Question:
Our 10-year-old, loving golden retriever has been spooked by a hot-air balloon! Even when she is inside and can't see the balloon, the sound of it going up or down drives her (and the other dogs in the neighborhood) nuts.
She became so upset one day that she ran away from home, and we eventually found her disoriented on a busy street. Even though her experience with the balloon was several weeks ago, she has run away three more times since then. She is now afraid to go outside, and we keep her on a leash in fear that she might take off again.
We have several acres of property near Charlottesville, Va., and didn't have a fence (electronic or otherwise) until last month. She has always loved roaming the property around the house and never failed to return until now.
Please help us understand what scares dogs about hot-air balloons and how we can help our dog feel safe.
M.K., Charlottesville, Va Nov 15, 2011
Answer:
Many animals will spook when they see and/or hear some novel object in their environment, but they quickly habituate after repeated encounters. Plastic bags blowing in the breeze used to terrify one of my dogs. Some dogs fail to habituate and develop a phobia, a not uncommon one being toward jet planes and their vapor trails in the sky.
The most effective way to help a dog overcome a phobia is desensitization through repeated exposure. Fit your dog with a secure collar or harness so she cannot break free, and have her medicated with a prescription of Xanax or a similar anxiety-relieving drug from a veterinarian. Then take her to the hot-air balloon field and drive around slowly. Eventually take her out of the car in view of one or more balloons. Have her sit and reassure her with treats. Repeat this routine daily for seven to 10 days, increasing the duration of each session from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how well she habituates.
You can also make a tape recording of the sound of the balloon and play it at brief intervals intermittently during the day while indoors. A few helium-filled balloons in one or two rooms will also provide associative stimulation to help the desensitization and habituation process.
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