Josie Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 (edited) DH and I realise last night that Otis is affraid... of the heaters noise... Our house is heated by electric heaters and they make a "clic" when they turn on or off (it's not lound!) if Otis is laying on his bed in the living room during the evening or in the bedroom at night he will jump up when the clic happens... will start walking all around and wants to go in an other room... could take several minutes to go back to his bed to sleep... He obviously wants to "flee" the strange sound... He does not cry or shake, tail is not tuck under... We ask him to Lay Down... but it does not work all the time and Otis will stay up, doing the freeze statue... I tried to ignore him but it can last a very long time... How could we desensitized him? Edited January 5, 2013 by Josie Quote Our first greyhound, Tuffy: You will always be there with us my angel! Tuffy greyhound-dataOtis greyhound-data Abbey greyhound-data"When you open your minds to the impossible, sometimes you find the truth." W.Bishop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 He should get used to it if you can stand to ignore him for as long as it takes. You could try getting a "clicker" like the ones used for training, and train him to like the sound. Click treat click treat click treat - somewhere away from the room where he has the trouble. Use a high value treat in the beginning. Though this might back fire if he comes to expect a treat whenever the heater turns on! Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josie Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 yes I tought about that.. but like you said it could back fire on me lol last night I tried to ignore him.. after 45minutes I gave up and get out of bed to take Otis to the living room for the rest of the night... He did get up there too after heaters click but it took 5-10minutes to go back to his bed.. Quote Our first greyhound, Tuffy: You will always be there with us my angel! Tuffy greyhound-dataOtis greyhound-data Abbey greyhound-data"When you open your minds to the impossible, sometimes you find the truth." W.Bishop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moneypenny Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 My bridge boy Smoke came to me at 12 years old, he had a fear of the washing machine, I don't have a basement, so the washer is off the kitchen....anyway, I learned a lot about desensitizing from this thread: http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/264880-dishwasher-phobia/?hl=%2Bfear+%2Bwashing+%2Bmachine&do=findComment&comment=4793939 It helped me help him become comfortable with the washer, maybe it will help you too? Quote Mom to Emmi (WM Lickety Split) & Asia (Devious Walker)Waiting at the Bridge: Shadow, Willow, Tony, Nina, Reggie, Sunny, Webb, Rosie, Rowdy, Ivy, Smoke & Raina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJNg Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 I would pair the click with a treat. Don't worry about him expecting a treat every time the heat comes on. If it gets to that point, you've accomplished your goal, and he won't become afraid of the click again even after you stop giving him treats. Quote Jennifer & Willow (Wilma Waggle), Wiki (Wiki Hard Ten), Carter (Let's Get It On), Ollie (whippet), Gracie (whippet x), & Terra (whippet) + Just Saying + Just Alice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyGrey Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 All my babies had some sort of phobia of a new sound or motion over the years. Sierra would shudder whenever the ceiling fans would start to run. She would look up and "head for the hills". Bella would get scared of the gargabe truck and hide and get scared. Angel would panic when fire works went off in the neighborhood. I do not know the experitise advice to give, but I just loved them all through these new "panic buttons". Greyhounds are extra sensitive of the new environments we expose them to, and in time, they get used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.