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Originally Posted by Maximo  Poor Capone! I agree with Ann's advice to talk to him calmly when something like this happens, behave in a reassuring way. My younger boy was scared by big noises or unexpected things. I would react by saying in a normal/sort of funny voice, "Wow, that was a big noise." The message I was sending was, "nothing to worry about." Then I would redirect his attention to something desirable, like playing or doing a trick for a treat.
When Teddy first came home with us at 8 months old, we had a service man come to the back sliding glass door. People don't normally appear at that door, so Teddy was taken by surprise and scared to death. When he barked at the service man, he lost control of his body functions.
Try not to worry too much because Capone will pick up on your feelings and think there is reason to be concerned. He is young and still learning about the big world. Expose him to as much as possible and show him he doesn't need to be afraid of these things.  Hope he feels better soon. |
Reassuring, soothing, "Its OK", and redirect....especially a treat at this time seems to me to reassure him that it is OK, he doesnt have to be scared...and maybe he will associate what normally would frighten him, with getting a treat and he wont react negatively....? (I am NOT a trainer and I have a housefull of spoiled rotten, babies that only mind half the time.....so maybe a trainer will jump in here and let us know if this is right!)