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Coping with a Dog Scared of Noise
by Jeff Grognet and Louise Janes
It is not unusual for dogs to be scared of noises, but as they age, their fears often escalate. Fireworks, thunder, and even wind can be a trigger for undesirable behaviors. Sometimes, you can shield your dog from loud noises by just keeping her in the house, but it’s better to be proactive – there are things you can do now to help your friend cope with noises.
Distraction is your first tool. As soon as your dog starts to get anxious, or better yet, as soon as she hears a noise (and before she shows any fear behavior), encourage her to do something she enjoys. You may choose to toss her toys or get her to fetch a ball (always make sure you do it in an escape-proof area so she can’t run away). Give her lots of praise and treats for paying attention to you rather than the sounds around her. Try to help her ignore the distressing noise.
If your dog barks on command, you can use this training to help her cope with lightening and fireworks. When you see a flash of light in the sky, and before the sound of the thunder or fireworks reaches you, tell your dog to bark and keep her barking during the thunderous roar. Follow this with a treat. She will learn that noise can be fun and rewarding.
If a storm or noise gets louder, you may find it increasingly hard to keep your dog’s attention on the game you are playing. If she becomes truly frightened, stop giving her treats or praise. You don’t want to inadvertently reward her fearful behavior.
For some dogs, it helps to drown out the sound. Turn on a fan or crank up the stereo to help block out the noise. Alternatively, you might want to offer your dog a safe place to hide – a spot she can seek out when she hears noises that frighten her. This is a “den” where she can hide away from harm. This has to be a safe location from her perspective, not yours. To discover the best place, see where she wants to go when she’s frightened. This could be a closet corner, a crate, or perhaps the space under your bed.
You can feed your friend treats while she’s in her safe zone but never force her to stay there. You want her to have positive feelings about the location. Some dogs are restless when they are scared and they want to pace. If you restrain these dogs, they will become even more anxious. A trick that helps some is to wrap them in a blanket. This cocooning helps them feel safe from harm.
A long term solution to noise fear is desensitization. If your dog is afraid of thunder, fireworks or gunshots, get a recording of these sounds (you can download these from the Internet). Next, play the recording at a low volume that doesn’t frighten your dog. Reward her with her favorite food treat for not showing fear while the noise soundtrack is playing.
At first, only play the recording for a few minutes several times a day. Once you see that your dog doesn’t mind it, increase the volume. If she shows fear, turn the volume back down to a level she can tolerate, then increase it more slowly. Eventually, you’ll reach the volume of the natural noise itself.
If these steps are not working, or if you don’t have enough time to desensitize your dog before the fireworks begin, consider tranquilizers. We can prescribe a sedative that will reduce your dog’s reaction to loud sounds. You should give these drugs one hour before the anticipated noise.
There are some natural products that can help relax your dog. For example, the Bach Flower product “Rescue Remedy” is touted by many as an aid to dogs that are fearful of noise. You place drops of this liquid on your dog’s tongue as soon as she becomes anxious. We also have a specific homeopathic product designed for relaxing dogs. The herb Valerian, a natural sedative, is also believed to calm some dogs. The dose for a 40 pound dog is one-half to one (500 milligram) capsule three times daily.
Most importantly, try to stay calm yourself. Dogs look to you for how to act during a crisis. Sit back on the couch, turn up the music, and wrap your dog in a blankie next to you.
For more information contact Dr. Jeff Grognet or Dr. Louise Janes at
Mid-Isle Veterinary Hospital,
5-161 Fern Road West,
Qualicum Beach, B.C.
Tel (250) 752-8969.
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