Border Collie Phobias

[beachdogz]

My dog is suddenly responding unfavorably to electronic beeps. I mean like a microwave beep, or a computer/printer beep.  I never realized how many beeps there are in our lives until this developed.  He literally tries to climb up my body or in my lap when they happen.  Even when we have had the power go off and restart, it is the same response.  After the holiday craziness dies down, I am going to try counter conditioning him to it. 

I know it is not just my dog.  I talk with a lot of border collie owners at classes and at scent trials, who have similar tales of routine things their dogs suddenly became fearful of.  In fact, one person's dog suddenly for no apparent reason hit the ground and became fearful right before going into a search at a trial.  She finally figured out that when she turned on the "go pro" she used to film her searches, the thing beeped. 

So my question is:  does anyone have any theories or have you read anything about why our dogs seem more prone to develop these.  I realize that all dogs of any breed can randomly have something happen - but our seem way more sensitive and receptive to developing these phobias.  I am just curious.  I have my own theories (totally unscientific) about this. I am wondering if it relates back to centuries of breeding for the working aspect.  I've read a few things.  Just looking for input from people who have lived with our dogs. 

[Journey]

Me, I chalk it up to them being more sensitive than most to audible noise, hence their ability to hear and respond to a whistle from a great distance.  A few weeks ago my smoke alarms went off "all day long" while I was at work. One was freaked out and declined to come back in when I got home, the other had pretty well destroyed her crate..the 2 outside had no clue and carried on like normal. It took about 2 days for the 2 inside to settle back to normal. This behavior is one I try to just "ignore" in most cases. Though with all the beeps in life, your counter conditioning is a perfect answer and should work. I had one that would run out of the LR every time I turned on the TV. Within a week though the TV short circuited and blew..dog was right and "felt" the electrical charge or something of that nature..I generally believe the dog! I think it was Temple Grandin who did the study about the electrical currents and how animals "feel" it.

[beachdogz]

On 11/26/2024 at 2:10 PM, Journey said:

Me, I chalk it up to them being more sensitive than most to audible noise, hence their ability to hear and respond to a whistle from a great distance.  A few weeks ago my smoke alarms went off "all day long" while I was at work. One was freaked out and declined to come back in when I got home, the other had pretty well destroyed her crate..the 2 outside had no clue and carried on like normal. It took about 2 days for the 2 inside to settle back to normal. This behavior is one I try to just "ignore" in most cases. Though with all the beeps in life, your counter conditioning is a perfect answer and should work. I had one that would run out of the LR every time I turned on the TV. Within a week though the TV short circuited and blew..dog was right and "felt" the electrical charge or something of that nature..I generally believe the dog! I think it was Temple Grandin who did the study about the electrical currents and how animals "feel" it.

wow.  that story about the tv is amazing.  The sensitivity to audible noise makes sense.