Wind and "seeing dead people"

[Sally loves Maple & Lucky]

Our Maple, 26 month old Labradoodle is a dog with an "old soul". She grew up into a responsible adult before she was even 1 y/o. She was out of the crate for good on her first birthday and has never given us regrets. She stays put in the living room behind a 20" gate and never attempts to jump it. She sleeps enroute in any vehicle and does what she is told - EXCEPT... WHEN THE WIND BLOWS!!!

We have an RV that is permanently situated on a lovely small plot of land on the waters edge on 3 sides. We are there most every weekend March-November. It is a mini vacation every weekend. On the water, we get some wonderful breezes. We don't have much shade after 3:00PM so DH raies the sun shade sails and leaves them up until we leave. The wind ruffles the sails and the canvas awning slightly and puts this mellow dog into another zone. She barks and barks and barks at the sail, the awning, the tree branches and anything affected by a slight breeze.

But just when we think although it's a hot, still day there will be no wind freaking out, she will turn and bark at the air. She waits and barks again. Some have said it's as if she sees dead people.

There are weekends that she experienced little fright of the wind and all that the wind moves but I feel it is happening more and more.

I will try the pherenome collar next as the Rescue Remedy, "Fear-Less" spray and Thundershirt do not help this situation. She does use the Thundershirt for thunderstorms with great success though.

Just reaching out to see if anyone has tried a training technique for dogs that bark at the wind (and/or dead people). Thanks!

PS: She does like to sit in front of fans. So it's the wind moving things not the wind itself.

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

I dont have any answers unless the wind brings many different new smells...if she sees my dad would you tell her to tell hello and I miss him:)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I'm sorry I did not see this sooner.  I've always had trouble getting messages from this group.

 

Your discussion made me laugh. I'm sorry, it is just because I can relate to the scene you discribed in so many ways.  The WIND!  OH NO.  

  We call it, " The Sky Is Falling, Chicken Licken" at our house.  Our girl is an old soul also.  Well behaved in the house, not interested in many toys or play time and she never needs a crate because she would get into something.  Starlit loves the fan also, but HATES the wind.  She will not go to the bathroom in the wind. She will stand outside sometimes and stare at the sky OR run and cower both in equal amounts.

In the house we play music or a loud television for her. It helps................ kind of, sometimes, maybe. 

We've just come the the realization that there in not much we can do and have to accept the fact that she will refuse to go out.  If it is mandatory, I'll place her collar on and heal her to what I need her to do, otherwise, I pick my battles with her carefully.  If it is not important, than I am not going to stress her OR myself. 

So my question, does all barking matter?  Is is disturbing to you? Is it bothering others around?    Or are you just worried about her feelings?  If it is her feelings about wind, well they just think differently and not much you can do for the wind that I can think of except add more noise to drowned other things out, groom them ( the touch sensation really works with us)   They hear sounds with much more intensity than we do.  I stopped trying to understand on many instances and hope they work it out for themselves unless  it is really bad.  Then I do go help her with whatever I can to make her more comfortable. 

[Sally loves Maple & Lucky]

Hi Joanne - As for refusing to go out, we too have this issue. Tough when Hurricane Irene is using your backyard bathroom too! What works for Maple in those instances is we have her SIT and attach a leash to her collar. She then goes willingly. We release her on the other side of the door and all is well.

As for the barking. I understand what you're saying but - It drives hubby crazy - continued barking rubs his nerves. I have to agree with him that we "are not going to be the couple with those constantly barking dogs" in the RV park or in our neighborhood. Unless there's reason, it's just rude. I don't yell and play music loudly outside so I don't want them to bark unless they are communicating with us or other dogs.

[Sally loves Maple & Lucky]

Thanks! We've tried the passive, natural approaches - Bachs flower essence, aromatherapy, DAP and "grounding" exercises but none helped our Maple girl. I think she is not only anxiety ridden but if there is such a thing as doggy OCD, she's got it. She has such a tight grip on routine. Not just the routines we've taught her, but she creates her own routines, And she never deviates form her routines. Sometimes you can actually see her over-thinking matters in her head by the look on her face - that stare! BUT this is her only fault - and to HER it's not a fault of course. Other than this behavour she is an awesome dog. She has an "old soul" and is the best mannered pup you can ever wish for.

We're figuring that adding our stress to the situation could make her worse. Given the thought that this is not a learned behavior we opted for the Vet visit and she is now on an anti-anxiety med. It's a low dose but even so, we saw a change in 24 hours. Our home is quieter now; minus both barking and human reprimand :)

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am so happy you have found a remedy that works. Our old lab had to be on medicine too for all of her anxiety. Nothing else helped. Good luck!!

[Sally loves Maple & Lucky]

thanks :)

 

[Christine & Camus]

Hi - What anti-anxiety medication (and dose) are you using?