Noise anxiety and FIREWORKS

[Taryn0405]

I think fireworks and big storms bother me more then Gizmo. I swear he sleeps like a rock!

[gracielove]

It sounds mean but when you reassure your dog when it is afraid the dog thinks it is being rewarded for the fearful reaction. You are actually building on the fear. That said now that the reaction is there I don't know how you un-train your dog. I had a Shih Tzu for 15 years that was fearful of thunder and firecrackers. I would sit and hold him if he was afraid and I would feel awful if there was a storm and I was not home. Now when there are loud noises I do not react at all. I pretend I heard nothing. So far Gracie has not developed any fear of loud noise. Some loud thunder woke her up the other night. She looked around and went right back to sleep.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by stovesj

We have a Thundershirt too, but it didn't seem to work very well with the fireworks. This 4th, we'll probably put her Thundershirt on and use the Rescue Remedy. Plus turn all the fans in the RV on high. That certainly ought to do the trick.

I use the Thundershirt for Bogey for storms. Prior to purchasing the Thundershirt we tried Rescue Remedy and also Anxitane. The RR did nothing to help him and the Anxitane helped with car ride and walks but not storms.

The Thundershirt didn't totally cure Bogey's anxiety but it did considerably reduce it to the point that the Rescue Remedy now works very well.

My best results are when I put the TS on him well in advance of the storms. Then I will give him a dose of the RR when I start to hear the thunder.

His anxiety went from panting and pacing from room to room with no intervention.

With the TS he would shake during large claps of thunder and the panting was considerably reduced.

With the TS and RR he will actually lay at my feet and sleep.

*Normally he is a big cuddlebug and loves to sleep and sit on my lap. For some reason he wants nothing to do with my lap but will curl up at my feet.