Member

Posts: 22
From:Lebanon, PA USA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 01-05-2004 11:53 AM         

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I have a 2 year old AmStaff who has recently become terrified of the smoke alarm/any high pitched sound. About a month or so ago, I burned a pizza in the oven, the smoke set off the detectors, and my dog ran upstairs and hid. I opened the front door to vent the house as quick as possible, at some point he ran out! He never leaves my side, and even when he did flee the house, he waited out in the front yard aside of "his" truck. Ever since that terrible night any high pitch sound gives him a nervous breakdown! A car past the house the other day, and the squeeling (sp?) brakes had him in a panic. Noises on the television can set him off. He goes into such a state when he hears a noise, I can't get him under control. I was going to try to re-introduce the sound as something to not fear- start out with it very quiet, make it as enjoyable as possible, and eventually make him as immune to it as possible, but even the smallest sound starts his heart racing, his entire body shakes, and he drools. Anyone have any ideas for me to try with him?

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Member

Posts: 926
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 01-05-2004 04:30 PM         

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Bic, I dont have any advice except to say I was in a similar situation a few weeks ago. During the middle of the night Jake my lab was frantic to go outside so I let him out, after 20 minutes, I had to drag his butt back in the house, he immediately wanted out, so I let him out again. I am lying there and notice the chirping sound of the battery of one of our smoke detectors. it is about every 30 seconds, well I make Jake come back in and he is going bezerk! I realize it is the sound of the detector SO I went and ripped the thing down, he hyperventilated for almost 2 hours before he calmed down. So I freaked when our power went out because of a storm last week I made my husband take out all of the batterries because this meant they would be drained and if were werent home, I was afraid Jake would go over the edge. Interesting the battery in our burgler alarm was draining because of the power outage and and started beeping. Jake was fine with that sound it was only the frequncy of the chirping of the smoke detector batteries.
He has been fine with noises since.

I would not try to de-sensitise (sp) him by turning on the smoke detector. I think that will make it much worse.

Try posting this on the all dog forum too since many posters there dont go on this site and may be of help too.

I would seek a behavourist or trainer that has experience in this to help you
Good luck
Honeybear

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Member

Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-05-2004 07:39 PM         

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I would definately post this in the all dog forum, If I am remembering correctly I believe there was another post like this there.
Chopper is deathly terrorfied of thunder. It was also suggested that we play it at lower levels and increase it with positive reinforcement....
Well needless to say it didnt work.
The vet perscribed valium for him....dosent work either...It has to be given atleast a half hour to 45 minutes before they can even begin to hear the storm.
Personally I dont like to drug my dog incase of a storm.
Our trainer told us not to draw attention to his panic attacks because it only reinforces the fact that it is ok for him to be scared. She said to make sure that he is safe and is not going to harm himself and then to completely ignore him.
Its so hard, but it has worked some. He still has minor panic attacks but nothing as extreme to what it was. The first thunderstorm we had experienced with Chopper he tried to jump through a window.
Now he paces and whines and hides in his crate.
Makes it hard to see but it definately is better than the latter.
Good luck, hope it all works out.

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Posts: 926
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 01-06-2004 08:34 AM         

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Bic, please do poston the other forum, there is much more activity there. As maydays mom said, there could be drug allternatives, but that doesnt solve the problem since your dog is now afraid of many sounds caused by the smole detector, I think you would have to keep the poor dog tranquilized the whole time. Luckily for me it is only the smoke detector batteries that now set Jake off. When my husband was changin the batterries this week-end the thing only chirped twice and poor Jake was trying to jump in the bathtub!
good luck
honeybear

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Member

Posts: 22
From:Lebanon, PA USA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 01-06-2004 09:22 AM         

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Thanks everyone! I will post this in the main forum. Drugs are going to be an alternative for this problem...looks like we will just work with him on his fear and try to bring him around so he can tolerate it a little better. Thanks again!

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