"Fear Imprint Period"
In theory, puppy Ben is in this stage of his life (he's 12 weeks old). I have been handling him with kid gloves - making sure he meets wonderful and loving new people; and life is just peachy-keen in general. We made it through the 4th of July (I live on a lake, so the "fireworks period" is a week before and a week after) - with him pondering fireworks as "startling-but-interesting". Thunderstorms are viewed similarly. I want him to grow up like Jimmy, who's basically fearless. (Ike had been traumatized multiple times during this stage of his life before we got him; and the effects were lifelong)
Then last night. OMG. At 10:55 PM, just as the 3 dogs walked out the door to potty before bedtime; some ***hole about 5 doors down fired off what we call a "mortar cannon" - about a dozen aerial explosions with intense flashes that feel like they stop your heart. Jimmy was annoyed; Jack went berserk (protecting our house from the invasion) - and poor, poor Ben.... I didn't even see where he first ran to, but I could hear the frantic cries; then he came running to me as fast as possible, I scooped him up - and he was terrified beyond words. Out-of-his-mind scared. By that point, the fireworks were done, so I just held him and talked quietly to him to try to slow his poor pounding heart. Took him back in the house; then went out and yelled something really unladylike at the idiot with the fireworks...
Ed held him on his lap for a bit - but of course Ben still needed to go potty. So Ed and I and Jimmy (who was calm through the whole thing, went back out into the "terrifying" outside and Ben DID piddle about 2" off the safety of the deck...LOL!!
Today, Ben is fine, played in the same "terrifying" front yard, etc. But we have thunderstorms headed in for this afternoon and this evening. Should I go get some "calming" stuff before the storms, in anticipation of him being spooky about loud noises - or simply wait and see if there's even a problem? Dogs who are afraid of fireworks have a HARD time living on a lake, where people tend to shoot them off for any occasion....
Then last night. OMG. At 10:55 PM, just as the 3 dogs walked out the door to potty before bedtime; some ***hole about 5 doors down fired off what we call a "mortar cannon" - about a dozen aerial explosions with intense flashes that feel like they stop your heart. Jimmy was annoyed; Jack went berserk (protecting our house from the invasion) - and poor, poor Ben.... I didn't even see where he first ran to, but I could hear the frantic cries; then he came running to me as fast as possible, I scooped him up - and he was terrified beyond words. Out-of-his-mind scared. By that point, the fireworks were done, so I just held him and talked quietly to him to try to slow his poor pounding heart. Took him back in the house; then went out and yelled something really unladylike at the idiot with the fireworks...
Ed held him on his lap for a bit - but of course Ben still needed to go potty. So Ed and I and Jimmy (who was calm through the whole thing, went back out into the "terrifying" outside and Ben DID piddle about 2" off the safety of the deck...LOL!!
Today, Ben is fine, played in the same "terrifying" front yard, etc. But we have thunderstorms headed in for this afternoon and this evening. Should I go get some "calming" stuff before the storms, in anticipation of him being spooky about loud noises - or simply wait and see if there's even a problem? Dogs who are afraid of fireworks have a HARD time living on a lake, where people tend to shoot them off for any occasion....
