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Anxious Dog? Your dog may be fearful of everyday noises and you may not have realized it.
by Friend of the Dog
by Friend of the Dog
Sometimes we tend to say our dogs are nervous, anxious, scary cats and various other 'labels', thinking that it is just the way our dogs are, and that this type of behaviour is normal for that particular dog - it's not!
It could well be that the dog is suffering from some type of noise aversion and we may not have realized it. It is easy to see when a dog is fearful of fireworks or other loud noises, but we don't always realize that it could be the everyday noises in your dogs world that are causing, or adding to the fear - it does not have to be just one thing, there could be a variety of noises that the dog is reacting too.
The first thing to determine is what the dog is fearful of. At times it may be pretty obvious such as
It could well be that the dog is suffering from some type of noise aversion and we may not have realized it. It is easy to see when a dog is fearful of fireworks or other loud noises, but we don't always realize that it could be the everyday noises in your dogs world that are causing, or adding to the fear - it does not have to be just one thing, there could be a variety of noises that the dog is reacting too.
The first thing to determine is what the dog is fearful of. At times it may be pretty obvious such as
If your dog seems like they’re scared of everything, they might be reacting to noises they encounter every day. Many dogs have this fear (2 in 3, to be precise[1]). If your dog is scared of noises whether these noises occur once or twice per year, like fireworks or thunder, or every day sounds, like loud vehicles or the vacuum, they may have noise aversion.
Canine noise aversion is the fear and anxiety that your dog expresses when they hear loud noises. It can lead to stress, suffering, and potentially destructive behavior or they may injure themselves. Some owners may think that this is normal for their dog, but it is not, and is actually a medical condition.
Everyday noises that could be scaring your dog:
When your dog is afraid of noises they hear regularly, not only is it stressful for them, but it can add stress to your home. It’s similar to a person undergoing a panic attack, and the crippling fear and anxiety that people with these conditions face is the same type of fear and anxiety that your dog experiences every time they hear a noise that scares them.
A dog that’s afraid of noises may show their fear in many different ways[2]:
ZPC-00507
Sharon L. Campbell, DV
Canine noise aversion is the fear and anxiety that your dog expresses when they hear loud noises. It can lead to stress, suffering, and potentially destructive behavior or they may injure themselves. Some owners may think that this is normal for their dog, but it is not, and is actually a medical condition.
Everyday noises that could be scaring your dog:
- Construction noises
- Lawn care: lawnmowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, etc.
- Loud vehicles: car horns, garbage trucks, police sirens, snowplows
- Gunshots
- Alarms
- Electronic noises
- Vacuum cleaners
- Noises associated with stadiums or watching sports on TV
- Celebration, such as parties or family gatherings
When your dog is afraid of noises they hear regularly, not only is it stressful for them, but it can add stress to your home. It’s similar to a person undergoing a panic attack, and the crippling fear and anxiety that people with these conditions face is the same type of fear and anxiety that your dog experiences every time they hear a noise that scares them.
A dog that’s afraid of noises may show their fear in many different ways[2]:
- Pacing or restlessness
- Lip licking
- Trembling or shaking
- Panting
- Excessive alertness or hypervigilance
- Cowering
- Hiding
- Brow furrowed or ears back
- Freezing or immobility
- Owner seeking behavior or excessive clinginess
- Refusing to eat
- Yawning
- Vocalizing (whining or barking at the sounds)
- Escape behaviors
ZPC-00507
Sharon L. Campbell, DV