Gypsy is freaking out!!! (fear of loud noises)

My 6 year old staffie Gypsy, developed a fear of loud noises about a year ago, prior to that she was fine, we have had fireworks going off recently, and she just got totally stressed, I have a natural supplement that seemed to be calming her down.....
Lastnight and this morning she has been really stressed, and I do not know why, there were no firworks lastnight or this morning, we have very high winds, but she will go for a walk in the wind...
I ignore her when she gets stressed, and carry on as normal, it takes quite a while, but she will calm down....
I just don't know what is causing it!I am sure there is no medical reason for it, so anyone any idea's please!!

hi there sorry gypsy is freaky out bless, we have high winds here as well and 1 of my dogs who is bad with fireworks was acting up last night and today as well again no fireworks but have just figured it out the wind is coming down our alley and it is making a whisling sound like a firework. never hurd it before really can now though have had to turn radio on so she cant hear it as much. she is now settling down.

do you think it could be that, that the wind is making a whisling sound some where near yours.

sorry if not very helpful. good luck

I can relate Moli I've just had such a awful walk with Cassy. I knew when I took her out she was stressed but thought what ever is upsetting that she's forget about it once out. I was wrong she slipped her collar and ran off back home, luckily there were no busy roads and we were only round the corner.

In Cassy's case I presume she's still worried about the firework which went off last night so have now decided until Bonfire night has been and gone she's going to have to stay in its just not worth seeing her so stressed

Hope you get to the bottom of whats bothering Gypsy, I know just how you feel

I think its the sound of the wind when she's inside, Toby hates the wind inside but he's ok outside walking in it, i think it must be the whistling sound.

Hi Moli this does happen to dogs at times i'm afraid, at one stage Amy suddenly developed a fear of some noises she had previously been used to (like the rising and curfew bells at work) and my theory is that as she was losing her hearing (due to age), things began to sound differently and suddenly seemed frightening/threatening to her (she hears some things but not others, I guess it is to do with pitch).

It is normal behaviour for dogs to react with caution to sounds as part of their survival flight or fight response, they will have become habituated to many sounds as a puppy when being socialised, other sounds may be new and scary.
So what can you do, firstly try to find the cause, I know that isn't easy, if you can it may be possible to get Gypsy used to it by tying desensitisation methods .

Remain calm and cheerful yourself when she is afraid, distract her with play or treats but don't try to reassure her or she will think there really is a reason to be afraid.

Have you tried a DAP diffuser, i got one for my Jack Russell coz he was whining whenever i went out and at bedtime. It's really done the trick he seems alot calmer and easier to train because he's actually listening to me and not just going potty around the house. It really does chill them out and make for a more relaxed dog. Have had mine for about three weeks now and the results were almost instant. I realise that your dog has problems with noise but perhaps with this and noise desensitising hopefully you should get results. Have heard that music with alot of drum beats is a good thing to get them to listen to as it disguises other noises. Hope some of this helps and am sure you'll get lots of good advice.

I play the music a little louder than normal to drown it out here... also try to play indoor games with Rocky to take his mind of it - usually kick an empty water bottle around and let him bite it which itself makes lots of noise so helps drown out what's going on outside

Also... I won't be taking Rocky out for a walk on Bonfire night OR the day before and after as a safety precaution. If there seems to be fireworks out even before or after those days I would rather him have a run around in the garden than risk getting scared on a walk - he ran home once after hea heard a loud bang (not long after getting scared by massive fireworks the day before bonfire night! ) and was very lucky he did not get run over!

DAP diffusers are brill, this year is the first year we've used one and I am amazed at the differnce...infact the difference is SO marked I am thinking we may get through this bonfire season without sedating my old guys (touch wood)....now THAT is amazing!

Hi Moli I took it that the problem here was not firework related but possibly the wind/some other cause.
In case it was fireworks here are some things to try mentioned in a recent thread

http://www.dogsey.com/showthread.php...ight=fireworks