How to
Help a Dog with Noise Phobia
"Play calm, soothing music (MusicMyPet.com) before a possible stressor occurs. This may both relax your dog and drown out distressing noises." - Dr. Karen Becker
Many
dogs overreact to sudden loud noises like a clap of thunder.
Not
all canine responses to startling noises are the same. Some dogs express
hyper-vigilance when they hear loud noises, while others hide in fear. Outright
panic is also not an unusual reaction for some dogs.
It's
important to understand the difference between the normal fear a dog expresses
and fear that has become pathologic. In the latter situation a dog begins to
generalize his fear of, for example, a clap of thunder, to every sudden or loud
noise in his environment.
If
on a bright, sunny day your dog suddenly displays his fear-of-thunder response
to the rattling of pots and pans in the kitchen or the noise of a garbage truck
down the block, he's generalizing his fear of the noise of a thunderstorm to
every loud or unusual sound he hears.
Per
dvm360:
Noise
phobia, of which storm phobias constitute one class, is defined as a sudden and
profound, nongraded, extreme response to noise, manifested as intense, active
avoidance; escape; or anxiety behaviors associated with the activities of the
sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Behaviors can include
catatonia or mania concomitant with decreased sensitivity or responsiveness to
pain or social stimuli. Once fully developed, repeated exposure results in an
invariant pattern of response.
Some
dogs react to noise phobias by freezing and withdrawing, while others respond
by crashing through windows or chewing through restraints or enclosures. While
the former behavior may seem less extreme, the fact is both reactions indicate
profound suffering and damage to nerve cells.
Noise
phobias in canine family members are no laughing matter.
Left
untreated, the condition will invariably get worse. The development of a phobia
involves a complex molecular change that isn't well understood, but seems to
involve a shift in how an affected dog processes information.
Noise
phobia can be inherited, so it's possible for a pup to be predisposed to the
condition if dogs in his lineage have displayed overreaction to noise. The
genetic connection is so direct that if one of your dog's parents overreacted
to storms or other noises, you can reasonably expect your pet will have a similar
response.
The
problem is also known to be especially common in herding breeds, including:
1.)
Australian Shepherd
2.)
Border Collie
3.)
German Shepherd Dog
4.)
Old English Sheepdog
5.)
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
6.)
Shetland Sheepdog
An
overreaction to loud noises can predispose your dog to other panic disorders
like separation anxiety and
behavioral problems.
Signs of Noise Phobia
The
symptoms of noise phobia and separation anxiety are similar and include:
A.)
Excessive panting and/or
salivation
B.)
Vocalization
C.)
Trembling and pacing, or
freezing in place
D.)
Uncontrolled
urination/defecation
E.)
Destructive behaviors
F.)
Hiding or escape
In
studies of phobic behaviors in dogs, it was shown that symptoms can differ by
breed. For example, German Shepherds pace more than Border Collies or
Australian Cattle Dogs.
Most
canine anxiety disorders seem to develop between the ages of 12 and 24 months
and worsen, if left untreated, as the dog matures socially.
It
is also known that if a dog reacts to one noise, she is likely to react to
other noises. For example, if your dog overreacts to thunderstorms, she has a
95 percent chance of responding similarly to fireworks.
Take Care Not to Reinforce Anxious Behavior
If
you suspect or know your canine companion is developing a noise phobia, the
first thing you'll want to do is make sure you're not rewarding his fear and
anxiety.
For
example, as humans we often try to comfort each other emotionally with phrases
like 'It's okay.' But if to your dog the word 'okay' is usually associated with
a desirable behavior, telling him 'It's okay' when he's feeling fearful or
anxious can confuse him as well as reinforce his phobic behavior.
The
same goes for petting an overreacting dog to comfort her. To your dog, petting
is a reward, so again, you're inadvertently reinforcing her anxious behavior.
And for some dogs, being petted during a phobic episode is just one more
anxiety-producing element in her environment.
Calming a Panicked Pup
Rather
than take action that could inadvertently reinforce anxious behavior, try
simply observing your dog during a fearful episode and see what you can do to
calm him.
1.)
You might lead or remove
him to a quiet room in your home and either leave him alone there to
self-soothe (as long as he’s not frantic), or stay quietly with him. A silent,
still environment can often provide relief.
2.)
Some phobic dogs will
seek out dark, quiet corners on their own where they can calm themselves, so
consider providing a darkened room, a closet floor, or space under a table or
desk for a frightened pet. The goal is to give your dog a secure spot that
helps him calm himself. If he continues to panic in his dark, quiet space, it
isn’t what he needs to help him relax.
3.) Play calm, soothing
music (MusicMyPet.com) before a possible stressor occurs. This
may both relax your dog and drown out distressing noises.
4.)
You can also try putting
gentle, continuous pressure on your pet to calm her. If your dog will allow it,
try leaning gently on or against her without petting or stroking. If this is
helping your pup, you’ll feel her muscles begin to relax. If instead she seems
to grow more anxious, this isn’t a technique that will be helpful for her.
6.)
Ttouch is a specific
massage technique that may also help anxious pets.
7.)
Consult your holistic
vet about homeopathic, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Bach Flower
Remedies that could be helpful in alleviating your dog’s stress. Some products
I use, always in conjunction with behavior modification:
13.)
The essential oil of
lavender has been proven to reduce a dog's stress response. I recommend placing
a few drops on your dog's collar or bedding before a stressor occurs, if
possible.
14.)
If your dog is crate trained, he may
go there voluntarily to self-soothe, or you can lead the way. A blanket draped
over the crate may help him relax.
However, if your dog doesn't normally use a
crate, or worse, has a fear of crates due to a past bad experience, this isn't
the time to use one. Under no circumstances should a fearful pup be forced into
a crate either when he's already anxious, or in anticipation of a panic
response to weather or other noises. Your dog will feel trapped, which will
make both his phobia and his reaction to it worse.
15.)
If your dog is afraid of
storms or other loud outside noises, leaving her outdoors while she's anxious
or panicked is a really bad idea. Dogs regularly run away or seriously injure
themselves attempting to escape outdoor enclosures or runs during storms,
fireworks displays, and other noisy events.
Behavior Modification
In
addition to learning what calms your phobic dog, it's also important to work to
extinguish the overreaction.
Behavior
modification techniques like desensitization, counter-conditioning or a
combination are most often used to help anxiety-related canine conditions.
Desensitizing
involves exposing your dog to the noises he overreacts to. There are tapes,
records, CDs and internet sites that mimic all sorts of noises, including
storms, exploding fireworks, car backfires and even gunshots.
This
approach works better with dogs in the beginning stages of a phobia, and not so
well with dogs suffering from fully entrenched phobias. I recommend you consult
with a professional on how best to address your dog's fear issue, as there
isn't a cookie cutter approach to fixing the problem that can be applied to every
dog.
Counter-conditioning
involves rewarding your dog for not reacting, typically with a food treat that
competes with his ability to react to a noise stimulus. The Clever K9 is a
treat-release puzzle toy that can be very useful during the
counter-conditioning process.
Changing How Your Dog Perceives His Environment
Other
potentially helpful devices to calm your anxious pup:
A.)
Eye shades that either
block all light or diffuse the light can help some dogs relax. You can try a
basic eye mask intended for humans or a pair of tinted Doggles.
B.)
You can also try
blocking the intensity of the sounds your pet hears. Ear protection for dogs is
available from Mutt Muffs.
C.)
Invest in a D.A.P.™ collar or
diffuser for your dog. D.A.P. is an acronym for Dog Appeasing Pheromone and is
designed to have a calming affect on dogs. The collar seems to work well for
many dog owners with pups suffering from separation anxiety and other
stress-related behaviors.
Asking for Help
Alternatively,
you can visit the Animal Behavior Society
website, where you can find a directory of Certified Applied Animal
Behaviorists (CAABs). Many of these experts have websites and do phone and
online consultations.
