Do you have a dog that is afraid of loud, surprising noises? Well, you are not alone. Whether they are born with this fear of noises or something happened to them in a previous situation to precipitate that fear, there are several things you should never do as it will make matters worse. First, do not show reassurance verbally or physically when your dog tries to hide or acts scared at loud noises. In other words, whether the sound is coming from a thunderstorm or fireworks being shot off outside, do not croon to him or hug him close. He will soon associate your pacifying and soothing him with the loud noises and will think that cowering or hiding is appropriate behavior. Secondly, do not punish or act reproachful with your dog when he is showing fear of loud noises. It is not his fault and you will only scare him more.
So what do you do to spare him this fear of loud, surprising noises? One of the ways is through distraction training. Employ some of your obedience training techniques and integrate some games too. When the loud noises occur, if you engage your dog in an activity he enjoys, chances are that he will not concentrate on the loud noise. He will want to play with you - his master. Providing a distraction from the loud noises will soon allow him to hopefully start to associate loud noises with something positive he enjoys.
Now, this distraction training does not work automatically. You have to practice some patience. The key to distracting your dog is to teach him commands and tricks before being exposed to the loud noises. Otherwise you cannot expect your dog to respond to them during a thunderstorm, being under pressure from his fear.
Desensitizing your dog is another way to help him through his fear of loud noises. This technique involves slowly introducing loud noises that frighten him. You can purchase recordings of loud noises like waves crashing, fireworks, thunderstorms and even children squealing and laughing. When your dog is in a comfortable setting where he is relaxed, start to play the sounds at a very low volume. This way, your dog will not show signs of fear.
Over time, gradually increase the volume of sounds. Be sure to increase the volume increments so that your dog does not notice immediately. You don't want him to detect it right away. By using this gradual method, eventually you will be playing the sounds at high volumes. Hopefully, but this time, your dog has become accustomed to the noise and shows no fear.
During the desensitization process, if your dog shows signs of fright at any time, you will have to backtrack and scale down the sounds. Many trainers and dog behaviorists suggest that you combine the desensitization training with the distraction training for optimal results. You know your dog best; follow your instincts with the course of treatment you choose. Eventually, you will be able to enjoy the sounds of a thunderstorm or watch a fireworks display in the company of your faithful dog companion.
