Heidi is now 6 months old and is getting more and more frightened of cars going past as we walk along the road. When she was small we just carried on walking and ignored her reaction as we were advised to do. Now she is a lot bigger and stronger she almost strangles her self with the lead to get away from the car or vehicle as it goes past. I've tried stopping and diverting her attention as the vehicles approach, but she just seems totally focused on getting away from the noise.
She has absolutely no problem with travelling in the car and needs no encouragement to jump in the back to go out.
I took her to the the local super market and DIY store, and just walked around the car park for awhile, but she just got more and more worked up. I also parked the car near a busy junction, opened the tail gate and sat in the back with her (people thought I was mad) she was a little easier with the cars, but still kept her eyes on them and was jumpy.
she's also becoming more frightened of cows and horses, I introduced her to them when she was very small, and although she was wary, she took an interest in them, but now if we have to cross a field with them in, I go the short route and she skirts around the edge of the field keeping plenty of distant between her and them.
She went to socialisation classes as a puppy and has lots of doggy friends she plays with on the beach and she's always willing to meet new dogs, although she is very submissive when she first meets them. We did all we could to introduce to her new sights and sounds etc, but we can't understand why she should be like this, it really is no fun trying to walk round the village with Heidi trying to leg it through a gap in the hedge every time she hears a car. I now drive to the beach rather then drag her half a mile along a road, which obviously isn't solving the problem, and going in to town with her has become a NO NO.
In all other respects she's brilliant, but I think if we don't sort this out soon, it could develop in to a major problem.
Any suggestions whould be gratefully recieved .

Robert.

Have you had Heidi from a very very young pup ?
Did she have any bad experiences that you can remember - maybe a car driving too close or the like ?
Perhaps you could seek advice from animal behaviourist for any ideas or tips .
Pup is ok with cars but it must be a big problem for you both as they seem to be everywhere you go
Hope you sort it out
Lel

We've had Heidi since she was eight weeks old, and really from the first time we started walking her she's been wary of cars passing by, I was always careful to move well away from the curb to begin with, in the past week or so, this wariness has turned in to an urgent need to be as far away as possible from the passing traffic. She's never had any near misses with cars or any think like that, and I wonder if has any thing to do with her being naturally submissive.
I had thought about seeing a behaviour therapist, but I thought may be some one may have had a similar expierance. Strange thing is we live near a helicopter base on The Lizard, and helicopters often pass so close that we wave to one another, and she has just accepted these as a fact of life, and they certainly make more noise then any car, well apart from the ones with out exhausts the youngsters seem to like these days LOL :) She is a Springer Spaniel so naturally she's mad any way, wondered if this had any thing to do with it. Just bathed her by the way, after she got up close and personal with a dead seagull, I think she was tying to shake some life back in to it, on the beach this afternoon, and the noise of the hair dryer doesn't bother her.

She is of the kind of age where all sorts of phobias can get to her. I had a Lab who would not walk past some chairs in a hall. I just ignored it and it disappeared as suddenly as it started. (But it did take several weeks!)

When Anna was young she had a little bit of a thing about traffic. Along at the corner of the road is a bench seat. I walked along there and just sat and read the morning paper for a few days. Problem gone! The paper made it quite plain to Anna that I was not the slightest bit bothered. Also, no amount of pulling around was going to make a jot of difference until I had finished the paper.

As far as live stock is concerned, if you ever intend to work her, whether to the gun or in working tests she will need to be bomb proof with anything. Again I would take her into the field on the lead. Start off keeping well clear of everything and gradually, over a period of time get a little closer until you are finally walking straight through the middle. Don’t make a big thing about either traffic or livestock. Just treat it as if they are not there.

Best wishes, John

I'm afraid I can offer no advice as i have a border collie aged 14 months who is still terrified of cars. Everyone always said that she would grow out of it or get used to cars but we are still suffering. What ever you do, do get help now because it could become a long term problem.

Your fearful dog may be picking up messages from you. Your stress at her reactions is going right down the lead. You may want to get a companion with a calm dog to walk with you and Heidi to give you both a distraction from your stress.

To get her past this, you might consider getting medication from your vet for a month or two before this behaviour pattern becomes too embedded. It is well worth the cost if you can nip this problem at 6 months of age.

Is there quiet place you can go that has access for a car? If so, have a friend drive the car back and forth slowly, not too close and reward the dog everytime she doesn't fuss. Don't rush things, but slowly have the car move closer and closer. Back off if the dog fusses, then reward for calm behavior. This could take time. The important thing is don't let the dog get so scared she wants to run. Once she is calm with the car close to her, get another car and do the same thing. That way you know that it's not just that car she is ok with.