As anyone who lives with or works with dogs can tell you, fear of loud noises is one of the most common behavioral problems in pet dogs. The most common types of loud noises that can trigger distress in dogs include thunderstorms, gunshots and fireworks. There are a number of therapy techniques and products available to address noise fear in dogs, but which of them really work? Researchers conducted a scientific examination of the various techniques and have published an overview of treatment options for noise fears in dogs, as well as a description of the current scientific evidence for their effectiveness.
–
Overview of diverse approaches for alleviating fear of noises in dogs
“In the treatment of noise fears, both short-term solutions to prevent trauma or the deterioration of fear during unavoidable noise events and longer-term training need to be considered. Environmental management, the provision of incentives (food/play) during noise exposure, and, when indicated, anxiolytic medication, can safeguard dogs’ welfare during noise events. Most “alternative” products (such as nutraceuticals, herbal remedies, pheromones, homeopathy, Bach flowers, and essential oils) are unlikely to be sufficient as monotherapy for noise fears, whereas there is good evidence for the efficacy of several anxiolytic medications. In the longer term, counter-conditioning to real-life noises, relaxation training, and desensitization/counter-conditioning using noise recordings have been shown to improve fear of noises in dogs.”
–
Preventative Training
“In the best case, noise fears in dogs can be prevented via preparatory training. Preventative training appears to be highly effective in preventing the development of noise fears in puppies and adult dogs. In dogs already affected by noise fears, management, providing incentives (food/play) during noise events, and the potential use of anxiolytic medication can prevent trauma during unavoidable noise events and safeguard the dogs’ welfare. In the long term, training should enable dogs to learn a new positive association with the fear-eliciting stimulus. In addition to the commonly recommended use of noise recordings, counter-conditioning (even ad hoc; any loud noise is followed by a reward) and relaxation training were demonstrated to be particularly effective in alleviating dogs’ fears.”
–
Conclusion
“Therapy for noise-sensitive dogs involves a combination of management and behavioral training, as well as the potential use of anti-anxiety medication to safeguard dogs’ welfare and prevent worsening of the fear. Providing rewards (food/play) to create positive associations with noises (counter-conditioning) is one of the most effective training methods and may change dogs’ emotional responses to noise. Additionally, relaxation training and training with audio recordings can improve noise fears in dogs. While a variety of products to alleviate fear in dogs are on the market, to date, evidence indicates that most “alternative” remedies, such as nutraceuticals, herbal remedies, pheromones, homeopathy, Bach flowers, and essential oils, are not powerful enough to help dogs overcome serious fears. In contrast, the effectiveness of several types of anti-anxiety medications has been demonstrated. Noise fears in puppies and adults can be prevented by creating positive associations with sudden noises.” (source)
Journal reference: Riemer S. Therapy and Prevention of Noise Fears in Dogs—A Review of the Current Evidence for Practitioners. Animals. 2023; 13(23):3664. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13233664
FIREPAW, Inc. 