The Pet Thread

[NorthCountryGuy]

Originally Posted by Littlebear

I feel bad for you, BUT YOUR BRUSHING JOB IS EASY!

Murf

Beautiful Dogs...

[NorthCountryGuy]

The Doof

[WhiskyPat12]

Didn't get a ton of work done today

[stein_325i]

Finn's playdate today with his "girlfriend"

[Nuckle]

Blakely

[WhiskyPat12]

He liked the drive today

[RickFLM4]

After being cooped up for an 11+ hour ride (with a few stops, of course) Ginger was ready to wreak havoc. And she did.

[Maynard]

For Miss Inky, it is always 4:20

[Rmtt]

So for you experts out there...I have a question since I am a new pet owner. My wife has always had them.

Our Mini-Schnauzer Axle thinks he's superman. Doorbell rings...he's ready to attack. He's also a high strung dog.

The other night I was awoken to him all up on me trembling uncontrollable. I was like what's wrong little dude, then I faintly heard the "beep" of one of our Smoke Detectors in the house that indicates the battery is dead. So I got up and changed it.

Next morning we are sitting on the couch watching car shows at 4:00am and this commercial comes on about this "turbo transfer pump". It "beeps" when it's done. He heard the beep and headed straight to my wife in the bedroom.

So I am thinking by this time...that frequency bothers him. SO anytime later that day when I seen the commercial....I turned the channel long enough for it to pass.

But then last night....the low frequency boom of a firework went off...and he did the same thing. Just completely shutdown. My wife put him in her lap and wrapped him in a cocoon.

What's odd is that the bass of our TV system never affected him and still doesn't.

It kills me to see my little buddy like that. We have him one of those Thunder shirts" that is supposed to calm him...but haven't tried it yet.

Anyone else have that issue with a small dog? Aside from what I described...he is wide open all the time and just had his vet checkup. He turns 2 on July 4th.

Any other time.....he's fearless.

[corn18]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

So for you experts out there...I have a question since I am a new pet owner. My wife has always had them.

Our Mini-Schnauzer Axle thinks he's superman. Doorbell rings...he's ready to attack. He's also a high strung dog.

The other night I was awoken to him all up on me trembling uncontrollable. I was like what's wrong little dude, then I faintly heard the "beep" of one of our Smoke Detectors in the house that indicates the battery is dead. So I got up and changed it.

Next morning we are sitting on the couch watching car shows at 4:00am and this commercial comes on about this "turbo transfer pump". It "beeps" when it's done. He heard the beep and headed straight to my wife in the bedroom.

So I am thinking by this time...that frequency bothers him. SO anytime later that day when I seen the commercial....I turned the channel long enough for it to pass.

But then last night....the low frequency boom of a firework went off...and he did the same thing. Just completely shutdown. My wife put him in her lap and wrapped him in a cocoon.

What's odd is that the bass of our TV system never affected him and still doesn't.

It kills me to see my little buddy like that. We have him one of those Thunder shirts" that is supposed to calm him...but haven't tried it yet.

Anyone else have that issue with a small dog? Aside from what I described...he is wide open all the time and just had his vet checkup. He turns 2 on July 4th.

Any other time.....he's fearless.

We have a mini schnauzer and she does the same thing. She is scared to death of smoke alarms, fireworks and lightning (but not thunder for some strange reason). We just hold her and give her affection until it passes. After 14 years, we haven't figured out a way to stop her from shaking.

[RickFLM4]

You can try the Thunder Shirt but it didn’t really help our older cavalier who hates thunder, fireworks or other loud noises he isn’t used to. We got an Rx for him for 4th of July or bad storms. I wouldn’t give it to him daily or even weekly but can use it to calm him down a couple of times a year. However, to be most effective you need to give it to him an hour or so in advance. So that works with 4th of July or a storm you know is coming, but not for spur of the moment issues. I’ll find the pill bottle and post the name of the pill.

Meanwhile, the puppy is fearless.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by corn18

We have a mini schnauzer and she does the same thing. She is scared to death of smoke alarms, fireworks and lightning (but not thunder for some strange reason). We just hold her and give her affection until it passes. After 14 years, we haven't figured out a way to stop her from shaking.

Thanks for the reply.

Like I said...I am new to having pets as we couldn't have them growing up. He probably got tired of me last night as I was checking on him every 5 minutes!

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

You can try the Thunder Shirt but it didn’t really help our older cavalier who hates thunder, fireworks or other loud noises he isn’t used to. We got an Rx for him for 4th of July or bad storms. I wouldn’t give it to him daily or even weekly but can use it to calm him down a couple of times a year. However, to be most effective you need to give it to him an hour or so in advance. So that works with 4th of July or a storm you know is coming, but not for spur of the moment issues. I’ll find the pill bottle and post the name of the pill.

Meanwhile, the puppy is fearless.

We have some medicine the vet gave us to calm him down from a few months back to help anxiety for longer trips. It;s probably the same stuff as it's supposed to be administered an hour in advance.

We just hate giving it to him because it makes him look like he feels "drugged" Last night we gave him 1/4 of a pill.

If we give him a whole one...it throws him "off" the entire day.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

We have some medicine the vet gave us to calm him down from a few months back to help anxiety for longer trips. It;s probably the same stuff as it's supposed to be administered an hour in advance.

We just hate giving it to him because it makes him look like he feels "drugged" Last night we gave him 1/4 of a pill.

If we give him a whole one...it throws him "off" the entire day.

What we have is called Trazodone. We also used diazepam (Valium) for another dog no longer with us. Trazodone seems to work better but does leave him more drugged than the diazepam.

[Dpc2u]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

So for you experts out there...I have a question since I am a new pet owner. My wife has always had them.

Our Mini-Schnauzer Axle thinks he's superman. Doorbell rings...he's ready to attack. He's also a high strung dog.

The other night I was awoken to him all up on me trembling uncontrollable. I was like what's wrong little dude, then I faintly heard the "beep" of one of our Smoke Detectors in the house that indicates the battery is dead. So I got up and changed it.

Next morning we are sitting on the couch watching car shows at 4:00am and this commercial comes on about this "turbo transfer pump". It "beeps" when it's done. He heard the beep and headed straight to my wife in the bedroom.

So I am thinking by this time...that frequency bothers him. SO anytime later that day when I seen the commercial....I turned the channel long enough for it to pass.

But then last night....the low frequency boom of a firework went off...and he did the same thing. Just completely shutdown. My wife put him in her lap and wrapped him in a cocoon.

What's odd is that the bass of our TV system never affected him and still doesn't.

It kills me to see my little buddy like that. We have him one of those Thunder shirts" that is supposed to calm him...but haven't tried it yet.

Anyone else have that issue with a small dog? Aside from what I described...he is wide open all the time and just had his vet checkup. He turns 2 on July 4th.

Any other time.....he's fearless.

I am no doggy psychologist, but I have had luck in the past "desensitizing" a couple of dogs I have had to noises that trigger them. You can get them to relate the particular noise to a good thing, like a treat or affection. In your case you could try to record that beeping noise that is the trigger for your little buddy. Try playing it at a very low volume at first when the dog is on your lap and immediately praise the noise as being good and time for a treat. It takes time and some effort, but can definitely help!

[lebreeze]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

So for you experts out there...I have a question since I am a new pet owner. My wife has always had them.

Our Mini-Schnauzer Axle thinks he's superman. Doorbell rings...he's ready to attack. He's also a high strung dog.

The other night I was awoken to him all up on me trembling uncontrollable. I was like what's wrong little dude, then I faintly heard the "beep" of one of our Smoke Detectors in the house that indicates the battery is dead. So I got up and changed it.

Next morning we are sitting on the couch watching car shows at 4:00am and this commercial comes on about this "turbo transfer pump". It "beeps" when it's done. He heard the beep and headed straight to my wife in the bedroom.

So I am thinking by this time...that frequency bothers him. SO anytime later that day when I seen the commercial....I turned the channel long enough for it to pass.

But then last night....the low frequency boom of a firework went off...and he did the same thing. Just completely shutdown. My wife put him in her lap and wrapped him in a cocoon.

What's odd is that the bass of our TV system never affected him and still doesn't.

It kills me to see my little buddy like that. We have him one of those Thunder shirts" that is supposed to calm him...but haven't tried it yet.

Anyone else have that issue with a small dog? Aside from what I described...he is wide open all the time and just had his vet checkup. He turns 2 on July 4th.

Any other time.....he's fearless.

My Mini is the opposite. He growls and barks when he hears fireworks. He runs outside full blast We call him the no fun police.

[No one]

Originally Posted by Dpc2u

you could try to record that beeping noise that is the trigger for your little buddy. Try playing it at a very low volume at first when the dog is on your lap

"Dogs have high-frequency hearing, which means that they can hear sounds that humans cannot." This might mean you need some high quality recording. (A wild guess.)

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by lebreeze

My Mini is the opposite. He growls and barks when he hears fireworks. He runs outside full blast We call him the no fun police.

Ours is the same with pretty much anything. He would growl if he heard thunder...but it's like something spooked him recently. It started with the smoke alarm.

Yesterday it was business as usual. I get settled in...and he goes through and flips all the pillows off of the couch...and "squares" up with me as he loves to "wrestle". Of course I go easy with him, but he loves to play fight with me.

Always been a high energy guy. When I come in from work.....he goes crazy taking laps around the house. My wife calls it the "zoomies".

We take him out to parks and to my in-laws. We have a big fenced in back yard that we let him run. Our vet said it's typical of the breed. I guess I just over-analyze things at times.

[Littlebear]

Onslow has not been digging the fireworks we are having nightly. He tries to hide, often in the bathroom. We set up a waterfall, with the tub tap running into a pail, which then runs over into the tub. This gives Onslow two 'waterfall' noises, and seems to do some good. We often sit with him & pet him to get him through.
Many dogs do fine on the real drugs, like Trazodone or Prozac. Personally, I try to resist drugs until I can't, mostly due to side affect fears.

Murf

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by Littlebear

Onslow has not been digging the fireworks we are having nightly. He tries to hide, often in the bathroom. We set up a waterfall, with the tub tap running into a pail, which then runs over into the tub. This gives Onslow two 'waterfall' noises, and seems to do some good. We often sit with him & pet him to get him through.
Many dogs do fine on the real drugs, like Trazodone or Prozac. Personally, I try to resist drugs until I can't, mostly due to side affect fears.

Murf

Same here. I don't take anything myself......( I haven't had anything like an ibuprofen in years).

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by Littlebear

Onslow has not been digging the fireworks we are having nightly. He tries to hide, often in the bathroom. We set up a waterfall, with the tub tap running into a pail, which then runs over into the tub. This gives Onslow two 'waterfall' noises, and seems to do some good. We often sit with him & pet him to get him through.
Many dogs do fine on the real drugs, like Trazodone or Prozac. Personally, I try to resist drugs until I can't, mostly due to side affect fears.

Murf

How bad is it? I mean I keep all my windows closed. I have a German Shepherd with a radar dish for ears and it doesn't bother her

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

So for you experts out there...I have a question since I am a new pet owner. My wife has always had them.

Our Mini-Schnauzer Axle thinks he's superman. Doorbell rings...he's ready to attack. He's also a high strung dog.

The other night I was awoken to him all up on me trembling uncontrollable. I was like what's wrong little dude, then I faintly heard the "beep" of one of our Smoke Detectors in the house that indicates the battery is dead. So I got up and changed it.

Next morning we are sitting on the couch watching car shows at 4:00am and this commercial comes on about this "turbo transfer pump". It "beeps" when it's done. He heard the beep and headed straight to my wife in the bedroom.

So I am thinking by this time...that frequency bothers him. SO anytime later that day when I seen the commercial....I turned the channel long enough for it to pass.

But then last night....the low frequency boom of a firework went off...and he did the same thing. Just completely shutdown. My wife put him in her lap and wrapped him in a cocoon.

What's odd is that the bass of our TV system never affected him and still doesn't.

It kills me to see my little buddy like that. We have him one of those Thunder shirts" that is supposed to calm him...but haven't tried it yet.

Anyone else have that issue with a small dog? Aside from what I described...he is wide open all the time and just had his vet checkup. He turns 2 on July 4th.

Any other time.....he's fearless.

So the EXACT same thing happened about 2 years ago to my mom's little dog. All of a sudden Winston refused to go in the back yard, was shaking, trembling, crying. This went on for weeks. They were convinced that he encountered something like a raccoon or a coyote in the yard that scared the Hell out of him, though no signs he was attacked. One evening my mom was making something in the InstantPot and it beeped when it finished. Winston immediately pissed all over the floor and ran under the sofa. That was when they realized it was a beeping noise that was bothering him. Because my stepdad is a little on the spectrum and is bothered by some noises like electronic beeps, they have diligently turned off or purchased appliances that don't beep, but the InstantPot is like the one thing they have that does. Anyway they headed out into the back yard which was the epicenter of Winston's anxiety. They quietly walked around and listened. Sure enough, they got over to the fence between them and the neighbor's house and they eventually heard the faint beep of a smoke alarm. The house had been vacant for about a month after the renters moved out and the homeowners had yet to put it on the market for sale. They called the owners and had them come over and change the battery in the smoke alarm. Problem solved! Winston was back in the yard like nothing happened. BUT for a couple months any beep (on TV, the InstantPot, etc.) would send him running and crying. He eventually just kinda got over it. I hope your dog will too.

As another poster said, try lots of positive reinforcement and be patient. Unfortunately you cant reason with a dog so you're stuck trying to support him as best you can.

When our oldest dachshund, Bella, was about 2 we took her to a 4th of July party. When the fireworks started she panicked and started hyperventilating. She never got over that. Fireworks or thunder would immediately send her into a panic. She was like that for the next 12 years. One time I came home from work after a thunderstomr and she was gone. I looked everywhere. Finally found her in the bathtub with shit everywhere. That was a bad one. She's now 14 and has lost enough of her hearing that she just doesn't hear the low frequencies anymore. Problem solved, I guess.