Please help with my chicken dog! (long)

[maxiesmom]

I am in desperate need of some ideas and some advice. My yellow lab Emma is terribly affraid of fireworks. She has been for a couple of years, but the problem seems to be getting worse, and I don't know what else to do.

We have some meds that the vet gave us, and they do help a little. We could give her something stronger, but our vet told us that then she would at the point of being drugged and unable to move, but still able to hear the sounds. So she would still be afraid of the noise, but unable to react.

Last night one of our neighbors was setting off fireworks, and Emma was so scared! She tried to hide in the bottom of my bedroom closet. The bottom of my closet is full of shoes and books, and a 100 pound lab trying to climb in there was such a sorry sight.I had my bedroom tv on at the time, and that wasn't enough to help drown out the booms. She ended up sleeping in the small area of space between my bed and the wall.

Now I feel horrible because my dad and I will be at Disney World over the 4th of July. And we are the 2 she looks to when she is upset or frightened. Like I said, she has been scared of fireworks for a couple of years, but her fear seems to be much worse this year. Last year she would just go into the spare room and lay down in their. Now she is freeking out and looking to hide in my closet. I don't know what to do!

Anyone have any ideas on what I should do? I hate to see her so scared, and now I feel guilty because she will be home freaking out when I am on vacation.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Where will she be while you're gone?

 

[jsmith]

If you were not planning to board her while you are away you might want to reconsider it-a good kennel-while not able to keep people from shooting fireworks-should be able to make some accommodation for an extremely "gun shy" dog such as putting them in an indoor run where noise will be minimized-and they will have a place to hide. Be sure to take a familiar toy or blanket along so she has something comforting. My mother has a very gun shy golden retriever and she boards her over the 4th even tho she does not travel-the kennel has a more sound proof area and is out in the country where fireworks are minimal so it reduces the stress.
There is no cure for gun shy-you just have to learn to try and accommodate the dogs fear.