How do I train my dog not to be scared of loud noises?

Distract Them With a Game or Activity Before your dog has a chance to get upset about a noise, distract with a game of fetch or tug, or other favorite activity. Practice some tricks or obedience skills and give nice rewards for focusing on you. When your dog can’t focus, stop. Reward Calm Behavior Don’t wait for your dog to exhibit stress before you give attention. Play calming music or turn on the television; these may help to muffle the sounds. Provide a Safe Haven for Your Dog Whether it’s a crate or a bed, make sure your dog has a safe place away from the source of the loud noise. Condition Your Dog to Loud Noises Early If your dog is a puppy, you have the opportunity to condition to loud noises early. You can condition your older dog too, just take it very slowly because it may take months to alleviate established fears. Get a helper to drop a book as you reward and play with the dog. It’s normal if the dog startles at first. Stay calm and cheerful yourself, give treats, and your dog will learn that it’s nothing to worry about. The book dropping can get gradually louder and nearer as the dog is less affected by the noise. You can also play recordings of scary noises at a low volume while you feed your dog, play favorite games, or engage in any favorite activity. Gradually increase the volume as the dog feels comfortable.

Help your dog find their happy place. If you’re at a park when the fireworks start, you may need to make an early exit. If you’re at home, think about the places your dog naturally goes to relax and keep them open for them. It works best if you do it just as your dog starts to show signs of worry. Play music or use some other white noise to block the scary sounds. Or distract them with a game of fetch or tug. Find an audio recording of the sound your dog fears, whether it’s thunder or exploding fireworks. Play it low enough not to bother them. Reward them with a special treat -- one you don’t use for anything else -- for calm behavior. Raise the volume slowly, over several days. Keep giving them the special treat. Some mild calming meds -- available at your pet store or by prescription from your vet -- may give them short-term relief. Several items are available to help calm your pet. One is a tight jacket that feels like a hug to your dog. You can also get special earmuffs that lessen the sound. Always start with your vet to rule out any major emotional or physical causes for your dog’s fear. For extreme cases of noise fear you may need to work with an expert known as a veterinary behaviorist.

Desensitising your dog to loud noises is a good way to keep them calm in situations that may otherwise make them anxious. By gradually desensitising your dog to loud noises over a period of time, you can teach them to associate these sounds with something positive, instead of something to be scared of. Before you start, you will need to buy or stream some related sound effects or noises, such as fireworks, and have some way of playing them out loud. It’s important that the training is done with your dog indoors, away from distractions, and make sure your dog can easily leave the room if they want to. To begin with, get your dog settled in the room and play the sounds they are least scared of at the lowest possible volume. Increase the volume very, very slowly, until you see the first signs that your dog is reacting to the noise. If at any point your dog is scared or stressed by the noise, remain calm and stop playing the sounds immediately. Play the sounds at this low level for 5-10 minutes, 3-4 times a day. Once your dog has stopped responding to the noise, you can turn the volume up slightly, until they begin to respond again. Building a positive association between your dog and loud noises Once your dog’s been desensitised to the sounds, you can start to build a positive association between your dog and loud noises, such as fireworks. As soon as you hear the sounds give your dog their food or start to play with them. This is so that they start to associate the sound with something positive happening. Do this a few times over the course of a few days until your dog starts to get excited when they hear the sounds.