Spoiling our Dogs and Puppies

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Bard

question for the pup lovers here we have a wippet mix who is a rescue we have had her over a year she was very shy when we got her but now has come out of her shell. We also have a Sheppard mix who Phoebe loves. Phoebe took off on Desd back in late June and was missing for 10 days thank god we got her back we were a wreck. Now she is scared shitles of a fire in the firepace she will shake and cower run out of the room jump the baby gate to go upstairs. AND we have noticed the past few days she will all of a sudden get really scared of something and shake like hell Desd tried to hold her and comfort her show her that she is safe but it dosent help and I have had her do it with me to I can hold her and it passes but I have no clue what is makeing her so scared I dont want my baby to be scared we are wondering if it is like a post stress thing she was missing over the 4th of July and if we are outside and a loud bang goes off she runs to me and cowers and shakes on my feetSO I pick her up and she snuggles into me

any thoughts

I agree with the PTSD diagnosis. I would suggest calling your vet and asking her what to do. I suspect that just like with people, it will abate over time. I would just make sure she has an emotional safe place when you build a fire for example (can she be allowed upstairs?). I wouldn't try to make her more comfortable with the fire, I would just let her go where she needs to go to feel safe. Trying to coax her to be ok with the fire could do more damage (you didn't say you were doing this, I was just saying).

Also, just like you said, if she is scares and runs to you, pick her up and hold her close against you so that she feels safe. Hopefully, over time it will lessen, but she may always be afraid of fire and a little skittish with noise. I would still call your vet just to check though.

Good luck.