I'm really worried I may have seriously frightened my doberpup. I was in the kitchen cooking (he was on his sofa asleep) when I dropped a pan which made a big crash. Cam leapt off the sofa, legged it down the corridor, crashed through our stairgate and dashed upstairs. I've never seen him so scared. He refused to come down and wouldn't be led, so I had to carry him down (giving myself about 5 hernias in the process). I didn't make a fuss of him at all because I thought it best to pretend that nothing unusual had happened and let him get over it in his own time. However, he was very reluctant to go back in the kitchen and when I led him back in he refused to settle and kept scratching on the door (which I'd closed) to get out. I opened the back door and he immediately dashed outside to the farthest corner of the yard, where he sat for ages whimpering. He eventually sneaked back in and went to sit in his crate (which he hardly goes in now he has a sofa). When I finished cooking (having ignored him all this time, other than to make him do a sit and stay for a tripestick to take his mind off things) I let him in the living room with my husband, and he's now fast asleep.

Cam is a really confident pup, and has never behaved like this before ... I've even made a point of regularly dropping things on the floor to make a noise (as per the breeder's instructions) to desensitize him. Do you think he's just leaving the fear-free puppy stage and is now becoming a bit more of a scaredy cat?

I feel really traumatized myself. Poor Cammy. <sob> Time for another glass of wine.

Should I have done anything any different?

How old is Cam now Jo ??
I know they go through a scaredy cat phase where they act scared/strange of things that normally didnt bother them previously - usually about 8 (ish) months old.
I think in my Staffy book its called Crouching tigers
Have another glass of wine - he'll be fine !! ;)

If ever you do anything like that never EVER pander to the dog. Always laugh it off and tell him not to be so silly, leave him where he is and get on with what you are doing. The quick return to normality will do more than anything to convince him that nothing disastrous has happened.

Best wishes, John

I agree with John ..with dogs and kids it is ALWAYS better to try and ignore the situation until they have clamed down ...if they get no reaction they tend to get less stressed the next time it happens :)

Melody :)

IT depends on how old he is, and what happens under similar circumstances in the near future (maybe you could have a session of gentle banging tins together while somebody feeds him treats nearby? Doing it several times a day over the next few days should help him connect similar sounds with something nicer and negate the original shock)

This sotry reminds me of the time our hall ceiling collapsed while my dog was downstairs and I was upstairs - he joined me in double quick time and refused to go downstairs for several hours :(

I don't think he's damaged although you sound really shook up, have another glass of wine ;)

It remind me also of a time I was walking a collieX we had Cody we were strolling along the street and right in front of us a man appeared from a "manhole" God it scared me and the dog.

But Cody being Cody was thereafter fascinated by Manholes always looking for a man to come out of one, sadly no one ever did. But the look on his face when he saw a manhole was funny. But he wouldn't walk on one.

Karen

Poor Cody. What a disappointment to him!

Well, Cam still doesn't want to go into the kitchen but we've been studiously ignoring his fear all evening and he does seem a bit better. We've had a game of "find it" in the kitchen which was a success so hopefully the trauma is over and I don't have to go into therapy.

Thanks for your comments.

Jo

How is Cam today ? I am sure he is fine and will have forgotten about it ! He was probably in the middle of a really good dream when you so rudely woke him up !! :D :D

Lucy

He's still not happy in the kitchen - every time I open the dishwasher he scampers out of the room. But, he's recovered enough to steal my husband's cup of tea this morning and chew the telephone. :D

How's your young'un? :)

By the way Lel - Cam's four and a half months now.

Jo

If he has chewed the phone and had the cup of tea then he is OK ! They do have funny days when they are babies !

MB is fine although going thro her first season so we are doing the doggie version of staying in bed all day eating chocolate routine witha hot water bottle. She is slowly coming round but it has hit her hard !! Poor girl ! :)

Lucy

Years ago my sister noticed her puppy did not like the sound of metal clanging. Her rubbish bins were in the garden, which was fenced for the dog. They were plastic and her pup was constantly trying to topple them over for a feast. So -- my sister switched the plastic bins for metal ones -- problem solved. If she sees her now adult dog getting too comfortable with the bins she gives them a good rattle and that does the trick for the next couple of months. :-)

I am sure CAM will be fine - he was just startled. Lots of dogs do not like the sound of pans clanging. None of mine have every liked the sound of foil, I think the sound must be very irritating to them. Of course, they have all managed to make the exception for foil which contains food!

Stacey

hi Jo,

I'm sure Cam will come round. I was emptying the dishwasher one day (so I could fill it!!!) and i dropped a baking tray. Lola nearly had a heart attack. She is a bit of a chicken with loud noises anyway and she's also wary of foil!. In fact she's a chicken in many situations. We are having a big problem with her and our two ancient cats.:)
Annie