Sound Sensitivity in Dogs

Sound Sensitivity in Dogs

Is there someone in your life who is sensitive or feels negatively about loud noises? Like humans, dogs can have feelings of anxiety when they hear particular unpleasant sounds, which some of us might consider to be just background noise. These sounds may include motorcycles driving by or emergency sirens. Your dog might even be reacting to something that the human ear cannot even detect.

What Causes Sound Sensitivity in Dogs?

Whole Dog Journal explains that along with age, dogs become sound sensitive when a certain combination of events triggers fear in the dog. This fearful period in a dog’s life begins when they are around 8 weeks old. They may experience random times when they are afraid of noises up until they are 18 to 24 months old. Genetics and environment blend together to form a dog’s behavior. Sound sensitivities, for example, are more prevalent in herding breeds. With that being said, just because a dog is genetically predisposed to have a sound sensitivity, this doesn’t automatically mean that it will develop one.

Common Noise Anxiety Triggers

Though it may be difficult to know what exactly caused your dog’s noise sensitivity, there are several sounds that are commonly found disturbing by sensitive dogs. Here are a few of them:

• Fireworks
• Thunderstorms
• Loud beeping from electronics
• Fire alarms
• Ambulances, fire trucks, or police cars
• Airplanes or cars honking
• Other dogs barking or howling

Signs That Your Dog Has Sound Sensitivity

Let’s say that you hear a clap of thunder. Your dog begins to shake and then clings to you for safety. This would be considered noise anxiety. Some dogs undergo more severe symptoms and begin to panic. They may run around the house, defecate inside the house, or chew destructively.

Helping Your Sound-Sensitive Canine

One of the most useful things you can do is provide a safe space for your dog to retreat to, away from the noise. A well-insulated room without windows is ideal. If your dog enjoys being in its crate, you can cover the crate with a soundproof cover to block out the noise. Avoid verbally punishing your dog for the way it is feeling. Your dog is frightened, so it is perfectly appropriate to provide a comforting voice and a soft touch for her. You also might want to try pressure wraps to help alleviate anxiety in your canine. Often referred to under the brand name Thundershirts, pressure wraps are a safe and natural way to calm your anxious pup. Behavior modification is a way of exposing your dog to a sound that they don’t like, beginning at a low volume. Once they get used to it, you turn up the volume even more. Doing this will help them to be able to tolerate the real thing. Seeking out advice from your veterinarian for your sound-sensitive dog is always a smart idea. In more serious cases, your vet may decide to prescribe medication to relieve your dog’s noise anxiety.