Dog Scared of Hot Air Balloons and Is Afraid to Go For Walks
Hi John: Our dog was frightened by hot air balloons flying very low. However, two weeks ago whilst out on a walk she came practically face-to-face with a balloon about to take off and since then I can only describe her behaviour as verging on paranoid. The situation is now rapidly deteriorating. Over the last couple of days it has been extremely difficult to get her to go for a walk. She is so scared that this morning she point-blank refused to even leave the drive. What can we do? P. T. – Swindon, England Hi P,T. The pilots of hot air balloons tell me it’s not the sight of the balloon that initially elicits a fearful response in the dogs, it is the sound made when they engage the propane valve. Initially, it’s not the ‘sound’ alone they fear, it’s the direction it’s coming from. Dogs like yours, and those that react similarly to thunder and fire works at least initially don’t have phobic responses triggered by common loud sudden sounds at ground level. Once a fright establishes itself these dogs start to look for advance clues in hopes that early warning will help in their “survival”. Initially the dog may phobically fear the valve sound but eventually the sight balloons suffices. Thunder phobic dogs more often than not eventually grow fearful as the barometric pressure changes in advance of an actual storm. It’s much the same as if the lady of the house changes the sheets in the guest bedroom. If that, from her male counterpart’s perspective has more often than not led to an uncomfortable visit with the in-laws, eventually the sight of the changing of the sheets alone can make the man antsy. If it happens often enough he becomes conditioned and whenever the new sheets make an appearance so immediately does his dread and rather than wait for his lambasting he flees straight to the pub. Fear of balloons or any other phobia is a wicked problem because on average it almost always gets worse and takes herculean efforts to improve. I’ve seen a single phobic case that I would say was “fixed”. This was a dog fearful of thunder whose owner moved to a place very close to some busy train tracks and the dogs fear of thunder quickly went away. The results were likely due to something referred to as “flooding” which in essence is swamping the subject with that which they fear where there is no escape. In other words, the in-laws must move in. It seems the brain can only take so much of the fear and learns to if not relax then accept. Another approach is to systematically desensitize the dog. First the dog has to be conditioned to relax on cue, then that which stimulates the fear is divided up into a hierarchy and the cue to relax is introduced level by level. Most dog trainers recommend this approach but there are very few success stories. Not because it’s an unsound approach but because practical application is difficult for a variety of reasons. The time investment required is not available to the average dog owner, establishing a hierarchy of fear cues is difficult, and the single unexpected appearance of the source of the fear in its full glory can knock Humpty Dumpty from his perch again. In both cases there are pharmaceuticals and holistic versions of pharmaceuticals that are used to help promote the capacity for the calmness. Pawsitively yours, John Wade [email protected] www.askthepetguy.com
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John "Ask the Dog Guy" Wade
Long time dog trainer
6 thoughts on “Dog Scared of Hot Air Balloons and Is Afraid to Go For Walks”
My dog was never afraid of anything. Sunday night hot air balloons were overhead and she will not go out now. I have to pull her harness as she resists walking. What can I do?
I’d need to more, age, breed, etc. but it isn’t uncommon for an overhead experience to trigger this sort of reaction however usually the dogs have historically had personalities where their owners would describe them as having an overall lower threshold for stress and therefore more reactive when something out of the ordinary occurs.
John
My dog is a schnauzer and when we were outside recently he starting barking and looking up , then we saw the hot air balloons going over and rather low . He now does not like staying outside even if I am with him very long and not at all by himself . I try taking him out and playing in yard but he runs back to door and wants in. I hate him being scared and with the approaching summer holidays that means fireworks and I am afraid he will get worse . Any suggestions ?
Hi Patty,
Usually, dogs are not reacting to the sight of a hot air balloon. It’s when the hot air balloon pilot engages the valve that does the burn to give the balloon lift. Generally speaking, dogs that have not been properly imprinted during their critical imprint period, this aspect of life (overhead sounds) can have problems with overhead sounds such as thunder, fireworks, roofing, and hot air balloons, etc. Over time, however, those dogs can start to associate with ancillary observed factors. In the case of thunder, they begin to respond to changes in barometric pressure and perhaps ions. In the case of hot air balloons, they associate the valve sound with the balloon itself. Over time typically a dog’s anxiety gets worse. There are some desensitization strategies that you can implement however I need to know a lot more about you and your dog in order to help. Do beware, as there is no shortage of ‘guaranteed quick-fix’ tips on the Internet and from amateur dog trainers. This is not an easy thing to help a dog with. In my experience, the best place to start is to ensure that the bond between the dog and the owner he’s not just that of roommates but instead of teacher/student before beginning desensitization.
Regards,
John Wade (www.askthedogguy.com)
PS Don’t forget if you find that the many free resources I provide companion dog owners via Ask The Dog Guy website (www.askthedogguy.com) and elsewhere (YouTube, newsletter, etc.) inform, save you time and, or money why not buy me a coffee? Click the link to Buy Me A Few Coffees
Hi John
I have a 5 yrs mini schnauzer that a week ago a hot air balloon came down our street extremely low while we were laying in our bed and she saw it out of the sliding glass doors. It has freaked her out so bad that she will not come out of the closet and it’s progressively getting worse she’s in the closet looking up constantly she won’t go outside to use the bathroom she won’t eat or drink. It’s like her little brain has snapped. I’m so worried about her I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure if I shut the closet and force her out? Or do I keep the closet as her safe space? Like I said it’s progressively everyday getting worse and there hasn’t been another hot air balloon. Thank you so much for any advice. Also a side note she was taken from her mother very early. Bad breeder!
Hi Shannon,
I put together a little video and some additional information and sent it yesterday in an email. I wanted to make sure you received it. If not, check your junk/spam folder. Also, thank you very much for buying me those coffees.
– John “Ask The Dog Guy” Wade – Embracing Science and Common Sense
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