Did you know that dogs can hear between a 45,000 and 65,000 hertz frequency range? Humans range from a 20 to 20,000 hertz range, which means that our boy Fido has very sensitive hearing when it comes to loud noises. If you are a pet owner, you probably know that loud noises, inside or outside of the house, can cause your dog to act differently than they normally do. Some act aggressively, fearful, or stressed. Actions can depend on the noise, dog breed, or surroundings. Some dogs have phobias to noises such as fire truck sirens, fireworks, louder children, or thunderstorms. What is interesting about fear phobias is that if a dog has been in a frightening situation, or deprived of a safe environment, they tend to react in a difficult manner.
Two years ago, my family adopted a Mini- Goldendoodle that we named Louie, who was unfortunately abused as a puppy. Because of this, Louie acted aggressively towards police sirens. In his previous environment, he would growl and run away from policemen and men in general. After training and lots of love, Louie was able to be calmer in this type of “unexpected situation” and only barks a little when he hears sirens. He is also not afraid of seeing police cars.
This is an example of how a specific louder sound caused stress on a dog. Other types of reactions to louder noises can include hiding, refusing food, and/or losing their bladder. Obviously, there are two types of noise situations: expected and unexpected. The “unexpected” could include fire sirens, fireworks, or anything that would startle your dog. “Expected” situations could include louder children’s parties, parades, or planned construction work outside of your home. The key would be to plan ahead of time if you are aware of your dog’s actions during these events.
Try These Ideas To Help Lessen The Stress On Your Dog
If an “unexpected” situation occurs, try these ideas to help lessen the stress on your dog.
Try distracting your dog with a play toy
Take your dog to his/her safe space, one that they are comfortable with
Try playing soothing music in the background to help drown out any loud noise
If your dog is afraid of a specific noise, try playing a recording of that noise so they become accustomed to hearing it.
Think about how you can create a positive situation when the noise occurs, i.e., Going for a ride to get ice cream during a firework show.
Talk to your veterinarian for other tips on how to keep your dog calm and safe during any loud noise setting. Create a stress-free environment for your dog by calming your pet’s noise phobia.
If you’d like help with training, we are happy to help with your dog’s needs! Please contact our trainer, Wesley.
All proceeds from Thousand Hills Pet Resort support New Life K9s. New Life K9s provides service dogs to veterans and first responders with PTSD at no cost to them.
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