Terified of the garbabge truck??

[Sabrina and Bentley]

Hi DK,

 

Bentley is my first dog, so I learn all that I can by reading online and buying books.  I'm so grateful to have found this site, because I have tons of questions!! haha!

 

so we've discovered that Bentley is terrified of the garbage truck.  I think it's the funniest thing, but he doesn't!  The first time we were out walking, he saw it, tucked his tail and cowered under me.  He practically pulled me all the way home.  Now, he seems to recognize the sound, because last week, it came around and we were inside and he came running under my desk.  My fiance, being a guy and all, hates that he's scared of the truck, so he picked him up and brought him outside to the truck and to meet the guys.  He said he freaked out the entire time and he had him out there for a good ten minutes.  Once Bentley came in, you could tell he was traumatized and was very calm for the next couple of hours.  I felt awful for him.

 

Any suggestions on how to overcome this?

 

Thanks,

Sabrina

[Becka]

Hi Sabrina! Bentley is very cute! He is still quite young and if he is anything like my puppy he will (with your help) probably outgrow much of his sensitivity to loud and unfamiliar things. You will find that a common piece of advice is to not make a big deal out his fears--in other words, don't go overboard on the comforting and petting when he's displaying fear, because that can simply reinforce his reaction. I agree with this, but of course it's easier said than done. Your fiance seems to have had the right idea in some ways by wanting to show Bentley that the garbage truck wasn't going to hurt him, but I don't know that meeting the guys who operate the truck is going to help him not be afraid of the truck itself unless he can somehow associate the nice garbage men with the loud truck. I think that one of best things you can do is to just continue to expose him to all kinds of environments and people, and try to distract him with treats and play when he starts to react fearfully to the garbage truck.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not making a big deal about his fears is very good advice. My Jack came to me with a lot of fear issues about things outside (garbage trucks, trash cans, garage doors, statues, basically anything that was loud or unfamiliar), even though he was an adult at the time. I was advised not to say "It's okay" or try to comfort him, but rather to be very matter-of-fact about it. Be calm, confident, and encouraging, and keep moving.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Bentley is a baby, and your fiance needs to understand that. Puppies, like human babies, are going to be frightened by loud noises and strange things that are new to them. They just need to be exposed to as many sights, sounds, people, places, etc., as possible, in a gentle and non-threatening manner, until they get accustomed to them. This is what is called "socialization", which has nothing to do with getting together with other dogs, as many new owners believe.

What your fiance did with Bentley and the garbage truck is called "flooding", and it's not usually recommended. He needs a more gentle and gradual introduction to new things that firghten him. A better way to handle it would have been to speak softly and encouragingly to Bentley and offer him treats while staying outdoors near, (but not too near) the truck.

Ask your fiance if he would have been upset if your human baby was afraid of something huge and very noisy, and if he would have picked the baby right up and taken him out to the truck to meet the garbage men, lol. 

It's natural for a puppy (or a person for that matter) to be afraid of something very large and very noisy that he's never seen before. He doesn't know what it might do. Over time and exposure, these fears do go away.

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think this advice is perfect.  The one caution I would add is not to reward (give treats) if Bentley is acting frightened because that will make him think you are approving of that behavior.  At the beginning I would reward if he even looked at the truck (from a distance) without showing the fearful body language.  Then little by little you can get closer to the truck.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks for clarifying that, Jane, you're absolutely right on how & when to treat.

[Rose Ann and Amante]

I think Karen is completely right! Introduce him slowly dont force. I brought Amante to my cousins pool and everyone wanted me to force Amante in. I refused and threatened anyone who would do that with a wrath....... Eventually with gentle encouragement by me he worked his way in. NOW he is the first one in the pool when we go there.

[Sabrina and Bentley]

Thanks for the advice.  I'll try to bring some treats and toys on our walks when the garbage truck is out.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Daisy is less afraid of things like garbage trucks, cans and things out of place then before, we just keep moving past these things and I don't say anything, she does not bark she quickly moves away. About two months ago she started to be afraid of thunder, I never made a big deal if I am at my desk she will crawl under it and I just let her and get up when I need to.

I don't know what it is but I am thinking about getting her a Thundershirt. I am not sure she needs it but maybe it will add some comfort.