Posted by Linn Radsted posted on November 09, 2018
The actual training in reducing noise anxiety is a necessity alongside the various measures.
Start today!
Focus on 1 thing you want to train to start with, plan your training and create routines in your everyday life so that you get it done.
Your dog has associated the loud noises with an automatic fear response and we must therefore reset this response and associate the previously frightening sounds with something neutral and perhaps even something joyful.
Of course, it's always easier said than done, but the more structured you are with your training, the more successful you and your dog will be. So there's no time to waste :)
Systematic Desensitization (SD)
This is an often overlooked technique that is necessary if the fear is to be reversed. This is a slow habituation to the frightening sounds.
Thunder can sometimes be more difficult as it involves barometric pressure, static charges, and the smell of ozone. But you can reasonably try to desensitize yourself to the thunder and lightning itself.
How to do it:
Play the sound from some good speakers and turn on the sound that your dog is afraid of.
The sound should be at the lowest volume where you can see that your dog is aware of the sound but not afraid.
observe your dog, it should be calm, If the dog is not calm, you can turn it down more until the dog is alert but calm.
Play the sound often, preferably 10 minutes 5-8 times a week rather than a whole hour at a time
Don't proceed until you see that your dog is completely ignoring the sound.
increase volume and repeat the above
Counter Conditioning (CC)in English
This is one of the most important techniques for changing behavior. It is this technique that can make the difference between whether your dog feels fear or joy. A conditioning is a learning and counter means unlearning. I always think of Master Yoda who said “You must unlearn what you have learned”. It says it simply and precisely.
So instead of being afraid of the scary sounds, we want the sounds to predict exciting and delicious things.
How to do it:
Find something your dog just loves and that is completely irresistible, it could be the tastiest treats from the culotte roast, a specific activity or exercise, the favorite toy or petting/scratching in the favorite spot.
Every time your dog is exposed to the trigger, the sound, you are giving it access to one of the above. “Bang! - is that culotte roast?”
It doesn't matter if your dog has already started barking or showing signs of fear, you are not reinforcing the behavior of barking or becoming more fearful. This is a common misconception and the reason why many fail in their training. In counter conditioning, you are changing the dog's emotional state and thus the barking, growling, shaking etc. will also change as emotions control behavior.
Imagine that you are afraid of spiders, will you be more afraid of looking at a spider when you also get 5,000 DKK? Of course, it is important that you think about the amount of exposure, if there are 100 spiders, you would probably rather do without the 5,000 DKK.
That's why you should combine SD with CC This is the golden combination for you to succeed in your training in reducing fear, anxiety and stress.
In some cases, a bark can be increased, but then the expression of the bark will change, it will become a happy bark, an attention bark, and it can always be reduced without problems in the end.
It will be the same as when you later see a spider and at the same time become so happy, clap your hands and jump up and down because you now have 5,000 strong - so it's part of the process.
Watch the video here to see how it works in practice.
My dog Pippi doesn't like the church bells, she growls, raises her hair and makes a loud noise. Here I demonstrate the use of the contra conditional. Since the church bells continue to ring, I also continue to provide access to the delicious food until the church bells are gone.
In this 4-part mini-guide, I will continuously discuss several measures that are important players in this combination of techniques.
This guide is made by
Betina Sabinsky, professional behaviorist & animal instructor.
On a daily basis, she drivesDogWiseand has been helping dogs and their owners with behavioral treatment, counseling and training for the past 15 years. Betina is a BAT expert and also regularly gives a number of popular lectures on noise anxiety, home alone, BAT, etc.
References:
Crowell-Davis (2008) Dr. Sophia Yin Karolina Westlund, PhD ILLIS ABC
Mini guide part 2 - Dog's noise anxiety
The actual training in reducing noise anxiety is a necessity alongside the various measures.
Start today!
Focus on 1 thing you want to train to start with, plan your training and create routines in your everyday life so that you get it done.
Your dog has associated the loud noises with an automatic fear response and we must therefore reset this response and associate the previously frightening sounds with something neutral and perhaps even something joyful.
Of course, it's always easier said than done, but the more structured you are with your training, the more successful you and your dog will be.
So there's no time to waste :)
Systematic Desensitization (SD)
This is an often overlooked technique that is necessary if the fear is to be reversed. This is a slow habituation to the frightening sounds.
You can find sounds from YouTube, like this one www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7FANXaanG4 or buy audio CDs online, at pet stores or from the vet.
Thunder can sometimes be more difficult as it involves barometric pressure, static charges, and the smell of ozone. But you can reasonably try to desensitize yourself to the thunder and lightning itself.
How to do it:
If the dog is not calm, you can turn it down more until the dog is alert but calm.
Counter Conditioning (CC) in English
This is one of the most important techniques for changing behavior. It is this technique that can make the difference between whether your dog feels fear or joy. A conditioning is a learning and counter means unlearning. I always think of Master Yoda who said “You must unlearn what you have learned”. It says it simply and precisely.
So instead of being afraid of the scary sounds, we want the sounds to predict exciting and delicious things.
How to do it:
It doesn't matter if your dog has already started barking or showing signs of fear, you are not reinforcing the behavior of barking or becoming more fearful. This is a common misconception and the reason why many fail in their training. In counter conditioning, you are changing the dog's emotional state and thus the barking, growling, shaking etc. will also change as emotions control behavior.
Imagine that you are afraid of spiders, will you be more afraid of looking at a spider when you also get 5,000 DKK? Of course, it is important that you think about the amount of exposure, if there are 100 spiders, you would probably rather do without the 5,000 DKK.
That's why you should combine SD with CC
This is the golden combination for you to succeed in your training in reducing fear, anxiety and stress.
In some cases, a bark can be increased, but then the expression of the bark will change, it will become a happy bark, an attention bark, and it can always be reduced without problems in the end.
It will be the same as when you later see a spider and at the same time become so happy, clap your hands and jump up and down because you now have 5,000 strong - so it's part of the process.
Watch the video here to see how it works in practice.
My dog Pippi doesn't like the church bells, she growls, raises her hair and makes a loud noise.
Here I demonstrate the use of the contra conditional. Since the church bells continue to ring, I also continue to provide access to the delicious food until the church bells are gone.
In this 4-part mini-guide, I will continuously discuss several measures that are important players in this combination of techniques.
This guide is made by
Betina Sabinsky, professional behaviorist & animal instructor.
On a daily basis, she drives DogWise and has been helping dogs and their owners with behavioral treatment, counseling and training for the past 15 years.
Betina is a BAT expert and also regularly gives a number of popular lectures on noise anxiety, home alone, BAT, etc.
References:
Crowell-Davis (2008)
Dr. Sophia Yin
Karolina Westlund, PhD
ILLIS ABC