Fears

Hi
How do we get milly to overcome her fears,She seems to have a few my daughter was playing a guitar yesterday And as soon as she made eye contact with the guitar she started barking at it and all her hair stood up on end She was so frightened of it.She has seen my daughter with it earlier today her tail went between her legs and she shoot of upstairs and hid under my bed.She has the same problem with the vaccum cleaner and also the sweeping brush.She is a unusal kind of dog.Can anyone offer any advice on how to help her overcome her fears.I dont want Her to have to live with these fears all her life

My RoXy also barks at certain things too that she is unfamiliar or unsure of.
I speak to hear in a calm tone to reassure her that everything is ok and if possible introduce her to the offending item ( eg.... you could sit the guitar etc.... in the room and calmly let Milly approach it and have a sniff, then slowly maybe get your daughter to strum a "couple" of chords ( Terminology? ) with the guitar still leaning against a wall or laying on the floor / couch etc.....

She's still young and learning about that big world and it's treasures.................certain things may take longer to get used to.

Good luck, and I'm sure somebody will come along with some more advice soon

Skye is like this also .. i just get down to her level speak in a calm voice telling her its ok and she comes and sits on me for cuddles bless her!.

We had a new chair for the lounge room come into the house recently and Jack barked at it for a couple days. He now doesn't bark at the chair anymore.

All dogs are different but perhaps milly just needs more time to get used to these items.

I'd prop the guitar up against a wall & just carry on with life without taking any notice of it. Every so often just pick it up & move it a couple of inches.

If she looks scared, ignore it. I know that sounds really harsh, but if you 'sympathise' with her, you will reinforce the fear. Try dropping some treats a couple of feet in front of it & then gradually move them nearer.

Thanks for replys we will try some of these ideas with milly.Maybe its my daughters guitar playing she doesnt like

She will get used to things in time. Small bits of exposure and reassurance will help her out