Loud or sudden noises can trigger fear and anxiety in some dogs. As a dog owner, it’s important that you be able to identify noise sensitivity and understand how to help your pet through these stressful times. In this article, we’ll learn what noise sensitivity is, common noises that can trigger such a reaction, and how to deal with them, including the use of calming aids and behavioral strategies.
What Is Noise Sensitivity in Dogs?
Noise sensitivity in dogs is a common, often triggering, fear of loud or sudden sounds. Some of the most common triggering environmental noises include thunder, fireworks, and vacuum cleaners. This kind of noise aversion or noise phobia affects nearly half of all dogs.
The anxiety tied into these kinds of noise sensitivities can affect a dog’s behavior and their overall health and well-being. As a pet owner, it’s important to understand and address noise sensitivity for the health and welfare of your dog.
Types of Noises that Trigger Dogs
The types of noises that can trigger these types of phobia-based responses generally fall into three categories: sudden or unexpected noises, loud noises, and noises associated with traumatic events. Predictably, many of the most common triggers can be all three at once. Generic predisposition can be a factor as well, as some dog breeds are more high-strung and anxious than others.
Here are just a few of the most common noises that can trigger noise anxiety:
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Fireworks
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Thunder
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Sirens
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Clanking vehicles, such as garbage trucks
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Construction sounds
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Gunshots
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Household items, such as blenders or vacuum cleaners
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Noises tied into traumatic events, such as shouting or car horns
In the modern world, it’s impossible to shield a sensitive pet from all of these sounds. But you should do your best to minimize their exposure, as best you can.
Recognizing the Signs of Noise Sensitivity in Dogs
The first step to helping your dog overcome their issues is to recognize the signs of noise sensitivity. These issues can manifest in physical symptoms, destructive habits, or behavioral issues.
Physical symptoms can include intense panting, salivation, trembling, whining or barking, and increased heart and respiratory rate.
Destructive habits can include digging or shredding items in their environment as a release of nervous energy.
Behavior issues can include elopement (attempting to escape) and hiding. Severe anxiety can even trigger aggression in some pets as their fight or flight response kicks in.
It’s also worth noting that, while noise sensitivities can start when they’re as young as puppies, senior dogs may develop new and sudden sensitivities, due to cognitive decline or pain.
Once you can recognize that your dog is, in fact, experiencing noise sensitivities, then you can work with your veterinarian to come up with a plan to address the issue.
Natural Calming Aids for Noise Sensitivities
Calming dog supplements can help your dog in managing noise sensitivities. Relaxing ingredients (such as chamomile or tryptophan) or stress-relieving adaptogens (such as L-theanine and certain mushrooms) can ease their tension. Happy Paws Calming Supplement for Dogs contains these ingredients, as well as valerian root and passion flower. These all-natural chews are formulated to help settle your dog during stressful situations. They can be taken situationally or taken safely on a daily basis to ease overall stress.
Behavioral Strategies to Manage Noise Sensitivity
Noise sensitivities won’t just go away on their own. Untreated noise anxiety or noise phobias often get worse over time, causing more extreme reactions. Furthermore, the issue can potentially generalize to other sounds. So, what once was a fear of a vacuum cleaner can expand to blenders and TVs and so on.
Sound desensitization training can help expose your dog gradually to noises, starting at low levels with positive rewards (such as treats or play). This sort of counter-conditioning requires diligence and repetition on your part, in order to build comfort and familiarity for your dog.
It’s also important to create a secure, quiet, and comfortable space where the dog can hide during thunderstorms and other potentially traumatic events. Commonly, pet owners will cover a crate or carrier with a blanket to create a safe space for their dog. White noise machines and calm music can also be used to mask triggering sounds for your dog.
Preventing and Preparing for a Noise Event
Canine noise issues can be prevented or minimized by the tactics listed above, as well as other techniques. For instance, dogs crave routine and predictability, which is why unexpected noises can spook them. If you know that a noise event is coming up, such as a thunderstorm or fireworks, then you can massage your dog’s routine to help mitigate it. For instance, you know there will be fireworks on July 4th. So, if every night for the week leading up to it, you and your dog sit near a loud television, you can make that routine not only distracting, but comfortable. And if you can avoid a potentially negative experience altogether (like not setting off bottle rockets in your backyard, for instance), then you can make things easier on your dog.
Dogs are also calmer when they get regular exercise and mental stimulation. A calmer disposition can go a long way towards helping your noise sensitive dog deal with the unexpected.
When to Seek Professional Help
If noise sensitivity worsens or if your dog shows signs of severe anxiety, it may be time to consult with a veterinarian or professional dog trainer. A vet can prescribe medication (short-acting sedatives or anti-anxiety medications) or recommend therapeutic solutions to help your pet manage anxiety if natural solutions aren’t sufficient.
FAQs
1. How do I calm my dog during fireworks or thunderstorms?
There are several ways to help dogs deal with loud, unexpected noises, such as fireworks and thunderstorms. Natural calming supplements can help ease their stress. It’s also important to give them a secure, comfortable space in which to hide. White noise machines and calm music can help drown out the unpleasant sounds, too.
2. Can I train my dog to stop being scared of loud noises?
Behavioral desensitization training can gently expose your pet to triggering noises, by gradually exposing them to low levels at first and rewarding them with treats or other positive rewards. A vet or professional trainer can help you find other management strategies, as well.
3. Is it safe to use calming supplements every time my dog gets anxious?
Calming dog supplements can be a helpful tool in dealing with adverse or anxious dog reactions to loud noises. A natural, high-quality supplement can be safe to use every time your dog gets anxious. Before you try a new supplement, though, make sure to check with your veterinarian to see if it’s right for your pet. Some ingredients can react adversely to certain medicine.
