Tara doesn't like thunder. It may be related to her getting a fright from fireworks last year. She doesn't get very upset, but wants to run away from it or tries to hide under the table. She wouldn't eat her dinner until it finished and, also, wouldn't go out last night even though it had stopped by then - she got as far as the grass and heard a plane going overhead and then a train in the distance (thank goodness she has a strong bladder :) . Any tips or is it something that I must just accept ? (Fortunately, Bramble couldn't care less - so she hasn't picked up on anything from him)

Daisy

There are tapes available of 'scary noises' that you play very very quietly (so that the dog doesn't notice) and over the days get gradually louder. Play it while the dog is eating or generally relaxed and it should desensitise her.
:)

Hi,

Our beardies don't like thunder or fireworks, but they are a very noise sensitive breed anyway, which doesn't help.

Bach Flower Remedy - Rescue Remedy is good for shock and fright, you could try that, and the noise tape, they work really well in most cases.

manda
X

Thanks for the help :) Will try to find a tape - she has been very clingy today despite there being no thunder. Maybe she is coming into season (I keep blaming everything on that and I'm still waiting for it to happen :) )

Daisy

I used a long term course of herbal calmers (about a year to cover all seasons) and that helped a lot!
Bec

Hi Daisy,
I bought a copy of the tape for my aussies and it did work. I got it through the Blue Cross, when they did a talk at a venue near me. I am sure that you can order it still through them.......
As for Tara coming into season, well......... my aussie bitch is 21 months old........ and still no season, while her litter sister who also lives with me is due for her third season in August!!!!!
It drives me mad, as I held back on her agility training, so I could spay her before I started training her, but I have give up waiting and gone ahead with the training, and she is due to be spayed now at the end of May......
Hope Tara is quicker!!!!! :-)
Gabrielle

Hi,
When my dog was a pup fireworks were being used for months before November, so that he wouldn't get scared (like my last dog) I used a clicker !! :) every time there was an explosion (and there some very loud ones which made me jump out of my skin ) I clicked and treated him (cheese) I stayed with him when he went in the garden and any fireworks got the click and treat. It worked very well and now when he hears thunder or fireworks or any loud noises he looks for the treat. It might work for older dogs too.

Oh no ! don't say that I could be kept in suspense for months yet :) Tara has been going to agility since we got her - obviously she was only doing the tunnel for a long while (which she initially found a fascinating place to hide her toy or herself or to wee/poo :D ) Now she is older she has progressed to small jumps and really likes it. She gets very excited tho' and insists on bouncing over them :D We must do some work on controlling the excitement. I think that I must try to lose some weight, as when she learns to go flatter over the jumps, she is going to be even faster than our older dog :D

I will get hold a of a tape for the thunder, as I would like her to be calmer by Firework Night.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Daisy

Hi Daisy,
If I remember rightly, Tara's mum Spice was fairly late with her first season as well, so she could follow the pattern. I think Spice was around 18 months old.
Gabby's mum was around 19 months, so her daughter is definetely slower, whereas Scarlett the other sister who lives here was 11 month old, so who knows..........
LOL... who'd have hormones!!!!!!!! :-)
Gabrielle

Thanks :) :)

Daisy

Just an update :) Tara is definitely in season - she had been behaving very strangely and Bramble has been sniffing her a lot (as he has been neutered I'm hoping that is all he is going to do :) ) . Is there anything, problem-wise, that I should be looking out for ? Apart from being quiet and clingy she seems fine - so far :) I have bought some of those chlorophyll tablets.

Daisy

Serene-um tablets are excellent for hyperactive scared or aggressive dogs and they work!! my dog is petrified of fireworks so before firework night i supply these and he dont notice there going off

Where do you get these tablets from and what sort of dosage do you give ??
Does it tranquilize the dog or just calm them down ??
Thanks,
Gabrielle

Hi i got them from pets at home and it doesnt tranquillise them just calms them very much so i give them three to four days before firework night but apparently you can give them anytime and however long needed 30 tabs for around a fiver:) the dose depends on the dog breed and size it states on the box

Thanks for that, will definetly get some of these tablets in, just in case.........
Wonder if they will calm her down before she goes in the show ring?? :-)
Gabrielle

On the advice of a lot of people that it worked for I got a DAP diffuser last month from the Vets. We have fireworks every week pretty much from now till the BIG fireworks month in November. I decided we would just spend the money each month on the refill and keep it permanently in from now till the end of November - seems a small cost for my dog's sanity LOL

It's been in for just over 3 weeks. She is less freaked out by flies (yes buzzing flies freak her out) than ever, and yesterday there was someone doing target practice about a mile or so away while she was outside. She went in the house and sat in the middle of the living room. Previously she would have been in total panic/flight mode. She wasn't happy about the noises, but she wasn't shaking, digging, panicking or any of the normal symptoms

Last night they had the first of the summer Thursday night fireworks displays. She went outside to 'do her business' while there were some huge bangs going on. She wasn't happy about it, but she did it. Then she cuddled with me for another 1/2 hour while they went off - no shivering, no freaking out. Just wanting the reassuring cuddle.

I'm completely sold on it!

Wendy

Sage, our Lab. will sit quite unconcerned, all day listening to Shotguns firing, Fireworks, no problem, but Thunder....she finds the nearest thing to hide under.
The Vet believes its due to atmospheric pressure.?

BB

Can be reacting to the static which is giving off little shocks and distressing them. Putting them in the bathroom stops this happening. You can also reduce it by wiping a tumble drier conditioning cloth over their coat.
Lara x

Bathroom??????? Tumble Drier????????
Oh yer! then Mrs B will want an INSIDE lav as well! :rolleyes:

Thanks for that Lara, I'll try that next storm we have.

BB

LOL - Hubby is going to love me when I tell him that we have to buy a tumble drier so that I can have some conditioning clothes ready for the next lot of thunder

Daisy

Just out of interest, BB, which periodical do you hang on the nail in your 'bothy'?
;) :)

I should think your vet's right, BB - doesn't atmospheric pressure drop way down with thunderstorms? It could be hurting his ears, like when your ears 'pop' in an aeroplane.

Mrs B's still got some old copies of the Daily Sketch.
She tried House and Hound, shiney paper, no traction? appearantly. :D

Grandfather used to call it the 'thunder box', fits in nicely with this thread??

Well, I tried 'the lock your dog in the bathroom' trick last night, as we had one hell of a storm.
Didn't do much for her tho'. The daft old $od tried to hide behind the loo and got herself stuck.
So next time do I try barley sugar sweets?? ;)

Start shearing today....only 981 to go.

BB