Nervous yorkie..
 

Last year we were sitting outside on a Saturday night, when on a farm nearby set off loud bangs about every 15 mins to scare crows...well Keisha has never been the same since. She won't stay outside and when we are out with her she shakes and pants like crazy. I'm thinking she needs some sort of calming drug. she use to run and play now she's scared to death, any suggestion's on how to help her would be great...

Maybe you should try a thunder shirt.

Also Rescue Remedy might help too. There are also de-conditioning tapes/videos, you can buy to help work with that problem. I know it is difficult. My girl was scared witless her first year from firecrackers going off. Almost three years later she is pretty good. But we did work a lot with her. Taking her to fun places that also have "noise" associated with them. We have a boardwalk here in the city, near to a busy street, so there was lots of traffic sounds, horns etc; but there was a lovely walk, and a swim in the lake too. We took her on a ferry boat ride, that blows the horn when coming into the pier. But we also had lots of treats ready, and got her focussed on us doing some obedience work, as the ferry docked.

It takes some time, and lots of patience on your part.

Good luck with your girl. Let us know how it goes.

I have not used it on Sophie but will say I have heard soooo many great things about Rescue Remedy. Especially for dogs that struggle at the groomers. I believe it's all natural too...they sell it where I live at the health food store.

I'd definitely try this first before giving her anything.

Expose her to more loud sounds

OPPS sorry, that was to scare crows. Is it possible to contact your neighbor and arrange a time for the bangs ? You could then set up for a successful reaction. Our instinct is to pick up and reassure our Yorkie. This works great with human kids, but not dogs. The best thing to do is to ignore the fearful reaction. Keep a conversation, the walk, the ball playing etc. going. They will see you react calmly and feel reassured that nothing bad is going to happen. You may have to do step by step desensitizing exercises. Have some one bang a pan out of sight and so on. This is important, when you hear the sound at first, let your dog see you actively listening. By this, I mean stop, tilt your head and listen you can even turn your head toward the sound and show the dog you heard the sound too. Then visibly relax and continue what ever you were doing. Younger dogs will usually take their cues from you and learn that sound, is not a threat. They do not have to fight or run and hide. If you are not afraid, they will assume it is ok too. It is normal and desirable for children and dogs to have a self preservation startle reflex to loud noises or new things. They learn from us what is safe and what is not.

We set up all kinds of noisy and visual things to expose puppies to. It takes time, planning, practice, love and a calm attitude to train therapy dogs. We have people out of the dogs sight, knock on the door, slam a car door, ring a bell, stomp feet, blow a horn, sing, play the radio loud, shake a can full of rocks, bang a pan, turn on a appliances and we use recordings of storms, (gun shots for hunting and police dogs) other dogs barking, lawn mower, leaf blower, and children screaming and playing etc.. Visually we use all kinds of people walking by, people in wheel chairs, with a cane, walker, leg brace and crutches. Joggers, runners, bike riders, children running, skate boards.
Some dogs do not stay calm all the time. But even the most reactive dogs can learn. When working on behavior modification be patient start out with small things. Hope this helps.

What she said! :thumbup:

You can return it if it dosent work so it's great :)

Thanks to all of you for such good suggestions, I will start exposing her to loud noises and take her out and socializing her a bit more, she may be a little too sheltered in our home and needs to get out, also I may look in to the Thunder Belt, whatever I can do to help her...:)