Dog Noise phobias (an excessive fear of certain sounds) are becoming an increasingly common problem in dogs, and much more than in cats. There may or may not have been a single, triggering event that started the process of worsening fears, but all noise-phobic dogs are distinguished by their sensitive hearing.

Dogs usually do hear better than people and they are also sensitive to a wider range of sound, both ultrasound (high frequency) and infrasound (Iow frequency). Phobias associated with particular noises often generalise or extend, as the dog associates more and more events with the original, phobia-causing sound. Thunderstorms are generally accompanied by darkening skies, changes in air pressure and humidity, later by wind and rain. Accordingly, a thunder-phobic dog may also become anxious on heavy overcast days, even when there is no thunder. The same phobia may later be triggered by rain or by similar banging noises such as gunfire, a door slamming or an object being dropped.

Similarly, the dog may associate a particular location with a frightening noise, and thereafter exhibit a phobic reaction to that place. For example, air brakes from a lorry may trigger an extreme fear reaction and a dog may try to avoid that spot for days, even months after the original event.

Phobias usually involve novel or unusual stimuli: common stimuli are seen as being safe because they are familiar. Exposure to a wide range of sounds and stimuli during childhood, or for dogs during puppyhood should, theoretically, protect both people and dogs from developing phobias as adults. For example, puppies born at the beginning of the year may not hear fireworks until they are well into adolescence around the time of Guy Fawkes' Night.

Similarly, young dogs which are taken by car to forests and fields for their daily exercise will not have experienced everyday traffic and street noise. Other, more unusual stimuli need to be programmed into a dog's early life, for instance exposure to gunshots, aircraft or hot air balloons. The purpose of this CD is first to treat dogs with established phobias, but more importantly, to protect puppies from developing such disabling fears llater on.

The CD is designed for desensitisation therapy of dogs towards a wide range of sounds. Some of these are normal everyday sounds; others are less frequently heard, being seasonal or intermittent.

There are 4 categories of sounds each having several recordings and with a playtime of approximately 3 minutes each:

1. Bangs
2. Transport
3. Household
4. People

The advantage to using this CD is that it enables the dog's exposure to sounds to be managed and the loudness controlled according to the dog's response. It should be used in conjunction with positive counter conditioning, to alter the dog's phobic reaction to sounds by teaching him to associate noise with new, rewarding behavioural outcomes.

How to use the CD

1. For first exposure, play the CD at a level you can barely hear (remember that it won't be inaudible to your dog) in a familiar room where he is relaxed. Play the chosen tracks or section of the CD several times a day, until you are happy that your dog is tolerant, even relaxed with the noise.

Should he show any adverse or phobic reaction to the sounds, remain calm and relatively disinterested in his reaction; don't feel the need to reassure him or oversympathise. Distract him by play, reinforce his basic obedience commands and try to teach new postures or tricks using reward-based methods. If he is showing fear, you are probably playing the CD too loudly - reduce the volume.

2. Gradually, over the course of two to three weeks, increase the volume by small increments. Try playing the CD routinely during feeding or play, to associate positive events with the sounds.

3. As this programme progresses, increase the volume of the CD until it reaches the sound intensity expected in the 'real' situation. Play the CD in different rooms of the house, at friends' or relatives' houses, in the garden and car. Using a portable CD player, you could even play the CD whilst out on walks. Vary the time of day you play the CD, so that it doesn't become a predictable exercise to the dog. Always interact positively with him by playing and engaging in fun training exercises.

4. Once you are certain the dog or puppy has become desensitised to the sound on the CD (and you can always make your own recording of other noises you think may affect him), the key element to success is that you continue the desensitisation programme on an ongoing basis. Although some sounds are predictable according to the time of year (e.g. summer thunder or Christmas fireworks), others occur on a random basis and your dog needs to be desensitised or trained to tolerate them all year round.

5. Puppy socialisation classes are an ideal venue for phobia-preventative training with this CD. The same methods apply to teaching puppies tolerance as for desensitising adults with established phobias: proceed slowly with patient care and supportive enthusiasms.

In extreme cases, a dog may continue to exhibit phobic responses to certain sounds despite your best efforts to desensitise him. In such instances, where your pet's quality of
life is being compromised, we advise you to seek the help of a qualified behaviourist or a vet.