We adopted our 3yo Shephard Boxer mix about three weeks ago. She was a stray and about 15lb. underweight. Not crate trained or completely housebroken and she's had a least on litter. She now is crate trained for overnight (I work at home during the day).

We recently begun working with her on some simple basic obiedience commands and we walk her on a prong. Her energy is increasing with her better, natural diet.

The last couple of weeks while on her exercise walks she has displayed an increasing aversion to the sound of lawn mowers. She hears them much sooner than we do and as soon as she hears them she turns to go quickly in the opposite direction. When we make her heel she pulls hard against the prong trying to get away from the sound as fast as possible. Once out of earshot she eases up. The mower does not have to be close. It seems she can hear it blocks away.

We try to use soft words telling her we're not going to let it get her, blah, blah, blah. She is so focused on the sound I'm not sure she is hearing us. It's getting to the point where she is reluctant to come out of the house. She stops at the door listening and if she hears one she ducks right back inside. Of course we make her come out and walk with us but she is then VERY hyper and just can't wait to get home.

She is not acting like it is a training issue. But then I'm a novice at training. She truly seems petrified almost like someone repeatedly chased her with a mower when she was a stray.

Other than this, she is perfect. Very attentive, affectionate, working well on the very basic commands, etc.

I'd welcome any ideas from the great members to this board. We are willing to be very patient with her. Thanks in advance.

Paul,
One method to decrease your dogs anxienty might be to desensitize it to the specific noise ( stimuli ) that triggers it's anxiety.
A method that is sometimes used is for to you obtain an accurate recording of the noise that envokes the behavior, then play that recording at a *very* low volume during a pleasurable experience for the dog, like eating, etc. Once the dog seems to no longer react to the stimuli at that volume level, slightly increase the volume during the next feeding or episode of pleasurable activity for your dog. Go slowly, this often takes many ( sometimes over 50 sessions is required ) training periods until the dog is really desensitized to the noise.

Hope that helps! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

We try to use soft words telling her we're not going to let it get her, blah, blah, blah. She may believe your soft words are actually praise and reward for her behaviour. Along with the de-sensitizing also look at your response. I have a dog that can be fearful and I try to sound happy but matter-of-fact when I'm approaching something she may be leery of.

Thanks for both responses. I'll try to find an accurate recording or figure a way to make one. By soft words I meant in terms of volume. I guess I was trying to let her know if it wasn't bothering me, she had nothing to fear either. I get your point though and I'll work on a different approach. I really don't think she even "heard" me since she was so hyped up.