Dog Training and Loud Noises

Whether it’s fireworks, garbage trucks, or other loud and unexpected sounds, your dog may not be comfortable when these noises erupt. Because there is a negative emotional association with these sounds and the experience as a whole, the best way to help your dog is to be prepared with high-value food. Mixing in your pup’s favorite food will help them handle fireworks and any other loud sounds are a little easier.

START TODAY by providing food for any sounds that create an emotional connection with your dog – positive or negative.  Isolating the food to just challenging moments can sometimes poison the impact of the food because it is only connected to negative experiences.  Also, the more frequently you can execute this pattern, the more acquainted your dog will become, and actually start to expect it to happen. Next, label the sound so your dog can start to pair the label with the memory of the high-value food.

Here are some examples of how this pattern can be executed with your dog:

1)  A motorcycle revs its engine and blazes down your street loudly.  You’d say, “motorcycle” and then toss your dog a couple pieces of high-value food.

2) The garbage truck comes by on the same day, at approximately the same time and your dog goes bananas.  If you can help the dog anticipate the experience and put them in a more positive mental state prior to them becoming emotionally connected to the trigger (the garbage truck), you will make greater strides in helping your dog remain calm. Prior to the garbage truck actually getting to your home, you’d label the anticipated sound, “garbage truck” and toss high-value food toward your dog. Repeat the label and toss the food every 10-15 seconds until the truck actually arrives and moves on past your house.

3) The dog’s favorite human is home from work and they hear the garage door open.  Label this experience with the person’s name “that’s Amy” and toss the food.

**Placement of the food is valuable.  The first priority is the dog notices the food and eventually eats it. Second priority is to place the food away from the distraction. If the distraction is outdoors, place the food away from the door or window where the dog consistently runs when they hear this sound. Food placement creates a new memory of a more valuable location for the dog to move to when they hear your label and experience the trigger.

Start this pattern immediately so your dog is used to you tossing food on the floor and begins to like the pattern you are creating.  When they eventually hear the fireworks or other loud sounds, follow the same pattern. If the real experiences are more challenging than the practice exercises, the dog may not eat the food.  And that’s OK.  Still label the trigger and toss the food.  CONSISTENCY IS KEY, as well as more food and the anticipation of the food after the label will eventually become more familiar to the dog.

Your Motto For the Day – When in doubt, throw food!