Hi,
I hope you can help.
My dog (a medium-sized Heinz 57) has a nervous personality. She was rescued and was mistreated in her early years. She’s approximately 4 years old and we’ve had her since last summer.
On Halloween last year she was spooked by there being a lot of people around her, making funny noises on her evening walk, and didn’t want to go out in the dark for the next few nights. We managed it using treats and lots of hugs and encouraging words, but I don’t want a repeat of this this year as it really set back the training my family and the resuce had done to rehabiliate her from her horrid former life. The kids go back to school this week and although she's been fine throughout the summer I'm worried as the nights draw in she will become worried about waling in the dark again.
Do you have any advice as to how I can prevent her being scared in the dark, and how to help her through it if she does freak out again?
Mark Wall, by email
We have a gorgeous PBGV called Lexi who came to us at 15 months as his previous owner didn't want him. When we first got him, he was a little scared of city noises (he came from the country) but seemed to improve. Recently, however, he has regressed and is now very nervous when he's out for his walk - even though he really wants to go! Everything now seems to scare him, but especially people and very loud noises eg church bells etc. We do take him out with one of our other dogs to try and help his confidence.
We think that maybe he was scared by something when he was out for a walk and so he has now come to associate people as frightening.
He is friendly indoors to visitors and an absolute gorgeous little boy who we adore! - and we want him to feel happy and confident while he's out on his walks. We have tried giving him treats when he's out - so that he associates positive rewards with being out and about - but he's too scared to take them.
Any ideas would be very much appreciated!
Many thanks.
Nicola, by email
