46 Mary 2. ates Surely Vecon UT is not uncommon for the sound of thun- der, firecrackers, noisy trucks, other loud sounds or even people, to elicit a frightened response in dogs. These fears often develop thour the dog ever having experienced any type of ohvsi cal trauma associated: with the sound or stinuutlas, Fortunately, fears are among the most successfully treatable behaviour problems, but treatment must be carried out correctly or the problem can be exacerbated. Onee a tear had been established ina dog it uator tunately tends to become worse over time rather than better, This ts due toa teow factors, The most common is well intentioned owners who try to comfort their fearful dog by petting and speaking softly to them. As a human we can see how this act would calin another human. But since dogs cannot speak English (or any other language ather than dog for that matter) they rely on tone of voice and body language to understand us. Thus, the dog interprets the comforting as praise jor their feared response, which ends up reinforcing, the behaviour. Try instead to ignore the dog during the tearful response. Anotaer human mistake is scolding or punishing the dog for being fearful. This again turns the situation worse. The dog is still aaid of the sound or stimulus bur now it feels anxious and stressed because of an angry owner. This can make a dog become afraid of its owner. A dog can also learn to become afraid of things other than the original noise or stimulus because they remind him/her of the particular noise or stimulus. Things which are present whenever a dog hears the loud noise can become associated with the fearful sound, such as the sight of dark ominous clouds or children — who in the past had lit the noisy firecrackers. As an exainple, a friend’s lovely flat coated retnever, Barney, is afraid of thunder- storms. He is also unnerved at strong winds, and crashing screen doors, all of which were present during the initial chunderstorm. Physically removing a dog from the situation and confin- ing it toa crate or room can also make the situation worse. First of all, when you remove the dog, the dag learns that “ADVERTISING CORRECTION. In our Mother's Day Beauty Book (promo #667) included in this newspaper PLEASE NOTE: Page 14 - Hugo Goss “Big Rude Jake” CD Gitt with purchase - will not be avadlabie The CD will be replaced with Hugo Womats Body Lotion, 150 ml We sincerely apologize to our valued customers and regret any inconvenience ar contusion this may have caused. EATON’S Norn Store News Lt Jean lucha fanine connestion being fearful makes the situa tion wo away, therefore tur ther reintorcing the teartul behaviour. Secondly, contin ing a doy may cause the dog to become destructive, again reinforcing the teartul behav tour, The destructive behav nerth sh __ PETS _ ore news your frigntened Fido jour starts as away to alley ate the anxiety associated: with fear. Onee the aindety is reheved by tearing a hole wy veur bathroom: wall -- the dog feels better, The rerore the doy learus that in feels better when it ts destructive, Not good, unless you own a Comstrustion company! Deo create a sate place fer sour dog. This is an area in which the dog has chasen, not you, and feels comtori- able there. The dog should always be allowed free access and exit to this spot at al! umes, ty Cornenng a teartul dow andrea where an canirot escape is Buarantecigy a vist to Uhe emergency room with anasty be This is the theht or fight phenomenon, ita doy can nor per away i may wet aeressively Obedience vhasses wall not make vour dog less atta of Joud noises. So, bow what do vou dat The most successful way of treating fears and phobias iovith a combination at behaviour modification tech Digues, First is Hooding ~~ contnuously exposing the dog to the specific tear elicit say samudus amd Accpaag it there unit there are few or no feartud sais Second is desemuin cation: and countercondinoning which mvebos gradually exposing the dog to the tear ful scmutus ata devel of haw Intense toeventually heh intensity. Then paring, relaved behaviours, food, ote. with the fear chtting sumu lus. Gradaally the dog, becomes conditioned to expe: rience pleasant emotions with the orginal feartud scamudus, ‘To guarantee success, all af these techniques should be used with the help of a quali ted behasiout spocridist tail haowath the fcld of tears and phooias, Phe treatment of noise and other fears as Aighiy suc cessful Pauenge and help trom a specialist can help vour dog become a happy and relaxed member of the tamais. -— Joan Kiuchaisa cert Hed trainer and awner of Serra KY training on the Narth Share, Your can react her c/a Narth Share News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave. Narth Vancouver, BC, V7AM 114, or dy e-mail at ¢ sirrrak Wehbe, sya patico.ca>. For flea prevention’ and treatment. | phone 1-888-nofiea-6- 5 - wwwnofleascom = wa _ . Bayer inc., 77 Belfield Road, Toronto Ontario MSW 1G6