scared of crazy things

[rabbitsarebetter]

I will probably be gone before i get replies to this, but that gives you guys time to ponder on whats up!

Ruckus is scared of any word that starts with a "v" i dont understand why... i have just noticed this about 2 months ago. his eyes get huge, he tucks his tail and runs in another room, where i can usually find him laying in the corner! He alway reacts this way to people makings a spitting sound, when you light a lighter, the sound of a clicker, the door bell (we dont have a door bell so its other peoples door bells) when the toaster pops, and when you crack ice out of an ice tray. sometimes i feel like i am going out of my way to not make any of these noises, but i dont know if thats what i should be doing! When he acts this way i do not give him any attention at all so i am not praising him for it. but i wonder why he just doesnt get used to it and stop freaking out!
I have to vaccum every few days because of my house rabbit, she sheds really bad! and Ruckus STILL runs back and fourth all over the house with huge eyes! and i have been doing this since day 1 of owning Ruckus. is this just how he is and he will never get used to these things? what can i do to help?
sometimes when he gets scared i find him in the corner breathing really fast. you can see his chest move in and out. it almost looks like he is having a panic attack or something.

[mrose_s]

i can't offer much advice, but Mac goes nuts on the occasional flower pot and Harry freaked out about some pork chops once. :rolleyes:

Daisy used to go nuts over anything popper-y sounding, bubblegum, bubblewrap etc

[rabbitsarebetter]

oh yeah, i forgot bubble gum. Ruckus is so scared that i have bubble gum, that if i start chewing he will run in the other room. This is insane. does he need prozac or something? Did i mention there is this guy he sees every single day that he is still scared of... yeah, he has been seeing him every day for about 3 months, and he is scare of him! i guess its because he has a huge afro. I am thinking about starting to put that bachs rescue remedy in his drinking water, and buying him one of those comfort zone plug ins.

[Dekka]

I would desensitize to these things. So take your dogs fave treat, and softly say a 'v' sound, and immediately give treat. And work up from there. If the 'v' sound signals something good is happening, then the fear response will diminish.

[rabbitsarebetter]

thats a good idea. i havent beeng giving him treats when i say, or do these things, but sometimes i will do them at diffrent times through out the day. but thats not working. but the spitting noise he is very afraid of. if i make that noise he will actually run from me and not let me touch him for a while. i doubt he would take a treat from me but it wouldnt hurt to see.

[Renee750il]

The Bach's is a great idea, Rabbits. It sure can't hurt, and I've heard about it doing great things.

Oh, and poor Shiva is still not real enthused about going outside in the dark by herself :rolleyes: Like there's ANYTHING out there she needs to be afraid of . . .

[ttmwdog]

maybe something you didn't even notice has affected him in the past so i recommend you try giving him some treats while saying the words he is scared of like dekka said, just try and make those words become words he associates with treats and fun and he should come round i think. worth a try.

[irotas]

Ruckus is scared of any word that starts with a "v" i dont understand why... i have just noticed this about 2 months ago. his eyes get huge, he tucks his tail and runs in another room, where i can usually find him laying in the corner! He alway reacts this way to people makings a spitting sound, when you light a lighter, the sound of a clicker, the door bell (we dont have a door bell so its other peoples door bells) when the toaster pops, and when you crack ice out of an ice tray. sometimes i feel like i am going out of my way to not make any of these noises, but i dont know if thats what i should be doing! When he acts this way i do not give him any attention at all so i am not praising him for it. but i wonder why he just doesnt get used to it and stop freaking out!
I have to vaccum every few days because of my house rabbit, she sheds really bad! and Ruckus STILL runs back and fourth all over the house with huge eyes! and i have been doing this since day 1 of owning Ruckus. is this just how he is and he will never get used to these things? what can i do to help?
sometimes when he gets scared i find him in the corner breathing really fast. you can see his chest move in and out. it almost looks like he is having a panic attack or something.


I'm certainly no expert, but I can't imagine a dog being that skittish around so many peculiar things unless they have some sort of chemical problem. That certainly sounds like something to seriously consider talking about with your vet.

I had a friend with a Great Dane that was quite neurotic, and they ended up putting it on a human dosage of an SSRI, which helped tremendously.