help and advice needed please

[Goya]

I posted on Monday about how my dog had been spooked when demonstrating in a large arena in front of 8000 people.
I have obviously given this a lot of thought and have realised that the audience were using flash photography and I'm certain now that this is what spooked her.
Now my dog does not like fireworks although she doesn't seem to mind noise.
therefore it must be the flashes.
Does anyone know any techniques I can use to desensitize and help her get over this, or is it something we will just have to live with?

 

[FinnishLapphund]

If you have a digital camera with a bright flash, I would propose that after a walk (when she's a little tired), you sit down somewhere in the house where she feels comfortable. Begin with taking photos with the camera facing away from her, or if that's to stressful, if somebody could help you and sit a little bit further away in the room.

While taking photos, talk out loud about the weather/about a book you've just read or something, and pretend you're not noticing the flashes yourself. Have a pile of favourite treats within reach, that you give according to a roulette principle, sometimes after every flash, sometimes after every third, second etc.
Keep talking nonsense, and give her treats in a way as if you're not aware about that you're giving them to her.

Try first to do it in a bright room, and if/when she's okay with that, you can try doing it in a darker room, with the flash more towards her etc.


Another idea is to hang some aluminum foil on some places on the walls where the sun occasionally could happen to make reflections. And if she reacts, you pretend like it doesn't happen, and just go on with your daily life.


from Sweden.