How do you desensitize a dog to loud noises?

Desensitisation for dogs and cats is the gradual reduction in reaction to a source of anxiety over time, and counterconditioning is the changing of an emotional reaction to a source of anxiety, from a negative/anxious response to a positive response. With fireworks, the process involves exposing your pet to audio recordings of fireworks over a few months, very quietly at first and gradually increasing the volume. To get the best results, we recommended that you start at least six months before fireworks season. When your pet is in their safe haven, start to play the fireworks audio at a very low level – so low that your pet either doesn’t respond at all or reacts by just turning towards the source of the noise. Reward your pet after each loud noise, to change your pet's emotional response to the noise, throw a pea-sized piece of their favourite food onto the floor for them. Increase the volume of the fireworks sounds once they’ve stopped showing any signs of anxiety in response to the sounds and seem able to engage in other activities happily while the audio is playing. Give your pet 10 to 30 seconds to get used to the increased volume, then start to interact by offering some treats or toys after each loud noise. Vary the volume during the training, make the general trend that the volume increases, but do vary it lower as well as higher, this will give you a better response. Go very slowly, the more time you’re able to take over this, the more likely you are to have a positive result.Reward your pet’s calm response after each loud noise, using praise, play and treats – this will reinforce good behaviour.

Dogs that are safely and gradually exposed to many different experiences, including loud noises, during their essential socialisation period of three to 16 weeks of age, are often able to cope more effectively with loud, frightening sounds like fireworks or loud engine noises. Sound therapy can help your dog feel more comfortable with new and scary life noises. Sounds Scary can help your dog deal with distressing noises such as fireworks. Sounds Scary is not only backed by years of clinical experience, but it is also scientifically proven to be safe, effective and easy to use. Each sound resource is paired with a corresponding how-to guide and contains a collection of specifically recorded noises that all puppies need to get used to, including domestic noises, traffic, fireworks and thunder. Sounds Sociable is designed to help puppies adapt to their new life as a pet. It includes a collection of sounds that every puppy should be familiar with, including traffic, domestic noises, children, and fireworks. Our sound-based treatment programmes were developed by two veterinary surgeons specialising in the field of pet behavioural therapy. All our resources have been scientifically researched and come with a full set of instructions, which makes them easy to use and extremely effective.

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. A reaction might be small, such as twitching their ears. Once your dog starts to react, leave the sounds at that volume for a few minutes to let them get used to it. 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. Keep playing the sounds in this way daily, over a period of weeks, until your dog no longer reacts to the sounds, even at a higher volume. 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. This process should be carried out over a gradual period of time and can take months.