Skip to main content

Why is my dog ​​afraid of loud noises?

Why is my dog ​​afraid of loud noises?

Dogs are owners of a privileged hearing that allows them to recognize a large number of sounds, even at considerable distances.This adaptive capacity was essential for the survival of the species, allowing it to avoid exposing itself to threats and predators, in addition to having greater success in its hunt.It is perfectly natural for a dog to startle in front of loud or violent noises , and want to hide or run away to preserve its well-being.Is it an adaptive response of the organism.

Do you wonder why your dog is afraid of loud noises? You have reached the right place! In this article of Animals and Pets Online, we will explain the main causes of this canine behavior and how you can reassure a scared dog and how to remove fear.

My dog ​​is afraid of loud noises, why?

The hearing of dogs is more sensitive than that of humans and can capture an impressive range of frequencies and vibrations.It is natural that your dog is very alert when it is outdoors and perceives numerous new sounds for him (sounds that are often imperceptible to us).It is also absolutely normal to feel fear when perceiving unknown or violent alterations in their environment, such as rockets, car noise, screams, fights or thunder.

Their survival instinct means that, before an unknown stimulus that threatens their physical and psychological well-being, the dog tries to run away or hide , however, it can also react or remain immobile.If we do not spend time socializing the puppy with the different noises of his environment (between the 3rd and 12th week), the reaction is very likely and negatively and be very scared in front of the various loud or unknown noises throughout his life.

If your dog experienced a negative experience or was exposed to noises that cause fear, it may have developed a trauma or a phobia .In both cases, the animal may associate the sound with certain objects, people, animals or environments, and show fear even when the sound is not present, but the "noisy source" Yes, some dogs, for example, can hide only from seeing the vacuum cleaner or the dryer, by associating these utensils with their loud sound.

In addition, we must take into account that some pathologies that affect their sensory functions or progressive hearing loss , also favor the development of phobias and traumas.That is why it is essential to consult with the veterinarian if you notice that your dog is very scared, shy, aggressive or isolated very frequently cia.

A dog with a history of physical and emotional abuse can be very fearful of a wide range of stimuli.His insecurity is so strong that does not show exploratory behavior (curious about the environment) and would never even consider facing an unknown situation.In fact, violence and negative environments are among the main causes of trauma among animals.

If you adopted a puppy or a dog As an adult, you should be especially attentive if your partner is constantly nervous or fearful.Dogs that have been isolated from all kinds of stimuli and/or social life can develop the so-called "sensory deprivation syndrome" .

Finally, we must mention that fear can appear as a behavioral pattern that can also be genetically inherited .That is, a puppy may have a greater predisposition to fear or greater sensi bility in the face of loud noises for having inherited this characteristic from their parents.

Why is my dog ​​afraid of loud noises?

How to remove the dog's fear of loud noises?

For any of the causes listed above, it is essential that you go to a veterinary ethologist to rule out pathological causes or deficiencies in the senses that may be causing these fear-related behaviors.This type of veterinarian will also be able to guide you to a behavioral problem, providing you with a diagnosis and guidelines to follow .

If not you find this professional figure, you can go first to a veterinarian and then to a canine educator .To improve the evaluation, we recommend you ask yourself the following questions: "What loud noises make your dog startle? " "Does your fear appear when you see some objects that emit noises or only when you hear the noises?" "Does he startle only when he hears certain noises or is he afraid of various unknown stimuli?" All this will help the professional to recognize if your dog has a fear, a phobia or a trauma and will help you to work it properly.

Treatment for dogs with fear

Generally, dogs that present a trauma or a fear manage to overcome their insecurity after a systematic desensitization.In this process, we try to get our dog to gradually get used to the sound that generates fear from the controlled exposure and reward of desirable behaviors with the use of reinforcement positive.It is important to note that the behavior modification sessions should be carried out by a specialist who is familiar with these methods, if not, it is easy for fear to increase and even become phobia if improperly working with the dog.

Treatment for dogs with phobia

However, a diagnosis of phobia is much more difficult to treat, requires more time and may not have a definitive cure for better Rare the welfare of the dog may even be necessary use of pharmacology .Anyway, you can help your dog to calm down in contexts of fear or anxiety, use alternative therapies to improve its quality of life and offer a sense of calm, in addition to avoiding exposing it to stressful situations that involve objects and sounds that cause negative feelings.

Why is my dog ​​afraid of loud noises?

How to reassure a dog scared by loud noises?

Now you know what the methodology is used by professionals to remove the fear of rocket dogs or any other stimulus.However, while waiting for the visit of the canine educator, we propose a series of tips you can use when it comes to knowing how to reassure a dog scared of rockets, screams or, in short, any of the loud noises that scare you.

How to act before a dog with fear of noise?

Many owners feel the urge to pet and hug the dog when it is noticeably altered, however, by doing so they are reinforcing their altered attitude and encouraging the dog to repeat a negative behavior and that also affects its well-being.

On the contrary, if the dog is very scared but stays calm and relaxed if we can pet him and reward him to improve his emotional state.The important thing is that you maintain a calm attitude and act normally is these situations of fear or stress.Remember that emotions are not reinforced, what can be reinforced is calm or anxious behavior.

Tips for a dog scared by noise

Take note of the tips that we propose, but remember that without behavior modification sessions it is impossible to remove the fear of dogs permanently:

  • Avoid leaving your dog alone in noisy environments You are or on dates when the use of pyrotechnics is expected (as in New Year's Eve, for example).By being alone, the dog will feel even more insecure and will be able to carry out destructive behaviors at home.
  • Decrease the intensity of the noise by closing the windows and doors to reduce the intensity with which the noise enters the home from the outside.In addition, you can put some relaxing music for dogs in a volume higher than as usual, and try to distract your dog with some long-lasting toy, such as the kong, a bone to gnaw or intelligence toys.
  • Try to create a "shelter" : Dogs feel more protected when they can take refuge in a quiet place when listening to loud or strange sounds.You can use a transport, a dog house or just a cardboard box to comfort your dog with its own "cave." Remember to locate the shelter away from windows and doors (where noise enters with greater intensity) and leave inside your dog's favorite toy.
  • Reward his good behavior : every time your dog Be brave and/or behave well in your "shelter", remember to reward him with a treat that he likes very much, caresses and cheerful voice.In this way, we encourage our dog to associate the presence of a strange noise with a positive situation.
  • Values ​​the use of ferromas : synthetic pheromones (DAP) are compounds that mimic the natural pheromones that bitches produce during breastfeeding.Its action can lower anxiety levels and help to restore calm state in the body of the dog.You can find several brands and presentations of the DAP, but it is important that you consult your trusted veterinarian to choose one that has studies that support its effectiveness.
  • Use of pharmacology : Anxiolytics and other painkillers for dogs act directly on your nervous system.They can be recommended by the veterinarian after the diagnosis of a delicate and complex psychological disorder, usually to prevent the nervous reaction from continuing to damage the animal's health.We must remember that painkillers should not be offered to any can without proper medical guidance.In addition, remember to avoid drugs that contain acepromazine and bet on those who have positive scientific studies to support them, such as SILEO.

Natural remedies to calm a dog

  • Herbs : Chamomile, Valerian and St.John's wort are herbs with good calming action on the body of humans and dogs.an infusion of chamomile, let it cool and mix with your dog's water.St.John's wort and valerian can also be found in the form of tinctures.You can offer some drops of tincture, according to its weight, directly in the mouth of your hairy for a faster effect.
  • Oatmeal : Oatmeal is very effective in providing a feeling of calm and decreasing a dog's anxiety.It is true that many dogs do not accept eat in situations of fear or nervousness, but you can try to offer 1 to 2 tablespoons of cooked oatmeal in water to your hairy to help calm down.
  • Alternative therapies : aromatherapy, Bach flowers, homeopathy and acupuncture are highly recommended to improve the quality of life and help To relieve the tension of dogs suffering from phobias, stress or other psychological disorders.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why is my dog ​​afraid of loud noises? ? , we recommend that you enter our Behavior Problems section.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Types of monkeys and their names

Monkeys are primates classified according to scientific jargon in the Platirrinos or monkeys of the new world and the Cercopitecoideos or monkeys of the old world.The hominoids, which would be primates that have no tail, where man enters. Animals such as orangutan, chimpance, gorilla or gibbons also do not enter the scientific classification of monkeys, since the latter, in addition to having a tail, have a more primitive skeleton and are small animals. Then you can see the scientific classification of monkeys in more detail, where you can distinguish two different parvordenes and a total of six families of monkeys, all this in this article of Animals and Pets Online.The different types of monkeys and their names you can see them below: Classification of the Simiiform infraorder To correctly understand everything about the types of monkeys we must detail that there are a total of 6 families of monkeys grouped in 2 different parvordenes. Parvorden Platyrrhini: This in...

Tracheal respiration in animals - Meaning and examples

Like vertebrates, invertebrate animals also need to breathe to stay with life.The breathing mechanism is very different from the one they possess, for example, mammals or birds.The air does not enter through the mouth as is the case of the aforementioned animal groups, but through openings distributed throughout the body. This type of respiration occurs above all in insects, an animal group of which there are more species on planet Earth and that is why in Animals and Pets Online we want to tell you how is the tracheal respiration in animals .Likewise, we will show you what the tracheal respiratory system is like and some examples. What is tracheal respiration in animals? tracheal breathing is a type of respiration that occurs in invertebrates, specifically insects.If they are small animals or that require little oxygen, it will enter the animal by diffusion to through the skin, that is, in favor of gradient and without the need for an effort on the part of the animal. In...

Cetaceans - Meaning, Types and Features

The cetaceans are the marine animals most famous for their presence in ancient tales and legends.They are animals that have always aroused great interest on the part of the human being.These animals, in general, are great strangers that, little by little, are disappearing without, apparently , let's do nothing. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about cetaceans, which are, their characteristics, where they live and other curiosities .Do you want to know more about these inhabitants of the sea ​​depths? Keep reading! What are cetaceans? The order of the cetaceans is composed of two suborders, the myxicets, formed by the bearded whales, and that of the odontocetes, composed of cetaceans with teeth, such as sperm whales, dolphins and killer whales. The evolution of the cetaceans has resulted in a similarity between these two living suborders, being the result of evolutionary convergence.The common structural characteristics between the two groups, suc...

12 animals of Patagonia that you should know

Animals of Chilean and Argentine Patagonia Generally, Patagonia is usually "divided" into two large areas or regions: the coastal or coastal zone , which is cleared by the Atlantic Ocean on the Argentine side and the Ocean Pacific, in Chile, and the continental or Andean-Patagonian region that includes the most central regions, with predominantly desert climates, up to the Andes Mountains, with a great predominance of humid and glacial forests. In addition to the differences in the landscape, it is also possible to note that biodiversity is usually different in these regions.In the coastal region, we observe a clear predominance of fish, birds and aquatic mammals, while in the area continental land mammals and species adapted to freshwater bodies, mainly lakes and lagoons stand out. As in both regions, we find several locations with similar microclimates and environmental conditions in both Chilean Patagonia and the argenti na, it is possible to find many species tha...

Animals with exoskeleton - Names and examples

The body of the largest vertebrate animals is not a mystery to most of people: it is known that it has a skeleton, internal vital organs (heart, brain, etc.), a dermis of variable and organ characteristics through which the five senses are manifested, among other characteristics. However, have you wondered what the invertebrate morphology is like? Then you need to know all about the animals with exoskeleton, names and examples. Don't miss this Animals and Pets Online article! What is the exoskeleton? The exoskeleton is an external structure that covers the body of various animals, including arthropods.It is characterized by being resistant but flexible .This structure It consists of different substances depending on the subfile to which the animal belongs: chitin for insects and fungi, calcium in mollusks and corals or silica in diatoms among other components. In turn, the exoskeleton is formed by three structures : Cuticle : non-cellular layer secreted by the hyp...

Clean a dog's ears step by step

Cleaning the ears of the dog is a behavior that we should carry out regular, whether it is a puppy or an adult dog.It is very important to apply frequent hygiene of the ears to avoid the appearance of fungi. Next we will explain what products you need to carry it out and how It must be the method for everything to go perfectly. Keep reading this complete article by Animals and Pets Online and discover how to clean the ears of a dog step by step : Steps to follow: 1 The first step will be to gather all the materials that we may need to clean the dog's ears properly: sterile gauze swabs physiological serum Instead of physiological serum you can also choose to use hydrogen peroxide or specific preparations that we will find in any pet store.What is recommended is Apply sterile gauze as the cotton can fray inside the ear of the dog and rot.Finally, and for a much more thorough cleaning we may need swabs, yes, baby.Much safer. 2 It is important to keep in mind ...

How to care for a cat with a broken hip

My kitten, we do not know if she suffered a blow or fell hit, the report is that she ran her back a bit, she has no owner recognizes me because I give her to decommission at specific times, she does not attack but she defends herself it is not allowed to touch it has been almost impossible to grab it to place it in the transporter covering its head, now it is in my house to build a shelter it hides under a sofa and makes its needs but I do not see it eat I think it takes water this happened on 22/1 and today is 1/28/2019, they have dared me but I have no experience with animals that are not domesticated and that do not let themselves be touched, it is very intelligent, it hides recognizes the place and I do not know if I should leave it there, I put the sanitary stones and she goes and does her needs and retires down from the sofa I have her fenced, and for now when she is seen I see her well, she does not take the medication for pain and to solidify her bones, but neither does she com...

My cat is obsessed with food

Your cat does not eat only everything you put, but also anything do you fall to the ground? Also, does he go crazy every time he gets the scent of a can of food that you've opened and begs for food constantly? The obsession with food is a very common problem for many caregivers of cats that do not know how to avoid or correct it, knowing that it is not a healthy dynamic for the animal.In fact, your cat could have bad behaviors and aggressive attitudes with its surroundings if it is not pleased. In this Animals and Pets Online article we will explain what to do if your cat is obsessed with food , detailing the main causes and some of the treatments that you can apply to solve this problem. Why is your cat obsessed with food? Let's go straight to the source, the food.In this area we could have the first cause.Although your cat is eating all day, is not feeding enough , thing which is very different.Analyze the physical constitution of your cat and see if it is abnorm...

15 pollinating animals - Characteristics and examples

What is pollination? Reproduction of most plant species occurs sexually, that is, it requires the union of female and male cells for fertilization .Cells are found in pollen (male), so it needs to be transferred to the flower pistil (female), where fertilization occurs and, after this process, the flower becomes a fruit with seeds. So, when we talk about the reproduction of plants, the intervention of a third party is often required, which is known as " pollinator " to do it possible. These pollinating agents can be insects, other animals and even natural elements such as water and wind.In the case of animal species, they have found a balance with the flora and evolved together, so that plants have been able to produce flowers of different aromas, shapes and colors in order to attract pollinating agents to feed on the nectar. When animals feed on the nectar, transport pollen involuntarily on their legs, wings or another part of the body.When covered with polle...

How to scare stray cats? - 15 non-harmful remedies

The presence of stray cats In the home it is not always welcome, especially if they defecate, dig and break the decorative plants or the garden.In fact, it can be considered a risk situation if they are also wild cats, since they are not properly socialized and can be carriers of parasites and viral diseases, factors that can worry parents and animal owners. Therefore, although we consider ourselves animalistic, we can face a serious dilemma when we want to scare off street cats that appear in our garden or terrace.Is there a really effective repellent for cats? How to drive away cats without harming them? Is it possible to apply any method to drive away effective and lasting stray cats? Or worse: it may not even be street cats, but domestic cats that take advantage of your garden to do their needs.What should we do then? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain How to drive away stray cats with basic and effective advice, we will propose some home remedie...