Does your dog run away yelping with its tail between its legs every time it hears a loud noise? Perhaps it is not quite that dramatic, but many pet owners have pooches who are quite frightened by loud noises such as the sound of thunder.
Even the most aggressive dogs may run off to hide under the bed or in a closet when thunderstorms pass through.
But, is it normal for a pet to get frightened by loud noises and, if so, is there anything you can do to help alleviate your pet's fear? Is Fear of Loud Noises Common? Believe it or not, having a fear of loud noises such as thunderclaps is relatively common among dogs.
In fact, feeling frightened by loud noises is considered to be a normal response to what is perceived as a threatening situation.
After all, feeling frightened and reacting to this fear helps remove the animal from a potentially dangerous situation.
When the fear develops into a phobia that causes your pet to react in an unreasonable manner, however, it can become a true problem.
Unfortunately, repeated exposure to the loud noises rarely helps aggravate the phobia once it has developed.
In fact, repeatedly hearing loud noises often increases both the fear and corresponding nervousness in your dog.
A dog that is afraid of the sounds of thunder may also begin to become fearful of other loud noises, such as the sound of a car that is backfiring or the sound of fireworks.
Is it Really a Problem if My Dog is Afraid of Loud Noises? Although fear of loud noises is certainly troublesome to your pet, it can also become problematic to the owner as well.
For example, a dog that is afraid of loud noises may become overly needy of your attention, which can become a nuisance.
In addition, a fearful dog may exhibit any of the following symptoms: -Freezing in place -Pacing -Excessive panting -Trembling -Excessive salivating -Attempting to escape -Uncontrolled urination -Excessive barking In addition, a fearful dog may accidentally hurt itself or its owner in its attempt to get away from the frightening sound.
Therefore, it is a good idea to take steps to help alleviate the fear or to prevent your pet from becoming frightened in the first place.
How Can I Treat My Dog's Fear of Loud Noises? There are a couple different approaches you can take when it comes to treating your dog's fear of loud noises.
One option is to make attempts to hide the noise by covering it up with the sounds of a radio, television, air conditioner or fan.
Of course, these background noises may not always be loud enough to cover the sound of a thunderstorm and you may not always be home to turn these devices on when a storm occurs.
Therefore, it is better to take steps to help your pooch get over its fear.
One of the best ways to help your pet get over its fear is to use desensitization techniques.
This involves replicating the noise your pet is afraid of, but exposing your pet to the noise at a reduced volume.
By gradually increasing the volume of the noise, your pet can become used to the sound rather than becoming more frightened by it.
If this doesn't help, it may be necessary for you to obtain anxiety medication to give to your pooch during storms or when otherwise exposed to loud noises.
This way, both you and your pet can feel more relaxed when situations occur.