Fear stage

[Theo961]

Hi, I would really like advice on how to deal with Reese"s sudden fear of things. He has been well socialised and attends training class, he has been a happy confident little man until this week. He is now 17wks old and now things he wouldn't have taken any notice of before is now scaring him. He is jumping , barking and hiding behind my legs at things he now finds scary. While we are out I have been going over to whatever it is (normally a broken branch or something) and touch it etc until he feels secure enough to investigate on his own. Not sure I am doing the right thing there but what I really don't know how to deal with is the TV. He is and always has been a bit of a TV addict but over the last few days he is reacting quite badly to it (mainly spring watch) take the other night he was on his day bed watching it when the sparrow hawks came on, he jumped up barking and run between my legs, while this was going on they then showed the little owl with the camera at the exit of the nest, the parent bird went to fly out and it looked like it was running out of the TV,  he jumped in a second from floor onto my shoulder. He remained there laying across the back of my head just peeping round the side of my face watching it,(just how i would watch a horror movie! ) How am I best to deal with this? Do I just not watch it or am I best to watch it so he starts to realise he is safe? It isn't just spring watch but have noticed it is mainly birds on TV (and a flying puppet bat! Lol). I have to also add I have the opposite problem with him in my garden with birds as they are all terrorised!.
 Thank you Tracy & Reese

[bizzylizzy]

  Sorry to laugh - this just made me smile! Maybe Spring Watch needs a watershed.....!! 😂
It sounds as if Reese is well socialized, so I think this is just a normal reaction to something he can't quite understand, Do you have a big televison? I can imagine, from his point of view, the images could be a bit scary, especially as he probably doesn't see them quite like we would and he's not to know the noises aren't "real".
I don't think I'd stop watching, - he needs exposure to as many different things as possible for his confidence to continue growing. I would just reassure him its ok but without making a big deal of it - like you've been doing with the branch etc..Maybe entice him a bit nearer to the telly, so he can see its nothing scary and then play with him or tickle him, to make it see its pleasurable and nothing to be frightened of. Main thing is not to reinforce or reward the fear by over comforting him, let him retreat if he wants to, and don't force him, to just try and stay as natural and upbeat as you can so he'll learn that its normal.
I think its quite normal at Reese's age, its a big world out there (or in here, if the telly's big enough! ). The more situations he's exposed to, the more confident he'll become and it won't be long before he's mastered the remote control! 😬😬 Good luck!

[lescef]

Hi. It did make me smile I must admit!
Bramble will react to things on the tv, but only slightly so it's not really a problem. I would possibly suggest giving him a chew or kong to work on whist the tv is on so that it becomes background noise to him and hopefully he will become more accepting of the programmes. As Bizzy Lizzy said you need to be calm when he is reacting, as if nothing is wrong.
Maddie became very frightened of the air brakes on buses and lorries when she was young. I used to go and sit on a seat some distance from the road and wait for the buses to go by. As she sat calmly I would give her treat.
 In terms of scary things outside, I think I would wait until Reece sees a scary thing, then just stand with him and let him make the moves in his own time. Talk to him calmly and when he gets there give him a treat.  (You don't want him going towards something because of the treat.)
I would also spend time just sitting somewhere busy and watch the world go by. Dogs need continual socialisation throughout their whole lives. I've just started doing this now the weather is nice. I've become very aware that I expect too much of my dogs and I need to slow down to their way of life!
You could ask the trainer for some suggestions too.
 Good luck!

[daw]

Kinda funny and kinda puzzling but that sums up dogs in general. I think you'd been given excellent advice. Don't react to things yourself, stare into the middle distance and exude serenity. Zen and the Art of Cocker Maintenance! But as for TV there are often 'backnoises' on some programmes that are too high frequency for human ears- but not for dogs. Like a dog whistle. Maybe what he's reacting to? At his age the hearing is super-sharp.   

[Theo961]

Thank you all, yes it was quite cute and funny as well  I will certainly settle down to watch it tonight with kong, treats and toys and follow your advice. I really don't want to get things wrong with him as have tried very hard since day one to help him become a happy confident little boy and will continue to do what's needed.

[Londongirl]

Any chance of a photo next time??

All excellent advice. The thing I was told that stuck in my head was 'Never pet a behaviour you don't want.' So no stroking or cuddling to comfort, just serenity. Ommmmm.

[Theo961]

Well we have had a busy day today, played with the grace the dog next door in the garden, been down to the beach, to the vets then training (trainer giving same kind of advice) got home with kong, treats and toys all ready for spring watch....He snored all the way through! 

[MIN]

made me chuckle.
 If it helps, I used to watch Dr.Who and the Daleks from behind a chair , now I love it. If I remember, munching on cake and biscuits did help 

[VeeBee]

One of our spaniels, can't recall which one (!) would not go into the garden if an owl was hooting outside and would be most anxious in the house if any bird of prey screeches, chimpanze noise or growling bears and dogs barking were on the tv. She grew out of it as she got older, although any bird noises on the tv would result in her asking go out to check the garden out.

[Theo961]

Thank you for all your advice, we are now watching spring watch without the stress, just a happy wagging tail! 

[Markr64]

This has just made my day, I know it can be a serious matter but hey look at those pictures and try not to smile! 

[sodpot2000]

I am glad we are not the only ones to have TV interrupted! CountryFile can be difficult as Buster is convinced that the animals he sees are real and need to be chased and caught. That said his antics are a lot more entertaining than most of the programs so every cloud and all that...