Why Roo is no longer a pedigree glum .. (From Warrington Guardian)

Why Roo is no longer a pedigree glum ..

A DOG that was too afraid to go for a walk is having therapy to overcome her phobias.

Roo the lurcher would hide under a chair at the very sight of her lead.

But owner Alison Stone has been rewarding Roo for going near the back door and the next step is to play a CD of scary noises.

"We tried the gently, gently approach but it didn't work," she said.

"Roo reacts to distant sounds almost as badly as those close up. Distance is almost irrelevant."

Alison's troubles with Roo began when she moved to Ladies Mile, Knutsford, with partner Derrick Dyer five years ago.

Roo had always been nervous and was due to be put down at Bristol Dogs Home because staff thought no one would want such a panicky pet.

Although she did not like noise, the lurcher did suffer walks into the historic city of Bath, but the Cheshire countryside proved more of an obstacle.

"We are near the fields in Tabley where there is regular shooting and the fireworks are incredibly bad every year," said Alison. Roo was so afraid to go out she refused to go to the toilet until she had an accident on the kitchen floor.

As her fear grew she hid further away from the back door and then started to growl when she saw her lead.

Even Tatton Park - a playground for dozens of dogs in Knutsford - became a no-go zone.

"She hates Tatton Park," said Alison, a beauty therapist.

Scary

"If you take her there she will sit down at the gate and not move. We wondered at first whether it was the aeroplanes, but it is not."

Every month the couple spend £18 on air fresheners that release relaxing dog pheromones and a further £55 on soothing tablets.

But now they have turned to experts from Sounds Scary for a permanent solution.

The company - founded by vets Sarah Heath and Jon Bowen - said dogs were becoming increasingly paranoia, fearing everything from claps of thunder to the sound of a ringing mobile phone to plastic bags. Sarah said owners rewarding their pets with cuddles and treats during a panic attack often made dogs' phobias worse.

Sounds Scary offer a three-step therapy plan of desensitisation and counter conditioning to overcome the fears.

It involves a CD of scary noises such as fireworks and gunshots being played quietly to a dog for five to 10 minutes daily.

Owners then build up the sound level until the dog stops reacting.

They are told to feed or play a game with their pet at the same time so that it associates the noises with a happy experience.

Roo has already shown signs of improvement and now, albeit it reluctantly, will leave the house.

But Alison hopes the treatment will mean walkies one day become less of a trauma.

amoores@guardiangrp.co.uk