I have a 6 year old male Chihuahua, Max that I’ve had since he was 18 months old. For the past few months he has gotten grumpy in the evening after 7 or 8 and at bed time he will bite and if I get up in the middle of the night he will attack. Max has had physical problems with his back legs which took months to heal. He is terrably afraid of thunder storms and had woken me up in the early am during thunderstorms when I try and console him he will bite. This past week there was another bad thunderstorm about 2 am he woke me up trying to get up on the bed when I reached to get him he growls and tried to bite me. I called my vet today, and gave him the symptoms, my vet said he could have had a mild stroke that night because his fear was so bad, but it could be from his past leg injury and to give him half of baby aspirin and if his mood doesn’t change in a few days to bring him in.. Last night was the first night I put him in a small kennel, it was the hardest thing I have ever done and took about a hour for him to calm down. During the day he is fine, he loves attention and most of the time he wants to stay by my side, or sun bathe when it is sunny outside with his other sisters. Has anyone had problems like this.
Hi Skeeter, I have had similar problems with my dog during thunderstorms and fireworks etc, she is 15 years old and up until I joined Sit Stay Fetch, she has had some very bad times with it. I have tried a number of things over the years, and I have to say that the only thing which has cured Holly, is carrying on with my daily duties during thunderstorms etc, yes in the beginning she wasnt much improved, but little by little it worked. You have to let them know that you are not afraid and that it is an everyday thing which should not bother them. Sing a little, laugh a lot and play with your dog to try to get him to ignore the situation. I know it is difficult in the middle of the night, but I get up with Holly, put on the radio, make a cuppa, read the paper and have as many lights on as I can to blot out the lightning. Eventually she calms down enough to sit or lie down, now if I am not bothered about it, neither is she. It does work, but it does take time. My vet advised me (obviously you would need to speak to your vet before doing this, as skeeter may already be on some meditaction) If you know a thunder storm is coming, give her a pet travelling tablet, it will help calm her without making her drowsy, before the storm comes. This did help in the beginning, when we were trying to get her to ignore them. Also, I found putting her on her leash and keeping her by my side gave her more comfort than letting her run about. Also, give plenty of water, but no food. My vet also advised a grape sugar sweet helps to knock back the adrenelin which comes to the surface when they are scared, we also keep some handy now for any moments of stress. Grape sugar is a natural sugar and will not harm teeth etc. I hope this message provokes a reply from someone who can give you more professional advice, but I hope my message has reasured you, that no you are not alone with this problem. I hope you and skeeter get the help you need and that thunderstorm problems become a thing of the past for both of you.
[QUOTE=jacqui;1057]Hi Skeeter, I have tried a number of things over the years, and I have to say that the only thing which has cured Holly, is carrying on with my daily duties during thunderstorms etc, yes in the beginning she wasnt much improved, but little by little it worked. You have to let them know that you are not afraid and that it is an everyday thing which should not bother them. Sing a little, laugh a lot and play with your dog to try to get him to ignore the situation. I know it is difficult in the middle of the night, but I get up with Holly, put on the radio, make a cuppa, read the paper and have as many lights on as I can to blot out the lightning. Eventually she calms down enough to sit or lie down, now if I am not bothered about it, neither is she. It does work, but it does take time. My vet advised me (obviously you would need to speak to your vet before doing this, as skeeter may already be on some meditaction) If you know a thunder storm is coming, give her a pet travelling tablet, it will help calm her without making her drowsy, before the storm comes. This did help in the beginning, when we were trying to get her to ignore them. Also, I found putting her on her leash and keeping her by my side gave her more comfort than letting her run about. Also, give plenty of water, but no food. [/QUOTE]
This is all excellent advice, just to add, don't make a fuss of him when he is worried and upset. When you give a dog attention for being upset, you reinforce the worried behaviour - causing it to escalate. Your dog thinks that you are approving of his worry, in which case he now has a reason to worry (because you must be worried too!).
To avoid rewarding him for this behaviour, get out of bed, and try and get him to do some obedience (a good distraction such as music/lights etc such as what Jacqui suggested may help). Basic obedience that he knows, such as sit, down, shake a paw etc, are all excellent tools in getting your dog focused without rewarding him directly for the unwanted behaviour. Of course, you can reward him for performing the 'tricks' with treats!
As soon as he bites, always reprimand, with a low "no", a short guttural growl, or a short low "aaah!". Bad behaviour, especially biting, should always be reprimanded - do not excuse the behaviour and try to console him. As tempting as it is to console a small dog like a baby, you only end up making the problem worse.
Medications [I]can[/I] help you get through the hump of early behaviour modification to phobias, but I highly recommend trying some of the suggestions here without medications to see if his behaviour can be improved with some behaviour modification training first.
