Are Yorkies ears this sensitive?

[diannenet]

We got a piano last Saturday and I've been playing it almost every day and Toby is petrified of it! Tonight he even ran into the bathroom and hid behind my hubby. Are their ears that sensitive? This piano is very "crisp" and sounds awesome when played loud but I don't want to hurt my little guy's ears.

So hubby brought Toby to me and I held him while sitting at the piano and not playing it. He didn't try to get down and sniffed the keys so I played a few notes softly and he just sat there in my arms and turned his head away. He was eating up all the lovin' I was giving him.

I haven't been able to tell if it is the really high notes that get to him or just the notes in general. If he's in one room and wants to get to another room, he runs like the dickens past the piano.

Any ideas?

[ladyjane]

I am sure he will get used to it. At least I hope so.

[Britster]

Might just be since it's a new thing, etc, it freaks him out. Sometimes Jax gets scared of the strangest things too... for seemingly no reason. So I generally condition him to like things. I would bring out Toby's highest value reward when he is around the piano. Don't force anything on him, but give him a treat when goes near it randomly. Or maybe feed him his meals near the piano. Little things like that will give him a positive association with this new mystical thing living in his house, lol! Hope Toby gets less afraid of it.

[Teresa Ford]

I think it is a strange new thing that has a voice and might be dangerous. Dogs sometimes don't understand that things that move or move and make noise are not another kind of animal and harmless. I have helped dogs who hid from the washer, attacked mail, the vacuum cleaner cleaner and kitchen timer.THREE DAY PLAY FOR ME LESSON: Get your babies most favorite treat in the world (use tiny tiny pieces) and sit at the piano with him on your lap. Touch a key very softly treat. Do this 4 or 5 times. Put him on the floor. Play a key very softly if he jumps up to be with you treat. Do this for three days slowly increase the volume. On day three have him in another room (with hubby or a friend) Play normally ( Chose a softer slower song at first) I bet he comes running for his treat and Mommy. IF not continue to desensitize him. You can even let him make music by standing up to get a treat off the key or from your hand. Hope this helps.

[diannenet]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm just glad to hear it isn't hurting his ears. Maybe he doesn't like it because it's louder than he is!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by diannenet

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm just glad to hear it isn't hurting his ears. Maybe he doesn't like it because it's louder than he is!

Hahaha. Probably.

I'm sure it is because the piano is new. My boys are not accustomed to hearing the tv, so they react when I do turn on the sound.

[xBUTTERCUPx]

I was wondering this too. My Maltese is terrified of the washer and dryer, even when she is nowhere near it while it's running.