question on new dog behavior

Question
Hi,
I am a new dog owner. Orignally I never thought I would get a dog. I started
with a cat but was allergic to that, then rats, but landlady what crazy over
them. So I looked around shelters and pet stores and found a dog that a
simply fell in love with at my local humane society. She is older about 6 or 7.
A lab terrier mix. Black. Looks like a lab but tiny like a terrier. She came in
with fleas, intestinal parisites, worms, her canine teeth had been shaved down
to almost nothing by her pervious owners and she had never been spayed.
When I saw her she was finishing up her treatment for fleas. She was then
spayed. Of course when i got her home days after her spay she was lethargic
and quiet. When she got comfortable a whole new dog emerged. The Terrier
in her really took over. For the most part I gather that she was probably
previously trained by her other owners as she does know basic commands
and with some groaning and looks of don't make me follow orders does
follow them. I have had her for about two weeks. She for the most part
doesn't go bathroom in the house. She only once did when i brought a group
of people home that scared her and that was entirely my fault. I should not
have scared her like that. She for the two weeks seemed ok with me leaving
for work, or a show rehearsal or dinner or lunch or a movie or anything like
that. I did notice within the first few days that she has thunderstorm phobia.
All of a sudden during a storm she started walking back and forth in my
apartment. Just wouldn't stop. She was shaking. So I made sure that life
within the apartment went on as normal as not to make her think their was
some big ugly thing outside for her to be scared of. Tonight I had a show
rehearsal and completely unbeknownst to me it stormed while i was in
rehearsal. I came home to find the door frame and carpet by the door
scratched up. I believe this is her fear of the storm as she didn't seem to do
this for the two weeks I had her when i left. Why would she just start have
seperation anxiety now? If it is storm related how can I help her get over it. I
know that there are medical remedies and natural remedies. I just can't
always be home when their is a storm. I have to support her and myself. I love
her to death and she has been through soo much already I just want her to be
comfortable and happy. Please help.
Adam

Answer
Hi Adam

Well done for being so caring and determined to help this little dog.  She is lucky to have you.

It is almost certainly a fear of the storm that caused the reaction - one of my dogs is the same.  It is really common for dogs to develop phobias such as this and also to react in this way.  She was trying to get out of the house, perhaps to get to you or simply to run, as she was so afraid.

The first thing you need to do is to get a copy of a thunderstorm sound effect on CD - you can get this from the Internet.  You then need to desensitise her to the noise by playing it at the lowest volume you can - so low that she ignores it.  Only do this when you are at home and if she reacts and starts to listen to it, turn it down.  Play with her and give her treats and be relaxed generally.  Over a period of time (we are talking days and weeks) gradually turn it up a notch at a time.  This way she will start to get used to the noise and accept it.  Only play it when you are home.

Here in the UK we have something called DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) diffusers.  I'm sure you could get one off the Internet and I have had good results with this.  Keep an eye on the weather forecast and get some sedatives from the vet for when there is going to be a storm.  It is really important that you don't leave her alone when there is one - it will set her back and is unfair on her.  If you must go out get someone to sit with her or better still bring her with you.

For more details look up 'systematic desensitisation' and 'counter-conditioning' on the Internet.  I expect there is a lot of info.

Good luck and stick at it.  You will be very able to help her.

Kind regards,

Lucy