appreciate any ideas.
This would be a long story to explain the whole thing and why he has this fear so I am going to try to make it short.
We have high water pressure causes our pipes to hammer. Worst hammer noise is when the lawn sprinkler system changes zones. This scares Rocky while in the house. I think because he has associated it with the back yard sprinkler comming on. He hates water and probably had been out there at one time when they came on.
If something goes on with the plumbing then the hammer noise will intermitently make a clunk noise not nearly as loud but this happenend when toilet broke a few months ago making Rocky hide in a back room and tremble.
Now over the past few days for some reason the pipes are intermitently clunking. It mostly scares Rocky at night. Now the best would be to fix the problem. But dont think it will be an easy fix. So now
I am trying to desenstize him.
Now picture he is terrified of this noise. He is trembling. and has panted on a few occasions. He rarely pants unless it is really hot out.
Here is what I have been doing.
during the day today every time I here the noise and I see him look to be nervous I have been giving him a piece of chicken to reward him before he gets the chance to go hide. It seems to help as he apears to be less fearful and move about the house with less fear. (tail not tucked).
Today I brought his crate back up to the living area. Not feeling this is the best idea. But felt it better for him so he has a safe zone instead of hiding in a corner.
But I may put it back downstairs where it has been for the past year.
Any ideas on how to help him cope. i have to work on this because last night while my husband was going out to smoke a cigarette Rocky snuck past him to go hide under a bush. luckily this was out back so he could not go too far.
Thanks