Dealing with Noise Sensitivity in Dogs
Causes of Noise Sensitivity and Reactivity
There are several reasons why dogs develop sensitivity to noises. First, is that their hearing ability is much greater than us humans. They can detect sound from further away and in greater frequencies. This makes them much more susceptible to becoming sensitive or reactive to sounds, especially man made sounds for dogs who live in the city, like constant traffic, or electronic noises that our appliances make, etc. The most common causes of noise sensitivity are:
Fear reaction to a loud noise
This generally occurs during their fear imprint growth stage (8-11 weeks), but it can happen at any time. Most of the time dog is startled by some loud noise that triggers their a fear response or they make a negative association with that noise and something that is very uncomfortable.
Lack of Socialization
Socialization is critical during the puppy stage (5-16 weeks), not only for sounds but all new experiences. As the dog has positive new experiences, they build confidence. They learn that new things are not bad and they can and should accept change and go with the flow. Dog that don’t experience enough positive experiences, often do not learn how to cope with new things as they get older.
The good news is that dogs can be socialized and build self confidence all through their lives. It just takes more time and more determination by the owner to provide the dog with safe and positive opportunities become more confident and learn to be “OK” with new things.
How to Work With Dogs Who Are Already Noise Sensitive
Continue Socialization & Self Confidence Building
It is really important to continue to socialize your dog to all types of positive experiences.
New Experiences
Introduce your dog to a lot of people, dogs, parks, car rides, etc always using lots of high value treats.
Perform Obedience Commands
In every new situation, practice some type of obedience commands that your dog is comfortable with and reward your dog for performing those obedience commands in the presence of other people, dogs, at parks, while in the car, while walking, etc. These can be very simple commands such as a simple SIT for 5 seconds, or a series of 3 or 5 SIT and Releases, rewarding your dog each time he is able to SIT when asked in the new situation. This not only builds your dog’s confidence; it also distracts him from the noise trigger.
Perform Desensitization and Counter Conditioning Exercises
Desensitization is a process where we expose the dog to the trigger in very low levels. An example of this is if your dog is afraid of car sounds, say a truck engine, then get a CD with truck engine sounds, or search your phone for a truck engine sound app (believe me they are out there!).
Start in the house, and play the sounds very softly.
While the truck sounds are playing, practice obedience commands with your dog constantly rewarding your dog each and every time.
Practice above steps for several days (do not move too fast, as it will cause your dog a setback)
When your dog is not reacting to the sound and readily performing the task you give him and taking the treats, then increase the volume a small increment and repeat steps above.
Once your dog is doing well in the house, then repeat all of the steps outside.
Desensitization can take a very long time, but does work. Be patient and move at the dog’s pace.
Counter Conditioning is a process where you pair up a very good thing with the fear trigger, so that your dog can change his association of the fear trigger to something that is positive. Generally we use very very high value food rewards for this exercise, like rotisserie chicken, or hamburger, cheese, etc. The treats need to be something that it is so motivating, it will make the fear trigger seem not a big deal. For example, if your dog is afraid of thunderstorms, then you can record or obtain a recording of thunder claps then follow the steps below
Play the thunder clap sound (quickly just 2-3 seconds), then Mark it with a Clicker or Positive Marker word like “YES” and give super high value treats.
Repeat over and over again for 5-10 minutes depending on how strong the fear trigger is and how motivating the reward is.
NOTE: If your dog’s fear trigger is so high that he refuses to take treats no matter how high value they are, then work on more desensitization exercises. To make it more manageable, you can lower the intensity of the trigger.
Repeat EVERY DAY gradually varying the level of the trigger or if your dog is fearful of other noises, you can rotate the noises you are working on.
When dog is tolerating the noise trigger fairly well, then you can start to give them problem solving toys that are stuffed with super high value treats. My favorite is Everlasting Treat Ball by Starmart, but Kongs, and other problem-solving toys will work as well. Use what your dog likes!
Make sure to celebrate any small success with these types of fear and phobias. You must be calm and patient no matter what. These triggers are stressing your dog out, even if it seems irrational to us.
Create a Counter Trigger for Calmness
This is really still Counter Conditioning, but instead of using treats, we use calming music and touching exercises so that the dog is triggered by the music and/or the touch to calm down. This process takes 2-3 months, however, once the calming trigger is established it works well in any situation where the dog is stressed.
Find calming music. Go to www.icalmpet.com They have many different CD’s and portable music devices that can be used to establish the calming trigger.
Every night before bed, Play calming music and get on the floor with the dog
Place dog on their side with their back facing you (preferably, but if this is too stressful for your dog, let them just sit between your legs
Rub the dog along side or back with the flat of your hand, never picking up your hand off the dog. Just move your hand back and forth fairly rapidly.
Watch your dog’s mouth, when you see them exhibit a calming signal like licking their lips or flicking their nose with their tongue, then slow down your rubbing.
Continue to rub your dog until all the tension leaves their body. This can take up to 30 or 45 minutess
When dog is relax, end the rubbing session and everyone goes to bed (I find that it is useful to continue to play the music as everyone falls asleep)
Repeat this process every day for 8-12 weeks. Then test it. Present a trigger that your dog gets stressed out about, like a thunderstorm, or car noises, and play the music and rub the dog’s back. If the dog is calmer with the music and/or the quick rub of your hand up and down their back, then you know that they have associated calm behavior with the music and hand rub triggers which can be used to override their fear/anxiety response to a different trigger.
Create a Safe Place
Teaching your dog that he can always go to his safe place can also help your dog through these situations. Safe places can be anywhere – their crate, a room, a specific dog bed or rug, under the bed, in a closet. If the safe place is a crate or a room, make sure to keep the doors open so if the dog feels he needs to flee, he can. Sometimes dogs choose their own safe place and that is ok. Other dogs, you should take the dog to a safe place you select. To establish a safe place follow these steps.
When the noise occurs, quickly take the dog to the safe place
Treat dog while they are in the safe place
Note: Do not coddle or talk to the dog in a overly sympathic way because this can be actually reward and reinforce their feeling of fear. Your response the noise should be very matter of fact.
After repeating these steps, add a cue like “Go to Your Place”
Practice many times slowly adding distance until you can tell your dog to go to their place from any room in the house
Masking the Noise
Use a white noise machine to cancel out the noise. This is especially useful for thunderstorms or constant noises from appliances in your home. However they do not work when you are outside with your dog or walking your dog and a noise trigger occurs.
Wrap up
Noise sensitivity issues take time for your dog to overcome. Work with them slowly and make sure to celebrate even the slightest improvement. Never be impatient or punish your dog for exhibiting fear or anxiety behaviors. Punishment will just make those behaviors worse and can actually turn them into full fledge phobias which are even harder to work through. Be compassionate and patient with your dog. This is very hard for your dog to work through. But at the same time, you must setup controlled situations that allow you to work with your dog on desensitization and counter conditioning exercises to help them overcome their fear to noises.