I have a mixed breed staffordshire bull terrier who loved going out. He has always been afraid of fireworks and after hearing noises like this he won't go out for about a week or so but does so after a time.

At the moment I am sure he is suffering from something like anxiety as he gets really excited about going out gets about 20 yards and then either pulls you back home or just slips his lead and returns home.

We do have in our area farmers which seems to use some kind of mechanical devises to scare off birds which may be scaring him but I don't know.

He is excessively licking himself and certain spots at the moment which is unusual for him. He is about 7 and a big lively dog and his behaviour at home other than this is usual. He needs his exercise and am worried about him. Should I take him to the vet? Any ideas?:(

hello=] I had a pure bred golden retriever and she was just like that. She would be really excited till you get outside, then she would go straight back in. as a dog gets older it gets more scared about things unusual. So that's probably why your dog goes back in. and the licking is not a good sign when my dog started licking a certain spot a couple weeks later a tumor developed. So that is not good at all unfortunantly my dog passed of cancer and the cost to get a tumor removed is way up there but there is a really good chance of having your dog longer if you get it checked out...

A vet would be a good idea to rule out any possible medical causes for the excessive licking. However, given your other descriptions, it's likely a neurotic behavior caused by stress and anxiety.

You're right in associating more exercise and stimulation with less problems. Try exchanging the collar with a no-slip harness.

Firework and noise issues can be ameliorated with time and training. You can make or buy a CD of these sounds. You begin by playing the CD every day for a little while, starting with a volume that is so low that it doesn't bother the dog. Make those times extra fun and positive (just not over excited). Every night, raise the volume just slightly. Eventually, over the course of weeks or even months in the most severe cases, you should be able to play the noises at any volume (and encounter them) without fear. I recommend you speak to a trainer for more details.

Along the way, keep training very positive and remember that you shouldn't coddle fears as they appear--coddling fear can make fears stick. I have a dog without noise fears, and we got him that way by associating loud (but harmless) noises we have encountered like fireworks, motorcycles, thunder, etc. with positive things like treats, toys, praise and playtime. From the beginning, if a pan dropped or something made a loud noise, I have always said "festa!" and immediately played it down with a fun experience. It's a bit like handling small children when they fall; that is, they look to you to see if they should cry or be afraid. If you don't react in a scared way, they don't either. I own a wrought iron studio, and my dog comes with me, so it was extra important that he's not afraid of an unexpected bang or two. My theory is this: he's a gun dog, and gun dogs can't be afraid of the noises guns make. I believe this should apply to varying degrees for any dog.

In any case, those are just some tips. I think your best, most sure-fire bet would be to call in a behaviorist to help you along. These are all things that can be solved, so there's no need for him to suffer.