Noise Anxieties: Rocky And schizophrenia

Now if thunder isn't enough there's always guns . The higher power and louder weapon the more he flips out. A mere 22 rifle firing can start the panicky behavior. Handguns he's climbing up my side to hide on my neck. Yes on my neck ! And omg when the 30 ought 6 comes out he really gets nervous and tries to claw his way into my neck.

Thankfully we live in the country and other than the Sunday target practices it is relatively quiet here. My neighbor love their guns. I don't hate guns or wish the ban of weapons but guns cause such emotional turmoil with my boys. I hate the first shot as it turns my little guy into a nutty psychopath. This year he added a new phobias the lawnmower....the weedeater and vacuum.

This year for the first time the mower has caused yet more nutty behavior. Which is strange because last year he rode on the mower with hubby while he mowed. He would chase the mower wanting to ride. Guess It's time for another ride to show him the mower isn't out to get him. Mowing twice a week is a reality around here 8 months a year. If we don't nip this phobia now it will cause total hysteria and a breakdown.

Noise Anxieties

The older my boys get the worse they act because of noise. My older male is a mixed breed named Rudie. He's afraid of some noises but not others. When it thunders during storms  Rudie will hide and stay hid until it's over. Gun fire is another story. There's no words to describe a 40 lb dog trying to hide on your lap while shaking uncontrollably and whimpering . Thankfully he's grown out of some of his anxiety but then again he's 9 1/2.

And then there is our 3 year old Shih Tzu Rocky....

Rocky's anxieties about noise and me is surreal. First of all is his seperation anxiety, it doesn't matter if I'm just outside of the door he NEEDS to be near me. Just checking the mail causes relentless crying. Even being in the house and closing a door causes panic. He even peeps behind the shower curtain to see me. He just can't stand not seeing or touching me.

I'm going to take a 3 day trip in June without him, which will go over real well.  I will be with family and going to different places, not exactly dog friendly. My nieces baby shower, my brother's house and shopping. My hyperactive nephews might be an issue with him and the city noise . Noise is his biggest issue, he hates noise.

The list of his feared noise continues to grow.  He's afraid of thunder, guns, vacuum, weedeaters and lawn mower. I can normally tell when a storm is coming long before the first hint of thunder or even checking the radar just by watching him. He starts pacing and jumping relentlessly. The closer the storm the more erratic his behavior is. It's nerve wracking...

To be continued

After Second Grooming

I found a different groomer that is just a few miles away. Rocky was so tore up after the first Grooming I was reluctant to take him back. It was so nice picking him up and he was calmer since his new groomer is a woman.

Tzu Under bite

He's sleeping and showing his crooked teeth. The under bite is a breed standard.

After First Grooming

This was the first time he was groomed. He didn't look like my baby when I picked him up. His hair was cut too short and no longer looked like my Tzu. He had razor burn on several places and his little boy parts had a cut. He bit the groomer when I came to pick him up after 4 hours.

The Face I fell in love with

Rocky on December 17,2009

He was 8 weeks old