I have an 8 year old male german shepherd and a couple of years ago he suddenly became afraid of the noise a diesel truck makes, beeping sounds (smoke detector) and booms like thunder or fireworks. When he hears something like this he will come close to someone in our family and shakes terribly. I know it sounds weird but it was an "overnight" thing. Always had excellent nerves and never showed any fear of either of those things before but something happened and I do not know what it was.

I really need some advice on how to train him out of it if that is possible. Checked for previous discussions with no luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Some reactive dogs may start to have an issue with big noses later in life...as may less reactive dogs. Some dogs that are on the edge of being even the slightest bit 'nervy' can develop these issues later on also.

Not sure if you can really desensitiize for it or not. Best thing to do it put the dog in his crate, which is usually a dog's safe place(den) or on his be in a safe coronr so they can feel safe & not hurt themselves is they should really freak out.

If it is really bad you might try some 'rescue remedy' a homeopathic treatment or some other drug that the vet might give him.

Being terribly afraid is a horrible place to be in one's mind. I would do whatever I had to do to make the dog as conmfortable as possible when this is happening around him.

has anyone ever tried the " thundershirt " ?

i have no experience with it at all , but i do believe in " whatever works . . . "

One thing I read was to get your dog to a place where he is not usually nervous but where in the distant background you can barely hear those noises. As the noises begin, you begin to feed treats like crazy. when the noise stops you stop, when the noise begins you begin. I took my Cody walking in an area where they are building houses and he could hear in the distant background the beeping noises of trucks backing up. At first he was real nervous, but I would begin to feed him treats. When it stopped I stopped. After about a week, he was able to walk while hearing the noises in the distant background. Occassionally he would stop and listen but then move on. I would act like there was noting going on, just fed him treats. The sound he hates sounds also like our trash man. Perhaps something happened with your trash man, maybe he got startled. Any way have been doing this for about 3 weeks now and now Cody does not even stop to listen, we just continue heeling. O I forgot to say that at first I did not ask anything of him. DIdn't train him, just let him walk. Now after 3 weeks, he will heal and obey commands and keeps moving. I always keep treats on hand and especially am aware when the dreaded trash man comes by. I load with treats. He is doing much better. I have also learned that I do not push him to "just get over it" type of thing. He used to be terrified. Sometimes when he hears a strange beeping noise on the tv he will lift up his head sometimes running behind the couch, but it does not last very long at all. He has greatly improved. Soon we will be getting closer and closer to the noise and start the training from scratch each time the distance is shortened.IT takes time, but it is well worth it. You might try it.
My next venture is to help him not be so terrified of men. Since spending a week in the hospital he is very, very afraid of men. He is not aggressive or anything, he just whimpers even as they hand him a treat. Sharon

Most dogs when really stressed won't take treats.

 Quote: Anne Jones

Most dogs when really stressed won't take treats.

Unfortunately, very true. Nervous and terrified are very different.

It's also true that this is not uncommon as a dog gets older.

Is there a place in the house that's free of windows (a bathroom)? Is this helpful to the dog?

I have made dark secure dens for older noise-phobic dogs, and for others I have used white noise along with close calm physical contact with me.

I have a friend whose dog wants to be in the tub (the bathroom is an inside room) with blankets, possible for the thick-walled insulation and small sturdy space.

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_6/features/Help-For-Noise-Phobic-Dogs_20286-1.html

http://www.webvet.com/main/2008/10/13/how-calm-dog-scared-loud-noises

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/3_4/features/Dogs-Affraid-Thunder_5131-1.html

This is all good, if the O.P.'s dog is at this level of fear rather than terror and/or if you can get the dog to a space where the noise is enough removed (or perhaps "white-noised" down:

 Quote: Sharon Empson

One thing I read was to get your dog to a place where he is not usually nervous but where in the distant background you can barely hear those noises. As the noises begin, you begin to feed treats like crazy. when the noise stops you stop, when the noise begins you begin. I took my Cody walking in an area where they are building houses and he could hear in the distant background the beeping noises of trucks backing up. At first he was real nervous, but I would begin to feed him treats. When it stopped I stopped. After about a week, he was able to walk while hearing the noises in the distant background. Occassionally he would stop and listen but then move on. I would act like there was noting going on, just fed him treats. The sound he hates sounds also like our trash man. Perhaps something happened with your trash man, maybe he got startled. Any way have been doing this for about 3 weeks now and now Cody does not even stop to listen, we just continue heeling. O I forgot to say that at first I did not ask anything of him. DIdn't train him, just let him walk. Now after 3 weeks, he will heal and obey commands and keeps moving. I always keep treats on hand and especially am aware when the dreaded trash man comes by. I load with treats. He is doing much better. I have also learned that I do not push him to "just get over it" type of thing. He used to be terrified. Sometimes when he hears a strange beeping noise on the tv he will lift up his head sometimes running behind the couch, but it does not last very long at all. He has greatly improved. Soon we will be getting closer and closer to the noise and start the training from scratch each time the distance is shortened.IT takes time, but it is well worth it. You might try it.

It's a terrible thing to watch this kind of fear; I too will go to any lengths to help the dog who is terrified or phobic.

Thanks so much for the advice everyone.