Ruckus's noise phobia

[dogsarebetter]

Ruckus was diagnosed last year with some sort of chemical imbalance/anxiety disorder. He is on Elivil and it has really worked wonders.

However he seems to have sets of days when his noise phobia is horrid! It makes him hard to even take on a walk because anything, just a car door shutting will make him completely freak out. And then the next time we go walking and he gets to where that noised happened yesterday he freezes up, and then starts to pull to the car.

after a few days of sever noise phobia he is back to normal and act like a normal dog.

Do you think that I need to consult my vet and maybe he needs something tweeked with his meds? I HATE to give him more meds than he is on, but I want him to have the best quality of life that he can. Is there anything training wise I can do when he is having his noise phobia days? How should I react when he starts freaking out? I have been just ignoring him, but it doesnt work.

I know all about desensitizing him, but when its about %30 and 100's of things he is afraid of I have no idea how. Sometimes its gunshots to gravel grinding under my shoes! and for only maybe 3-5 days a month. I guess I should start writing on a calender when he is having his bad days and maybe there is a pattern.
If you look back to my old post you will realize that it has been behavior issues one after the other with him. Trainers, vets, etc! I have even had one behaviorist suggest me putting him down!

[dogsarebetter]

or if anyone just wanted to wish me good luck... that would make me feel better. I feel hopeless tonight. I get so frustrated.... and wonder
where did I mess up with this dog. I socialized him, got him from an okay breeder (byb who used to show, her dogs are home raised, very very loved, but no Champions for at least 3 generations, and she didnt health test tho)

I know the vets think he was born with it, or whatever
But I still feel like its my fault. He is such a good boy, and I feel like I have failed him. Its one of the worst feelings I have ever had.

[Black Magic Dakota]

I wish you all the luck in the world with Ruckus.

My dog also deals with some degree of a noise phobia but not nearly as bad as you have explained here. My black lab can't stand the sound of fireworks, gunshots, thunder or even just rain pattering on the awning roof. He becomes completely stressed out and can't handle himself almost every time there is a storm. My family and I have to keep him inside as close to us as possible until the entire storm passes, otherwise he is just a mess.

So I deeply feel for you in your situation and urge you not to give up. All dogs deserve the best and sometimes being there for them is just all they need