Hello, I have a GSD that just turned 1 year old who is anxious of trucks noises in the morning even when inside our house.
Her history:
We've had her since she was 8 weeks old, never abused, but almost died from parvo as soon as we got her so was hospitalized for 1 week and then had to stay in our house/yard for the next month since she was contagious. We could walk/drive her anywhere from 4 months old until she was around 7 months old. She loves all people and is fine with the kettle, bathroom fan, noisy dishwasher, etc. Then she developed a fear of the garbage trucks and UPS trucks, which soon generalized even to passenger cars. She was spayed right around 7 1/2 months and our neighbors started remodelling right around that time. We live on a cul-de-sac but our back yard backs the houses that are on a fairly busy suburban street. The worst week was when she wouldn't go out the front door because we met the UPS truck during a walk and wouldn't stay in the car because a garbage truck drove up just as we were about to drive out. The breeder confirmed she was a "4" on the puppy personality test for noise sensitivity.
Current situation:
She does OK with passenger cars on walks now (took some serious feeding outside and neighbors helping by saying hi to her while driving up) and loves car rides because we always go to a close park, but even the barely audible, distant rev of a construction truck engine will cause her to tremble inside the house and continue to be anxious, as if she's anticipating something will happen. I run the radio, D.A.P., and just started trying the NaturVet Quiet Moment tablets. I have various de-sensitizing tapes of lawn mowers, sirens, firecrackers, gunshots, squeeky brakes, etc. and she is fine with those noises up to the volume where I find it annoying, but since the construction trucks drive by every day, I don't have the opportunity to gradually de-sensitize her before she is scared again. I do as much as I can to establish being Alpha and she is very submissive anyway. Any suggestions or should I be asking our vet for prescription anti-anxiety meds? One interesting thing I noticed is she seems very sleepy in the morning as well, as if she wants to nap but is being on-alert due to the noise? She usually seems much better about the noise in the afternoon. When she is that anxious, she won't even take treats.
Thanks for any advice.
Hilda
