Jake is afaid of his own shadow.

[RoxiesEcho]

Our 8 year old border collie/beagle mix is afraid of everything and the older he gets the worse it gets. He was a scardy cat from the day we brought him home at 8 weeks old, if we even went near the lawn mower he would run the other way. To show you how bad he has gotten, last year he decided he was afraid of airplanes. Not small planes that you can plainly see and hear from the yard but big planes that are only silver dots in the sky. If they have a vapor trail behind them it's even worse! He will literally run around the yard and to the back door if he sees one.

Any ideas if there is some sort of natural supplement or something I could give him? We've been feeding him Canidae for a year now. I really hate the thought of putting him on medication, if there even is something that would help him. I just feel so bad for him and find myself getting very impatient with him at times which is very unfair.

I am completely open to suggestions.

 

[jontiff]

Are you sure he is afraid of airplanes? Is there a chance that there is something else that he may be afraid of that you may have overlooked and how did you come to the conclusion that he is afraid of airplanes?

I know my 11 yr old Basset is very sensitive to loud noises and it has gotten worse as he ages. He's terrified of any loud boom or pop and will yelp at fast movements made while CLOSE to him without ever coming in contact. We just try to comfort him and let him explore the things that frighten him - (like the vacuum) while it's not on and making noise - sometimes with treats. As for things like thunder, we just let him hide under our legs and tell him it's okay and give him a little extra love as he shakes in fear- poor baby.

I don't know if there would be any sort of nutritional remedy - sounds like that may be something a trainer or behaviorist would work on.

I would watch him to see when he gets tense and maybe look for the not so obvious - I can't imagine he would be afraid of a plane that is barely noticeable to the eye and is too distant to make noise- but anything is possible.

 

[bucksteemom2]

Sorry no suggestions but sending you lots of positive vibes)))))))))))))))) Hope you find a way to help him. Keep us updated please!!!

 

[RoxiesEcho]

I know it sounds weird but it really is the planes! We thought maybe a bird or a squirrel dropped something on him from a tree or a wire. We also thought maybe the electrical wire had some sort of a hum to it. But it just started last summer and he has lived in this house his entire life! So then we started watching him more closely and it is the vapor trails from the jets! Sometimes when he stares at the sky we ask him if the aliens are coming to get us I honestly think his brain isn't wired right and there is not going to be an end to what spooks him. I just wonder what he is thinking and what his mental state is - but if I think too much I just find it incredibly sad.