Hi Guys,
Yet another problem has come up ,my 1 year old G.R Lucy.Has started to panic in public places.When she is on a lead and we take her along the street were there is noise and peole she panics,she shakes and pulls at the lead trying to get away from things.we went to great lengths with her when we got her and she was very used to going in places and didn't bother walking along.but now she is frightened.She is not frightened of other dogs she wants to play with every dog she sees and loves people,infact she thinks her only point of being alive is to be fussed over.I am in a wheelchair and she is not frightened of my chair. she is highly intelligent and fetchs things she just seems to have developed a fear of noisy places what can we do we want to take her on holiday but that is an impossiability,can anyone help?
    

Do you know if there has been any particular thing which has set this off? Have you been able to take her to places where there are noisy people previously with no trouble? :)

I'm a bit confused at " .....very used to going in places and didn't bother walking along. but now she is frightened...."

What exactly are the noisy places and what sort of noise? :) For example do you take her into crowded busy shops or do you mean she tends to get upset when approaching noisy places/people/things?

It would probably be worth getting her checked by a vet to start as she may have a problem with hearing, eyesight or even a barely noticeable physical problem which causes her to be anxious in case she can't be in control of it as she sees it. She may even have some sort of agorophobia or claustrophobia - not that common but it does happen.

How is she with noises at home - and what about fireworks, how was she with those?

Lindsay

Hi Lindsay,

When she was young we were able to take her in pets at home and shopping walking down streets with noise and people.
We tried have tried taking her this year and she is terrified ,she doesn't like sudden bangs and hates fireworks.she is fine anywhere were she isn't hemmed in she doesn't like boxes or people wearing hats or walking sticks.However she hasn't had any bad experiences with these things.She got worse when we went away and she stayed with my mum ,but she stayed at our house.She is nearly always with us or with my mum.she is fine in the car. she has been to the vets alot since she was a pup she has had some problems and has a pork allergy but nothing to do with her being frightened.
Perhaps we baby her to much ,she cries when we leave her but isn't unduely worried settles down and goes to sleep.
we are totally at a loss. maybe she just doesn't like crowded noisy places.

When she shows her fear, how have you been reacting to her behaviour?

we have tried to comfort her,telling her she is okay.we have also tried to ignore her behaviour but you want to tell her shes okay.
she climbs on to my footplates with her front paws and she leans on my legs when she is really scared and I just stroke her and talk to her
I guess this must be wrong?

If it were me, I'd keep exposing her to these places, trying to find a little less noisy places first. And try not to make too much fuss over comforting her. I know it's hard, but sometimes the dog thinks you're rewarding that attitude. If you can talk in more of a matter of fact way and downplay the fear. When she seems more OK with it than other times, give her a treat and make a fuss. Try to avoid any exceptionally overwhelming or frightening experience. She may just be having a fear period set back. Just keep on exposing her. She'll probably get use to it after a while.

Carrie

I'm no expert, but what I would do if she were my dog is gradually expose her to the situations she finds scary. I wouldn't 'throw her in at the deep end' with a walk through the shoping centre on a Saturday, but find a similar place on a quieter time, and give her lots of praise and strokes when she isn't acting fearful. Gradually build up her confidence like this, getting closer to potential 'trouble spots' (this may take several days) praising the good behaviour. As soon as she acts fearful I would stop. And ignore her. No stroking, no eye contact, no 'reassurance', in case she is interpreting this as praise for the behaviour. Just stand still. When she stands quietly beside you (which may take several minutes because she may start jumping up to find out why you are ignoring her) then you can praise, and using your judgement, decide whether to go forward or another direction.

Don't expect her to be 'cured' quickly though. You may well have several weeks of work ahead of you. It is important not to rush each stage. Good luck!

Thanks guys that sounds sensible,
we have been trying her under the canopy in tescos,she hated that at first. but we try to go quite oftern I sit outside with her she is getting better until someone carrying something comes near by.
I guess it was a bit ambitious trying at the high st.I will be a bit more patient

What kind of dog is it? I don't know what GR means? I'm curious about temperament.

Golden retreaver she is so intelligent,she gets the washing out of the machine and the drier,fetchs the mail
all really good stuff,we have taught her ourselves.
she is really good but very head strong sometimes she just won't do anything ,I guess this is down to her age.

It may be that she was well socialised, but it wasn't carried on specifically as she passed her teens. You obviously did very well in making sure she was fine as a pup but sometimes sensitive types tend to need a sort of ongoing socialisation or they get out of the habit of it, just like people :D It's also advisable to introduce the tiny pup to as many "types" as possible - hat wearers, people wearing rucksacks and with walking sticks...and son on! Dogs who tend to be exposed to only certian "types" tend to be a little mustified when they suddenly come across an unfamiliar human shape. If only we could talk  to them!

I agree with the other's advice, try to slowly de-sensitise her (never force her or that could make it worse) and try not to actually do what she might see as praise if she is scared. I would be as positive and normal as you can. If she enjoys a particular food reward or toy, you could bring this out when approaching noisey things and give her a great time, lots of fun and treats and games, and if this stops as soon as the noisy things are past, she may start to realise noisu things are in fact rather nice. It doesn't matter if she is acting up at the time, as what you will be doing is classical conditioning which is about association and reflex, rather than about consequences. If that sounds odd do ask and i'll try to explain further :)

It all takes time though and you may need to proceed very slowly. She sounds lovely; if you keep working with her and training her, she will be such a good dog in another year or so.

Good luck.

Lindsay

Yes I must admit she has been used to going places in the car and only walking with my husband across the fields she sees dogs and plenty of them.but I guess not that many people.I am guilty of not going out much during the winter.So that must be what has happened shes grown up over the winter without being properly socialised.
that makes a lot of sense.Will keep up with all the advise everyone has given me and hopefully she will be cured soon
thanks

Hi there guys. I actually have a young BC with very similar problems in that he is very noise sensitive.  If you have been comforting her when she does freak out you are actually rewarding that behaviour.  The dog will take her cue from you i.e. if you are happy and jolly about a situation she is more likely to calm down a little.   Also if she is scared of fireworks the cds work very well. 

claire