Fearful Fido – conquering the fear of noise

As autumn approaches, this can be a worrying time for an owner whose dog has a fear of noise, as celebrations such as Halloween and Bonfire Night bring along the sights and sounds of fireworks.

The temptation is to comfort our dog when he is afraid and shaking, however, this is the worst thing you can do.  This is because stroking your dog or making a fuss when he is frightened will unwittingly re-enforce and reward the dog’s fearful behaviour.   So, it is as good as telling him “yes be afraid and I’m afraid too.”  What your dog needs is reassurance, however, in a ‘canine way’.

So, here are some top tips to help your dog calm down.

Ensure you’re in the same room as your dog.  Shut the door so the dog cannot escape the room.  Put any cables or breakables out of the dog’s way, in case he panics and gets tangled up or knocks into any ornaments.

Sit on the floor and read a book, this distracts you from looking or reacting to the dog.

Concentrate on your breathing rate, so your pulse rate is steady.

Now, ignore your dog!  This means avoid eye contact and stay quiet no matter how hard your dog tries to get your attention.  By showing that you are not bothered by the loud noises, you will help your dog calm down as he will, over time, mimic your behaviour and settle.

However, if your dog tries to sit in your lap or lean on you, gently push him away without saying anything or making eye contact.  By avoiding any reaction to your dog’s behaviour, you avoid unwittingly re-enforce this unwanted fearful behaviour.  If your dog continues to fuss around you, continue to move him gently away from you , each and every time.  Your dog will eventually realise his behaviour is not going to get your attention and he will give up.

Once your dog has calmed down (e.g.) he has stopped pacing* and panting, he has sits down and you see his breathing rate steady, only then calmly call him over to you for an interaction.  Then gently praise him and give him food reward when he comes to you.  Your dog is now being rewarded for his quiet behaviour.  * See stress signals to look out for below.

If this interaction kicks off the unwanted behaviour once again, repeat the instructions above.

Herbal remedies

There are some great herbal remedies that work brilliantly on dogs.  Although there is no substitute for proper veterinary attention where health is concerned, from a behavioural point of view where health is not an issue, natural flower essences are an asset when dealing with fearful or phobic dogs.

Try ‘ Dr Bach Rescue Remedy’ ‘, ‘Bach Mimulus’ or ‘Bach Rock Rose’ solutions are good options and can be added to your pet’s drinking water or food.  Available from most good health shops.

Note: The time it takes for your dog to calm down depends on his temperament and learnt behaviour.  With consistency and putting into practice these top tips every time there is thunder, fireworks or any loud noises that stresses your dog, soon he will learn there is nothing to fear.

Early warning stress signals to look out for

• Lip lick and nose licking
• Panting
• Pacing
• Sweating through the paws
• Whining/Whimpering
• Standing crouched
• Tail tucked under
• Creeping away
• Stiffening
• Dilated pupils
• Barking

Avoid touching your dog when he is in a highly aroused state, as he may mouth or bite due.