My 5yr old collie x has always been quite sensitive to noise etc but following 2 incidents she seems to have got worse. We had a really bad thunderstorm the other day and she was her usual jumpy self, but seemed to recover ok once it had passed over. That night she joined me and my cocker spaniel for a cuddle on the bed and all was well until my husband tried swatting a daddy longlegs with a rolled-up newspaper. She became very startled and jumped off the bed and ran downstairs. Since then she's become quite nervy especially if someone picks up a newspaper or magazine.She seems to be following me around more and is very wary around my husband. She's also doing alot of yawning and excessive licking and just isn't her happy relaxed self. Tonight I even found myself gently rubbing a magzine along her back after my stepson said that he'd heard that they do that to horses that get spooked with things. I don't know what to do.. please help!    

Hi Guest,
My 1yr old cav is quite nervey and this was may worse by the fitting of a new kitchen with all the noise. My husband and i now distract her whilst the other makes loud noises/uses machinery with treats. You could try getting your husband to feed titbits and praise her as you mimick the fly swotting. There are also DAP diffusers you can get. Just make sure you don't reward this behaviour even though you just want to reasure them it will be ok as they can begin to associate it with praise. Good luck i'm sure things will improve.

Marie