Dog Terrified of Smoke Smell

[suzmax]

Hello!

I'm new to these forums as we just got our truck camper on Saturday. We had a 5th wheel before that and a motorhome before that. Last summer, due to my work (which I have now left), we didn't get a chance to go camping. In December of the year before, we rescued a Boston Terrier who was 3 months old, so he hasn't been camping yet. The owner said he was hard headed. After having him less than a week, we figured out he was deaf. He's the cutest little thing ever (he's the one with his head down and the big ears) and so smart! I've taught him lots of signs.

Anyway, he's terrified of the smell of smoke. I mean, he'll hide in our shower or wherever he can find until the next day no matter what we try. Other than that he's fearless! I did some Googling and found out that it's more common than you would think (among all dogs, not deaf dogs). But since he's deaf, I worry about him when we're camping and the campfire smell. Obviously I won't let him off-leash but has anyone else experienced this? To be on the safe side and to make his life more comfortable, I will be getting tranquilizers from our vet just in case. But I do wish I could get him used to it. I'm thinking hot dogs roasted over the fire might help so he'll relate the smell to something positive, especially since our dogs don't usually get people food. 😉

Here are our 4 rescues:

[lasparrot]

you could try starting the desensitizing by using some strongly smoked meat or jerky 😉 Like the other posters have suggested, start small. You want him to succeed at each tiny step.

[K9Intruder]

Beautiful pack you have. My suggestion is to gradually make a very very small fire before you go camping and do something fun father away from it, so he relates it to something positive. Do that a few days, then slowly get a little closer but keeping it FUN ALWAYS. If you see him get scared, go further away, keeping it fun. DON'T force him...he needs to gain trust in you and when he's close to smoke it'll be fun. You want his camping trip to be just as fun as yours. Always leave off on a positive note with him and the smoke/fire. Is he a rescue? Maybe he was in a house fire. Just go slow. Trust is better than tranquilizers. Best of luck!

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I agree with the hot dog theory.

My late Aussie was terrified of air compressors and ANY "hissing" air. But he loved to go camping. Part of our camping experience was taking the motorhome to the dragrace track and he liked, that, too (the noisy cars never bothered him).... but guys there are constantly adjusting the air pressure in their tires. Eventually the dog learned that hissing air was part of that camping experience it, and learned to (unhappily) tolerate it. His face would show his complete disgust - but he didn't need to hide/run/pant or do anything he used to do when around compressed air.

[Uwharrie]

You might want to try a thunder shirt and lots of positive reinforcement

[Go_Dogs]

That's a sweet bunch of babies! I think associating a smokey fire with a couple bites of hot dogs, (or other positive reinforcement)should go a long way, in getting him more acclimated. Plus, after the first trip-he'll see how much fun the other dogs are having-and he should learn to love it, bugs, smoke and all!