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Dogs and Noise

Dogs and Noise
by
July 09, 2025
in Humane Education Column
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By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair

It is Monday morning, July 7, and I am happy to say Gracie, my 9 year-old “boxador”, and I have survived one more loud and explosive Fourth of July celebration.

Gracie is extremely reactive to loud noises, especially thunder and fireworks, as are many dogs. With her hackles raised, Gracie barks, paces, and pants.

She looks at me as if to say, “Mom, make that noise stop!” She barely lets me pet her to comfort her for the duration of the noise. However, once the noise has ended, she comes to me for snuggles and soon settles down.

She takes a prescribed low dose of medication to help calm her, meaning I have discussed her anxiety with her veterinarian. I screen out the noise the best I can, closing doors and blinds, playing music, turning on the tv and the bathroom exhaust fans. I keep her with me in a limited area, the most secure, quietest part of the house and constantly talk to her in a soft, comforting voice.

She does not like anxiety/pressure wraps or calming vests. However, she seems to appreciate the security of her harness with leash attached and me gently holding onto the leash. It particularly slows her pacing.

No treat, toy or game distracts her.

It has taken us working together through several bouts of thunder and fireworks to discover what works best to calm and reassure her.

It breaks my heart to see her pain, but I know I need to remain positive and calm because anxiety from me will only raise hers.

We are fortunate that she quickly bounces back from her rounds of reactiveness.

This is my dog Gracie’s reaction to loud noise and what helps to calm her and what does not. It is based on my conversations with her vet, recommendations from trainers and research.

Your dog may have a different level of reactiveness to noise and a different response to methods of prevention and comfort.

Veterinarians and behavioral experts at the VCA Animal Hospitals estimate that 1/3 of the canine population is reactive to loud noises, especially those of thunder, fireworks, and loud vehicles. They say the signs and degrees of anxiety vary, and I quote from one of their on-line articles:

“Mild fear responses may include panting, pacing, barking, whining, trembling, cowering and attempts to hide, whereas phobic responses may include pure panic, extreme agitation, attempts to escape and/or destructive behavior.
Dogs that experience extreme fear and/or phobic behaviors need professional intervention. They suffer emotionally and may harm themselves or property when they are distressed. Dogs with noise-based fears may also be at risk of developing other anxiety-based conditions, including distress related to being left alone.”

Other reliable resources, including the American Kennel Club, The Humane Society of the United States, and PetMd present remarkably similar information on what may trigger canine reactiveness to noise, ways to desensitize your dogs to noise, and valuable tips on possible ways to help your furry friend cope.

You can see from Gracie’s story what common methods of comforting worked and what did not.

All resources I researched advise you to discuss your dog’s reactiveness to noise with your vet and possibly a trainer or behavioral professional, and do your own research. If you are a Chaffee County resident and need financial assistance to obtain dog training, you can learn more about Ark-Valley Humane Society’s Behavior Intervention Training program by visiting their website: https://www.ark-valley.org/pet-behavior-support/.

Based on this information, you can then start to make decisions as to what might be best for your dog. Your dog’s responses will tell you what works and what does not. Together you hopefully can find ways to make those loud noises less stressful for both of you just as I have for Gracie.

 

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