Dogs and noise sensitivity (Fireworks & thunders)

Is your dog afraid of fireworks or thunders?

Fear of firework and thunder often leads to similar reactions in dogs, ranging from milder symptoms such as hiding, awkward walking or whining, to uncontrolled toilet accidents in the house, chewing furniture, and even vomiting.

Noise phobia could have very serious consequences [more pets in the US are lost around July 4 than at any other time during the year].

What to do if there is no time

There are many things you can do on the day of the fireworks / storm to make things easier for your dog.

Prepare the environment:

Do not restrict the animal, but provide free access to a favorite hiding place. This is probably the most important thing you can do right now. Leaving the animal to hide means that you allow it to cope.

Reduce the amount of incoming stimuli (repulsive noise / light / smell) by filling his hiding place with pillows or clothes. This should be a quiet, comfortable, welcoming place. If light flashes enter the house, the hiding place should not be dark, but brightly lit. If there is no shelter available, at least pull on the curtains and turn on the lights.

High-frequency sounds are often directional and absorbed by large objects, so they are easy to spot and can be relatively easily avoided by simply hiding in the right place. Low frequency sounds, on the other hand, are non-directional and tend to pass through solid objects. This makes it difficult to determine where the sound is coming from and since the animal can not cope with the noise by changing position, these low frequency sounds are usually more stressful. So if you are trying to reduce the incoming noise of a storm, lining with pillows will probably not absorb low frequency sounds. Going to a basement may be a better option to filter out these low pitches. Consider adding some clothes worn by the animal's favorite person to offer extra comfort. Ideally, stay with the animal. The presence of non-phobic, relaxing, friendly dogs can also reduce stress.

Distractions:

Doing some activity together has two potentially beneficial effects: movement alone can reduce stress and is a way to distract the animal. An effective way to do this is to distract him with something that usually gets his attention. Doing a workout, playing or giving him a long-lasting treat or problem-solving puzzles can make him so focused that it can reduce distracting noises. It is not just a distraction for the animal not to perceive the stimuli, but to change its emotional state so that, although it can perceive the stimulus, it is not disturbed by it. Also, problem-solving puzzles have been shown to reduce fear - perhaps because the animal is learning to control certain aspects of the environment.

Our behavior:

It may be difficult to stay calm if you are worried about your pet, but remember that your behavior will affect your dog.

Stay calm. Owner's mentality has a strong influence on dogs, and it has been shown that anxious dog owners are more prone to have dogs that develop noise phobia. Anyone who deals with the dog should look calm and be calm rather than nervous. We do not use a sad or overly happy voice, as this can make things worse. Instead, we need to have a consistent tone that brings out confidence and calmness.

Punishment: Adding pressure and unpleasant reactions such as pulling his ears or even a harsh tone of voice can increase fear, especially if the animal is sensitive.

Counter Conditioning

Throw a favorite treat for your dog right after every firework noise - or after any noise! - then he learns to associate sounds with something he really likes. Loud noises lead to food. Low noises lead to food. High noises lead to food. You get  the idea. This means that during a storm or a week of intense fireworks, you should always have food with you.

To prepare such a behavior, we can do it with loud sounds familiar to our dog. For example, we use the washing machine or other electrical appliances to "train" our dog to loud sounds. If we have already achieved this, then when fireworks or thunders come, we can turn on these devices to somewhat cover the other sounds with already familiar sounds.

Should you pet a frightened dog?

Be careful not to pet a frightened dog during a noisy event (especially fireworks). It may make you feel better, but pay attention to the animal. Stop if you see that petting makes things worse.

Exercise and massage:

If possible, take a long walk with your dog before the fireworks or storm to drain some energy. Exercise also leads to higher levels of serotonin in the brain, which reduces stress and improves stress management. Make sure the dog had his toilet walk as late as possible before the event. If it has already started, do not do it unintentionally - or intentionally! If you still have to take your dog out in the middle of a storm or fireworks. Always use a leash for his safety!