many other distractions around him...

I'm interested about the 'tight t-shirt' you guys mention... I don't get how this helps, wouldn't they just feel more restricted?! and - sorry this is a daft question - do you mean put it on them with their legs through the arm holes or 'wrapping' them in it? sorry, just can't seem to visualise what you mean or how this wouldn't wind him up even more?

thanks tho for such a response, to be honest it's not up there with 'major' issues I know some people have with their dogs, and nope he hasn't damaged anything important so far... I just hate that he gets wound up by it... he can be snoring on the floor (like they both are now) and then a gunshot sound (can even be off the tv not just outside - washing powder commercials are the worst ) and he's up, alert, hyper and death shaking whatever's in reach... his blood pressure must go steaming up in seconds! poor lad...

I like the idea of de-sensitising him to it, particular the cd... The boys have responded amazingly to 'leave it' and 'wait' so maybe a similar command ('easy','steady'?!) might work in conditioning Sonny into a certain response (calm, chilled, relaxed) upon hearing these loud bangs... does that sound feasible?!

The t-shirt is like a comfort blanket . . I know TTouch people use them too - it certainly helps with Star - he like to try and 'bury' himself but with his 'goldigga' tight fitting supa sexy tank top he is a lot more at easy. I suppose it may act in a similar way to when we are anxious - I for one reach for the Blankets and wrap myself up to comfort myself (granted I usually have chocolates and wine which help)

The CD can certainly help, can pop one to you if you like?

Old Hamish sporting his macho outdoor t shirt - I use this one to keep his belly clean on wet walks. He has a tighter one for fireworks nights.

see, it makes sense when I think of it like this, thanks for explaining it so my 'der' head can catch up... I too have a comfort 'blanket' - it's really an old huge cardigan of my nan's, the ugliest grey paisley cardy that only grandma's would ever buy - but I know exactly what you mean, get Sonny something that he can feel snug within, and know when he sees it then it's snuggle time or has only calm connotations associated with it...

Thanks so much for the CD offer, but no need thanks, since you mentioned it, whilst I've been waffling on here I've been downloading sounds in the background and burning them to cd - ones that I know really push his buttons - fireworks, the bloomin' Surf washing powder commercial , gunshots... it really is only this that he reacts to, any other sounds and he's fine... But thanks, the idea alone is much appreciated...!!

Oooo, looking good H!

Thanks Additions to Sonny's wardrobe promptly going to be sourced at the car boot tomorrow!