Phobias in dogs

My dog has started being afraid of going out at night. It started one night with fireworks... stupid me; I wanted to see the Canada Day light show on the CNTower... I didn't think; she came along and there were kids setting off fireworks all over the place. Oreo took off across the park, stopping only when she got across the street on the far side.

Also she's also been spending time with a friend's dog, which has also developed a phobia for fireworks-like noises, day or night, his dog has trouble even leaving the house.

It's been a couple of weeks now for us and it's not getting better.

The Jacksonville North Carolina Kennel Club has posted an excellent review of various common phobias and what you can do to help your dog deal with them. (There would seem to be no 'getting over it' here.)

This paper suggests that phobias can be treated effectively with a combination of medication and behavior therapy, basically giving the dog reassurance (pets and treats) when in a phobia-inducing situation.

Storm-related phobias are quite common. Onset seems to happen with young adult dogs. (Oreo is 2 1/2.) Behavior can be modified with gentle and firm support, neither anger nore coddling.

Some folks strongly recommend medication.