Tips for Helping Your Pet's Fear of Loud Noises

The Fourth of July may be a fun time for us, but many of our dogs have a different point of view. While we're outside exclaiming over the beautiful fireworks, our dogs are often cowering and shaking in a corner, terrified of all the loud noises (remember, your dog's hearing is far more acute than yours!!). Many caring owners have asked what they can do to help their dog ease his/her fear of loud noises. The following tips can go a long way towards helping your canine friend during fireworks displays, thunderstorms, or any situation where there is excessive noise going on.

Reasure your dog. Talk in a soothing voice and give him plenty of love and petting. But don't go overboard, or he'll start thinking that acting scared gets attention, and he'll continue that behavior. A gentle massage, along with a soft voice, can work wonders in easing noise fears.

Let your dog hide out. I have two dogs that are very noise fearful. One of them is soothed by a little extra attention, and the other just wants to get into a little corner and hide. One time he even crawled into my closet and hid amongst my shoes! If your dog does this, don't try to grab him out of his hiding spot. Many dogs are comforted just by being in a special "den" where they feel safe. If there's a spot where your dog continually hides, try to make the spot more comfortable for him. When the noise is over, he'll come out on his own.

Use a crate to soothe him. This method is related to the technique mentioned previously. Dogs have a need to "den" that is carried over from the days before they were domesticated. A crate is much like a den and should be a place of comfort for your dog. When you know loud noises are coming, make sure your dog has access to a crate. Leave the door open so your dog can curl up inside. Don't shut the door on him though, or he'll feel trapped and become even more frightened. You can also put a blanket on top of the crate so it creates a more cozy feeling, and muffles the noise a bit.

Play some calming sounds. There are CD's in any record store or discount store that are used for relaxation. These can help calm our dogs too! You can play ocean sounds, babbling brook sounds, or even soft symphony music to drown out a little of the bad noises. Don't play it too loud though, you don't want to scare your dog even more.

Consider a pet-sitter. If you plan on leaving home for some festivities on the Fourth, consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your dog. Explain the dogs fears and ask that they try to comfort the dog while you're gone. Even a regular babysitter can do this (and they'll probably like it even better than "real" babysitting!). Just make sure that your dog gets along well with the sitter.

Don't be scared too. Make sure you keep calm when your dog is upset. Dogs can sense when their owners are frightened or nervous, and it will rub off on them. Don't make a big deal of storms or loud noises. Talk and act normally.

Don't leave a frightened dog outside. My large St. Bernard will get so scared of lightning that he'll crash gates in our house to come upstairs to be with us when a storm occurs at night when we're asleep. I shudder to think what would happen if he was outdoors. I know he would try to break through the glass doors or crash through the gate in the fence. If your dog gets loose when he's terrified, he will wander aimlessly and end up lost and alone. Even a dog that isn't bothered by loud noises should not be left outside on the Fourth when fireworks are being shot off close by. He could get hit by a stray bottle rocket or he could get burned by a young child with a sparkler. Be safe and bring him inside.

Try an animal behaviorist. A good behaviorist can slowly condition your dog to loud noises. The usual method is to start with small noises and condition the dog to accept them. Then the noise is increased by a small amount. This method is called desensitization. You can also try this yourself, but get the advice of someone who has had success with the method before you try it on your own.

Get medication for your dog. If all else fails, Vets commonly prescribe various drugs to get a terrified dog through the ruckus. Drugs like Clomicalm, prescribed to ease separation anxiety, can also be used to calm a dog during a storm or a noisy event like the Fourth.

We hope that one of these methods can help your dog to get through the Fourth of July or a loud thunderstorm. Remember, your dog is a member of your family, and should be treated with love and caring like any human member of your "pack" who is scared or upset.