Does anyone else have a problem with their dog & loud noises???

[tcfrogs]

Our 4 year old beagle has become petrified of going outside over the past two years. It started when she was 2, around 4th of July. The fireworks spooked the hell out of her. It's progressively gotten worse.

Some idiot "kids" have been shooting off fireworks during the past week, so whenever we go on our nightly stroll, she gets shaky & nervous.

I do not want to have to sedate her. The bottle rockets & caps have become too common of an occurance to just give her a sedative every time she freaks out.

We're in Chicago, and yes, other neighbors have complained. I've noticed more CPD cars driving thru lately. Hasn't helped.

Does anyone have any suggestions to help calm our wonderful dog?

[El Supremo]

1. Call the cops.

It helps some. I once threatened to beat the shit out of the kids who were shooting off fireworks and they came real fast. I didn't tell them that I did beat the shit out of some kids a couple of years before.

I have a new dog that barks at everything. I'm trying some "positive reinforcement". Get him inside and calm him down and say "no bark!" I hope that the jerks don't burn down our dry neighborhood this year.

[tcfrogs]

2. It might help

But, doesn't solve the ultimate problem.

No offense - El supremo.

The noises scare our dog. The noises will continue, especially once it gets closer to July 4th.

[SickOfSpin]

3. Rescue Remedy

There's a product I pick up at Whole Foods Market (not sure where else it's sold) called "Rescue Remedy". It's got a variety of herbs in liquid form in it. You can put a few drops of it in water for a spray, put some in the water bowl, or as I have to do with my terrified Dobie, a few drops straight to the tongue when it's about to storm. My vet told me about this stuff and I have to say that it really helps for anxiety (for people, too!)

Oh, it's also great to put a couple of drops on your hands and rub on your dog/cat's nose/muzzle/ears before they're about to be in a stressful situation!

Hope this helps!

[soothsayer]

6. Yep, that's what I was gonna say

Rescue Remedy is great for your pets (and yourself!)

[Endangered Specie]

4. Sell the kids 'defective' fireworks

and you can take defective to mean what you wish.

[FleshCartoon]

5. I feel your pain.

It's usually against the law to shoot off fireworks within residential areas that are in city, town or suburb limits, so I'd just call the cops--that's what I did when I lived in town.

Now, however, I'm in the country and there are no laws prohibiting fireworks--my Noni gets so frightened that she all but crawls into my lap.

Don't beat the shit out of kids or threaten to, either--you could go to jail for that. But you know that.

[OneBlueSky]

7. my dog gets all hyped up at loud sounds . . .

particularly sirens, motorcycles, and thunder . . . during a thunder storm, he feels it's his duty to go outside and bark at the sky to chase the noise away . . . of course, I wait until the lightning has passed before letting him out . . . :)

[tcfrogs]

8. Thank you all!

Going to try the rescue remedy for the dog - maybe her "people" too!

[havocmom]

9. only loud noise problem with my dog

is his snoring. He gets his money's worth out of a nap.

And yes, neighbor kids with bottle rockets are a problem too. But then, so are their 4 wheelers, poorly timed cars, crossbows, paint ball guns and the double edged battle axes they have been throwing at the elm tree of late. But the dog just tries to ignore it all.

No wonder the dog comes in and goes to sleep. He looks so cute with that little eye cover on to keep the light out of his eyes while he lays there, lips flopped open and drool pooling on Havocdad's pillow...

[m-jean03]

10. Of course!

My dog is totally freaked out by fireworks. That whole 4th of July week is just terrible, because the kids shoot fireworks all week long. And Leo just cries and barks and paces, he never gets used to them, and he is 6 years old.

We found what really helps is playing happy music really loudly. Like Elvis Presley. It distracts him. :-) I wish you and your dog the best of luck.

[TheWizardOfMudd]

11. Yes! My dog makes loud noises constantly!!!!!!!

OH! You meant . . . okay. I got it.

Yes I love to pound pots and pans together and watch him freak and run and hide for several hours.

What?

[DemExpat]

12. I saw a great tip in a dog problem-solving book.....

there are audio-cassettes you can buy (?) with loud noises recorded on them....like sirens, fireworks, thunder.

Start playing the tape softly while giving your dog a tasty meal or treat, or while playing with him with a favorite toy..... and gradually make it louder if the dog remains fairly calm.
On a portable recorder you can even take this exercise outside while taking a walk.

Also: always ignore a dog's fear - never console him - just act like there is nothing to be afraid of.

Seems to me that this "de-sensitizing" would work. Wish I had known this with my last dog - he was terrified of fireworks and thunder.:-(

Try the Rescue Remedy too....best of luck!

DemEx

[radfringe]

13. our airdale has what I have termed "CBS"

"CBS" - Creaking Branch Syndrome

tree branches creaking, fireworks, thunder or our "yahoo" neighbor at target practice all send our dog trying to hide under the bed

we have her on Serene-ummmmmm during T-storms or when we know fireworks will be going off -- it helps a bit



http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=604&D=serene%2A&Ntt=serene%2A&Ntk=All&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=0