Gransnet forums

Pets

Advise needed

(34 Posts)
whitewave Tue 30-May-17 18:00:11

Duncan the terrier has over a period of time been frightened of sudden noises like guns, thunder , crackers etc.
The last couple of days hes got frightened of me clattering around in the kitchen. He is at the moment curled up in the undergrowth in the garden - it took us ages to find him and no amount of talking and calling and treats will get him to move.

Need advise as to how to cure his fright of noises please

Dillonsgranma Wed 31-May-17 13:41:00

Hello Whitewave, dogs and cats hearing changes as they get older...slowly going deaf. Thundershirts help, as do those calming plug ins. Noises they ignored when young can be frightening when older, and vise versa.

lizzypopbottle Wed 31-May-17 13:53:46

I think you can get recordings of noises specially for familiarizing your dog with them. You start off playing them really quietly and increase the volume over a period of time. Our dogs aren't trained gun dogs but they're not bothered by loud noises.

Legs55 Wed 31-May-17 14:31:00

I to have a scardy cat, if I move any of the furniture to hoover etc he's unsettled. When I move my linen basket or laundry basket he looks at them as if they are going to murder him.grin

He hates the bin lorries even when he's safe in my bedroom! He has overcome his fear of men as long as they stay a fair distance from him.

However fireworks don't bother himconfused

I hope you manage to calm your dogflowers

shysal Wed 31-May-17 14:49:46

Dillonsgrandma mentions that Thundershirts help. DD has one for her dog who is very sound sensitive, and it helps him a lot, especially during fireworks and thunderstorms.
www.thundershirt.co.uk/thundershirt/for-dog-by-variation.html

shysal Wed 31-May-17 14:52:38

I should have mentioned that there is a return policy within 45 days if you are not satisfied with the Thundershirt, so it may be worth a try.

LadyGracie Wed 31-May-17 15:11:01

My cat was frightened of her own shadow until she went deaf, now she is quite content, unless you walk up behind her and stroke her!

Disgruntled Wed 31-May-17 17:22:02

Sue and Marion have already said Rescue Remedy. It's good stuff, and if you want to be more specific Aspen is good as well, that's another of the Bach flower remedies. (But Anniebach is the expert.) The remedies are gentle and powerful.
Good luck.

mimiro Thu 01-Jun-17 23:27:24

could it be his hearing
if hes partially deaf the loud noises may be the only ones he really hears
that can be very scary.
had a cat that got an infection and was poisoned and for years because she couldnt smell or hear properly was the biggest scardy cat ever.5 yrs later after all the poison had worked out of her.
it was so amazing,one day i walked past her with food and she goosenecked out to smell it.i almost dropped the plate.
now she visits with people and even cuddles with some.she used to run the minute she saw some one coming to the door. didnt get her purr til she was 5.
but usually a late in life reaction like that means hearing or

he had an experience you dont know about
someone throwing fireworks at him
thunder and lightening way too close
or even a close strike
my wolf was indirectly hit with lightening
and he was young.
never could get him over the fear.he reacted to the thunder since he didnt understand it was the lightening that had hurt him
sory this is so long but the idea of any animal being afraid rips my heart out