Dog suddenly scared of Christmas lights and shaking, how to help?

I recommend thinking about what changes have happened in the last couple of days. Have you moved any furniture, replaced lightbulbs, or plugged in any new appliances? Some electronics can have sounds that we can't hear, but can trigger anxiety in our pets. There are a couple things you can try for anxiety; Composure chews and Adaptil diffusers. Adaptil is a pheromone that can help with anxiety. It is available as a plug-in room diffuser for large areas, and as a spray for small areas like a mat or bed. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-calming-aids/comfort-zone-diffuser-with-dap-for-dogs Thanks for using PetCoach.

Give him some time to acclimate. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser, may decrease any anxiety. Consider short visits to a dog park or short walks to get him further acclimated. Praise and reward him as he progresses, but correct any negative behavior immediately. If you need help, consider an obedience or socialization program. The local Petco may offer one or both.

Use a pheromone product such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser. Either may decrease any anxiety. If your daughter is old enough, have her feed Bambi and offer treats and toys to him. She can play or interact with him for very short periods of time initially. This time can be increased as he acclimates. Always use praise and reward as he progresses. Be patient and be consistent. Do not force him to play or interact. If your daughter is an infant, show her to Bambi for ever increasing periods of time. If she is crying or moving, go slow as this could be scary to him, especially if he's never seen a baby.

It sounds like he is experiencing some separation anxiety when left in the kitchen. You could try an Adaptil collar and Solliquin chews and see if that helps. Also, you could give him a Kong stuffed with treats or a puzzle toy to keep him busy for a few minutes after putting him in the kitchen. https://www.adaptil.com/us#redirected http://www.solliquin.com/

Poor Diesel! Fireworks and loud noises can be really scary for dogs. One important thing to do to when your dog acts scared is not to reassure him. We think we are comforting him when we do that, but it's actually reinforcing the behavior and telling him it's ok to be scared. I recommend getting him a thundershirt to wear when there are fireworks or loud noises. These have been reported to help dogs with anxiety. At home, you can put him in a dark quiet room by himself to self-soothe. You can also turn on the TV or music to block out the sound. Finally, you can consider get a pheromone diffuser called DAP that helps dogs with anxiety.

Yes there are some over the counter products you can try such as the thunder shirt or an Adaptil collar or diffuser. However if you want something that will work without fail I would try Alprazolam or Valium but these require a prescription through your vet so schedule an appt soon. I hope everything works out for your pets and happy holidays.

Poor pup! One of the most important things to do is not comfort him. While you may think you are helping him by comforting him, you are acting telling him it's ok to react this way and are reinforcing the behavior. I would put him in a quiet dark room of his own to self-soothe, and when it's time to go outside, take him out on a lead. Acting normally, and he should relax following your lead.