What to do with problem dogs

[HomerJ]

I need some advice here everybody. My parents have 2 German Shepards, both over 120 lbs, so they are pretty damn massive. They're great people dogs, and even better guard dogs. They've never been aggressive towards a single person that they weren't meant to. The problem lies in that the female is absolutely terrified of storms/lightning/gunshots/etc. Basically anything loud or goes boom sends her into a total panic. He isn't as bad about it as she is, but when she starts losing her marbles, he starts to as well. This isn't a 'normal' dog freakout when it storms. They have their own room down in the walkout basement, and they have literally clawed and chewed their way through the wall from trying to get out of that room and into the main house when it storms. They have in the past been at a kennel when a big storm hit, and she literally ripped 3 holes in her chain link kennel. Don't ask me how she did it, because I still can't figure it out... When we let them out of that room and into a central room in the basement, they calm down just a little, but not much. If you sit with them long enough, they will eventually calm to a managable level.

The problem is bad enough that if there is even the remotest chance of a storm or popup shower, one of my parents will have to cancel everything they are doing and sit downstairs with the dogs just so they don't rip the fawkin house down. My mom will not leave them to go do anything, and rarely gets a chance to leave the house for an extended amount of time since we have popup storms almost daily here during the summer.

We've tried getting them on a prescription of an anxiety medicine and it never seemed to help, even after a month or so. They then kept them on that medicine and added an injection of a strong sedative when a storm would hit, it doesn't stop them either, just makes them slower moving and very unstable on their feet. My parents know not to 'encourage' the behavior by catering to them, but honestly, what other choice do they have right now. Also, they are going to start putting a radio in their room that plays a thunderstorm soundtrack on repeat to hopefully de-sensitize them, starting it really low and increasing the volume over time. Another thing they are going to start trying is brushing them down with a dryer sheet to take the static off them that builds up as a storm approaches. Those are really our only two ideas left currently.

My ultimate goal would be to find someone to take them off our hands, but lets be serious here... who in their right mind would take dogs that do that.. Then there's the whole thing of are they really going to a good home, etc. The vets last suggestion was to put them down if its unbearable, but that's out of the question. It's really starting to take a toll on mom, she has spent many sleepless nights sitting with them lately. I really have to find a way to help her out here.

I'm open to any and all advice..

[72Blazer]

My neighbor had the EXACT same problem with his Chow.Dog chewed thru 2 walls,numerous closet doors and the wooden back fence.Broke a tooth on the fence.He would actually climb the fence and go lay down on the neighbors door step.Playing thunderstorm sounds all day when he was away and the drugs calmed him down to where he wasn't destructive.

[dkf]

My current dog and my last dog was very scared of thunderstorms also but only in the house. But if they were outside during a storm they were fine. We tryed the medication for our last dog.

There is more than likely some training you can do with the dogs to help change their habits during a storm. The issue may not be completely with the dogs but with the way the people around them act during a storm. May be worth talking to a trainer. Don't you watch Ceasar Milan.

[JohnRobHolmes]

How often are the dogs taken out, and wore slap out? I would suggest more vigerous training, as GSDs can be horrible when not occupied or tired. Don't give her the option of reacting to the storm, immediately occupy her with training or a prey/toy if possible. Being scared of gunshots, sounds like she either has a "bad" personality for a GSD or something happened when she was young to encourage the behavior. It's kinda funny, my dog doesn't even flinch with guns but if she runs into something in the house and makes racket she gets sheepish.

[robbio4422]

im gunna have to agree with jrh. get those dogs active and out around those loud sounds more often to where they can see there is nothing to worry about. the more confined they are during these loud thunder claps, the more they will be worried. the reason they calm down a bit while ur mom is around is because they know she is safe.

are the dogs exposed to loud surround sound? when i was younger my dad had a rottie that ate threw a wall and into his bedroom during a storm just to make sure he was safe. im not sure where he go his info from but he started playing his movies really fvcking loud with the surround sound turned way up. after a while the dog was oblivious to the loud bangs of gunshots, explosions, and thunder claps

at the same time this might not be the best way to go about it due to the fact that they are guard dogs and sounds of people breaking windows, kicking in doors or shooting guns might be something they need to be aware of.

good luck

[HomerJ]

They are outside as often as they like to be, they have a dog door built into that room and can come and go as they please. As for punishing them with slapping, they get whipped when they do wrong, but that's not very often these days because they're well trained other than when a storm hits. It's like they just completely turn into a different animal. I'm more hands on when it comes to punishing them than my parents are, but I'm not there that often.

We have a smaller yard at my parents house, so it's hard for them to run and go like they do when they can at our farm. We have 700 acres of mountains there and they will literally wear themselves out every day, and be up all night barking at the wild animals. The only problem is they still react the same way to a storm up there also..

[JohnRobHolmes]

I have learned that letting my dog out or letting her run at the farm is not near as taxing as the training, especially on a leash. Are they easy to get on and off leash? Have you tried putting them on leash when a storm comes?

[JIA's Dad]

Acepromazine!!! You can buy it over the counter.


http://www.oes.org/page2/1149~Acepromazine.html

Dog tranquilizer, works great!!!

[Krawler Kev]

You need "THE DOG WHISPERER".

[engineerjoe]

get in touch with a hunting dog trainer in your area. Have them do a few gun shyness lessons with the dogs and watch how he corrects unwanted behavior.

then recreate the situation when storms hit.

Remember that TIMING and CONSISTENCY are critical to traning a dog to do anything. You need to have every person that handles the dog be on the same page, and react the same to the situation.

[RANOVRU]

If you sit with them long enough, they will eventually calm to a managable level.



LOL! They probably just want to be near people. Pull them up on the couch & engulf them with attention. That should do the trick.

[The Violator]

Fixes all dog problems.

[engineerjoe]

Originally Posted by RANOVRU

If you sit with them long enough, they will eventually calm to a managable level.



LOL! They probably just want to be near people. Pull them up on the couch & engulf them with attention. That should do the trick.

My sarcasm detector has been on the fritz lately, I'm hoping there is a lot in that post.

That is the complete opposite of what you'd want to do. The dogs will learn that when they want attention, they dig a hole in the wall.

[RANOVRU]

Originally Posted by engineerjoe

My sarcasm detector has been on the fritz lately,

Its working now!

Its the first thing I thought of because its what my fiances parents do with their dogs. Course they dont chew through walls. Youre talking about a pichasneeze (sp), a taco bell dog (sp), & a beagle. If I had my way all 3 would be outside in the storm. Theres no reason why a dog whould be scraed of a storm. Im not scared of a storm. I dont particularly like being rained on. My thinking is that neither will they.

[skinner]

Originally Posted by Krawler Kev

You need "THE DOG WHISPERER".

x2..but yea talk to a trainer, i have a pack of dogs but none as bad as what u r going thru.

[JasonInAugusta]

Neighbors have a Great Pyrenees that's an awesome dog but doesn't get the attention he needs. I've NEVER seen him go for a walk. He's either in the house or in the (large) back yard. If he's left in the back yard by himself for too long he'll get on his belly, scoot under the fence (doesn't dig), and come hang out with me in the garage.

When storms come he gets riled up - panting and whimpering.

The neighbor gets sick of hearing it and puts him in the garage...he chewed up the railing leading up the steps as well as part of the door frame.

He was freaked out and wanted to be with the rest of the family. Instead he got locked in the garage so he tried to chew his way in to where the family was. Makes sense to me.

Just like my neighbor's dog, I think your parents' dogs need more attention.

...and buy a kennel. Stop putting them in a room to destroy.

Here's Gabe prior to a storm coming in. He was in the back yard and was freaking out. I had music on in the garage and he came over. All he wanted was to be with someone instead of being left alone during the storm.

[wanantrdsc]

All great advice. When the dogs are scared, separation from loved ones is not good. Benadryl really works well on a lot of dogs to get them calm. BTW: get a new vet, he/she is an idiot and should be put down for such a stupid suggestion - okay at least lose their license. seeing a dog behavioral expert would be good, even talk to a K-9 officer. I really like the suggestion of occupying them and activity/interaction.

[HomerJ]

Thanks for all the advice. They called up a trainer or two around town last night evidently and got hooked up with a behavioral specialist or whatever they are called. I'll keep you all updated on the progress.

[JasonInAugusta]

Originally Posted by HomerJ

Thanks for all the advice. They called up a trainer or two around town last night evidently and got hooked up with a behavioral specialist or whatever they are called. I'll keep you all updated on the progress.

Thing to remember with dogs is that they behave and have the overall mentality of a kid.

If you leave a young kid unsupervised they will make an absolute mess of things. Same with a dog.

...and dogs need a lot of attention - just like a kid.

[666]

I will take care of your dogs if need be.