Gun Shots

Today I took Fenway out to the woods. We got 1/3 into the trail when Fenway heard gun shots in the distance and started to run back home. I wasn't very happy about it but I took him home.

He did it again this afternoon.

Is there anyway I can help him overcome his fear of gun shots? He's afraid of thunder, fireworks and strangly, high school marching bands (seriously). I keep him away from parades and I try to keep him away from the sound of fireworks. Thunder is a little bit harder and so isn't gun shots (I live where there are woods all around me). There's a shooting range down the road and people hunt everywhere.

He loves to be outdoors so I really need to try to get him to get over his fear of gun shots. Does anybody have any training ideas? I'm really at my wits end about this.

Thanks!

I guess you need to develop ways to desensitize him. So you would need to be able to control a noise / sound he doesn't like.

Start by having the sound in the distance. When the sound goes off, he gets a treat. do that repeatedly over time.

Next, you have 2 options. Have the sound repeat and give him a treat each time, OR move the sound closer and treat. I would only work on one change at a time.

You want him to start associaitng that noise with something good, not something scary. When it thunders, don't hug him and console him, as this just reaffirms to him that there IS something to worry about. You have to go about normal activities (not easy!) I am sure others will have more info for you.

PS at least he is running HOME, not running in a mad panic to goodness kows WHERE, just anywhere away from the noise! That is a good thing, he feels safe at home. You will need a "safe" base when retraining him.

I feel your pain, Beth. Delilah is the same way. I just try to act like everything is normal but it's not easy. I feel so bad for these poor dogs that go through this. I've gotten to the point where I want to yell out the door at my neighbors when they bring out the firecrackers. I know they're having fun but I can't stand to see her suffer. Good luck with Fenway :(

Good advice, Sandie.

Maybe Fenway is on to something by running back home.Considering all
the hunting accidents we hear about, I wouldn't want to be walking in the woods either. Can you just walk him through your neighborhood streets
or on the sidewalks in a shopping center?

What is your reaction when he hears these noises and gets scared? Don't even blink an eye at him or give him attention, act like you're ignoring the sound. He feeds off our emotion so if you're scared, he's scared, if you don't seem to think it's a big deal, he shouldn't either.

But since the fear is already in him, make the loud noises associated with something GOOD. Like every time you're out walking and you hear one, stop and give him a treat (as long as he isn't freaking out, because he may think you're awarding the behavior).

EDIT: Forgot to add... I saw this EXACT scenario on this dog training show once on Animal Planet... except the dogs were hunting dogs. They got a recording of a gunshot and would play it starting the volume down low and slowly raising it over time. He was rewarded for not freaking out. Over time they would just play it while they're home, but if they left they would play it softly when they were out of the house so he would be used to it. Eventually he was just fine when his owner shot a gun standing next to him :)

I think a lot of dogs are gun shy, and it is hard to break them if the sound is not consistent and in a controlled situation. When I first got Chopper and I wanted him to be use to things that make a lot of noise, Harley, garage tools, law mower, weed wacker, etc, I just put him on a leash and completely ignored that little spastic attack he was having trying to get away. Now I did not stand right near the item making the sound, probably 40-50 feet away at least (we have a long driveway so I usually stood at one end while the other was being run at the other end). I put him on his leash and just stood there. He yanked and yanked, I did not even speak to him or look at him as I knew of course those noisy things were not going to hurt him. I did not even use treats. After probably the second or third time being near something noisy he didn't care any more. I can walk him through a Harley Dealer parking lot with motorcycles driving all around him and as long as no one acts like an A$$ and shows off but taking off like a bat out of hell he is fine(even then he just jumps as it startles him and then he goes right back to what he was doing). Doesn't even pay any attention, will walk right past a bike that is running but parked without even trying to move away from it. Actually we had a time where we were in a Harley and the salesman was taking a bike out into the sun for my parents to look at it, when he started the bike up and was leaving the area we were in, Chopper started running towards him (he likes to ride and he thought he was getting left behind :D ). Needless to say he was on a leash so I had complete control. But it is possible to break the fear. The only thing Chopper is afraid of is the vacuum and to be honest at first I wanted to help him by letting him know it was okay but I ended up just letting him be and he has gotten better all on his own. Good luck with Fenway, He is such a CUTIE PIE!

What Traci is talking about is called "flooding". What Freedom's post was mentioning was desensitization and counter-conditioning. Look up the two and "sound sensitivity" while you're at it.

Your choice which method you want to use. I'm personally a fan of counter-conditioning and desensitization, but I've seen a lot of dogs who've been 'flooded' and have done well with that method. It depends a lot on your dog's individual temperament :)

Aside from directed training and trying to acclimate him to loud and sudden sounds, I suggest also that you study your own body language.

Turid Rugaas has a wonderful inexpensive book on "calming signals". There are little signs you can use while training, that will help your dog to better understand what you are trying to communicate.

In any case, esp if you have a multi dog household or are involved with watching a lot of dogs and rescues, and doing their training, getting a copy of the book and reading it is a good start in getting past miscommunication with your dogs. I don't agree with every element that Turid interprets but what she has written has been very helpful. You may almost feel like a dog whisperer. :)

I am sorry you dog is a "scaredy cat", but maybe you dog is right about leaving when there are gun shots. When I read your post I was worrried about you getting shot!