Holly was spooked yesterday...

[Richard Crowe]

I was walking Holly in the business section of downtown Escondido yesterday because it is a great place for her to meet people and to get used to traffic noises and other distractions. Suddenly she panicked. There were three of those aluminum colored helium balloons (the type sold by florists and other vendors for birthdays and other occasions) tied to a post and blowing in the wind.

She was terribly afraid of them. I walked a bit down the street to get away from the balloons and then put Holly into a sit. This usually calms her down when she is distracted or exuberant. I have her sit and pet her and talk to her to sooth her. She was having none of it. Although she remained in the sit, she was still agitated and when I had her heel, she pulled at the leash in the direction of my car.

When we got to the car, I opened the driver's door to place a package in before opening the rear door. Holly tried to jump in the front seat. She has never behaved that way before and it was totally unlike her usual calm and obedient behavior. I was really surprised because it was several blocks between the balloons and the car but, she never calmed down; despite putting her in several sits and reassuring her along the way.

I am seriously thinking about buying a balloon of that type and securing it in place so it doesn't blow around. Perhaps Holly will get used to the balloon in that fashion. We certainly cannot have Holly as a therapy dog with her fear of those balloons because they are often present in hospital rooms.

[Richard Crowe]

Thanks for all your help. I will try the "Touch It". I guess that it is important for us to get the balloon so that Holly can get used to it in a controlled environment.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Richard ..... something we learned in training that we have used many times on Lucy and Sophie is "Touch It". This has worked on everything from baby strollers to back hoes. If they are afraid of something we just go up to it first and touch it, and then say "Touch IT, It's Ok". and keep repeating until they come closer and closer and realize that if we think it is ok, then it is ok for them as well. Sophie used to freak out at baby strollers, but after this she is fine with them. They will also go off on anything new in the back yard that they haven't seen there before (even like a plastic grocery bag blows in from somewhere or a new tree or plant). Touch It has always worked for this as well. Might be worth a try with Holly!

[Lorraine Bromley]

This is good to know. I don't have alot of balloons floating around the house usually and Neely and I are wanting to do therapy work too. I think we'll have to go and get some to see how he'll respond. I also have heard that dogs go through different stages in life and that they do go through a stage of fearfulness even at things that have never bothered them before.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Luca has panicked at balloons moving in the wind when we walk. After we pass them he's OK though. Funny what scare one dog doesn't scare another. If I open the garage door to let the dogs out Calla is out when there's just enough room to squeeze through. Luca doesn't budge from the steps until it's completely open and quiet.

[Leslie and Halas]

Halas hates balloons, too. I got some for my birthday, and he really hated them. They were all helium-filled, some mylar and some regular. He growled and barked at them, so I finally put them on the basement steps and closed the door. But then he would go up to the door and growl at the door. Every once in awhile, I would get them out. If I held them low to the ground, and held them still, he would come over and sniff them or bat at them. But as soon as I released them, he would growl and bark at them again. So I don't know if it was the movement or the floating in the air that bothered him more.

[GBK]

I think that is a terrific idea regarding getting Holly used to the balloons at home! Mabye you could also make up a fake flower arrangement with the balloons attached and use it as your table center piece for a while?

I did that with those wide brimmed sun hats and Kona. She was terribley upset by anyone she saw wearing them and would bark her head off. The look of complete terror when I walked into the room at home wearing one of those hats was amazing. She couldn't even focus on me, just the hat, took a few seconds before I could get her to meet my eyes and calm down. I just surprised her every once in a while and wore the hat, one day I wore if a few hours around her. She doesn't even notice anymore..... Good Luck

[Kathy Spyker]

My DH just had a birthday(50th) in which he got some balloons. They have been in our living room for 12 days now and are just starting to go down. Lilly is having fits..Every time someone walks by, they move and she barks until they stop. She lays with 1 eye open just so she can see that they don't come after her.. I wish you luck on Holly getting used them. Anything I do I can't get Lilly to see they won't hurt her.