Noise Anxiety In Dogs: Prevent Your Buddy From Spooking

Loud noises can startle any dog, but some dogs experience high anxiety when they hear thunder, fireworks, car alarms, and other sounds. This is known as noise aversion, noise sensitivity or noise anxiety in dogs. It’s a relatively common phenomenon, unfortunately – affecting at least one third of all dogs in the US.

But the scariest part? Dogs with a strong noise sensitivity may be more likely to run away, get lost, or come into harm’s way.

So in this post, we’re going to share some of our top tips on how to manage your buddy’s noise anxiety – and how to plan ahead for an emergency, in case they do spook and run off at a loud sound. Let’s get started.

What does noise anxiety in dogs look like?

A dog’s response to noise can range from mild to severe on the noise aversion spectrum. Even worse, it’s likely that even more dogs suffer from noise anxiety; experts suspect that the condition it goes largely undiagnosed and untreated¹.

• Dogs with a normal and healthy noise fear response might be startled by a loud noise and then move on with their day.
• On the other hand, a dog with a serious noise phobia or aversion may tremble and hide for hours after a thunderstorm.
• In more serious cases, noise anxiety in dogs can lead to dangerous or destructive behavior. Including runaway attempts – even across busy streets or in less safe environments.

So if your dog trembles in fear when fireworks go off or gets hyper alert when you run the vacuum cleaner – they may have a noise phobia, which is defined as an abnormal, very intense reaction to sounds. 

💡Which is why – if you don’t know why your buddy might have noise phobia – it makes sense to plan ahead for an emergency.

Because why find out the hard way if you’re now dealing with a panicked dog, running away from you a mile a minute – maybe too far from safety?

It’s why responsible dog parents around the world – just like you – are strapping GPS trackers to their buddies’ collars.

Because with your trusty Tractive device set up, you can now track your running dog:

• In real-time,
• Over an unlimited range,
• While on vacation – or 175 countries on a Premium subscription

All with just a glance at your phone.

Discover Tractive GPS

What can cause – or trigger – noise anxiety in dogs?

Humans know that thunder or the vacuum cleaner won’t hurt us, but your dog doesn’t know this. And of course, you can’t explain that to your pup, so we have to find a solution that works from your dog’s point of view.

Just keep in mind: dogs have more sensitive hearing than humans. So this may cause them to react intensely and develop phobias to loud noises. Dogs can hear sounds at higher frequencies than we do, so you may not be able to hear the screeching garbage truck that puts your noise-phobic dog into a fearful state.

So while the causes of most noise phobias are not fully understood, the research points to a few possibilities.

Learned behaviors

Between 3-14 weeks, puppies learn a ton about the world around them from Mama dog. (Assuming they haven’t been separated yet.) So if Mama dog startles easily or is noise anxiety-prone, it’s possible her puppies might learn the same behaviors as a result.²

• Once they’re 14 weeks, puppies might be less likely to change any behaviors they’ve picked up from this “early” phase.
• Meaning, if you don’t take the time to properly socialize them to different sounds, objects, and environments, they might not learn to overcome their fear.

A lack of socialization

Dogs that were not well socialized as puppies may be more prone to noise anxieties. Meaning, if they weren’t:

• Exposed to certain sounds, places, or objects…
• …in a positive manner…
• …by the time they’re around 12-14 weeks old…

Then it’s possible they may not have gotten used to these sounds yet – and understand that they’re not scary and won’t harm them. So they might be more likely to freak out at the sound of passing cars, beeping, or when you’re blow-drying your hair before work.

So if you’ve adopted an adult or senior dog that seems to spook easily around loud noises, make sure to check with the adoption centre to figure out their triggers. (Like fireworks, hairdryers, or even vacuum cleaners.)

And if your buddy is still on the younger side, it’s essential you get them used to hanging out with other dogs, people, and in new environments once they’ve gotten all their shots and are old enough to do so.

• These experiences might be “scary” – but they do help your buddy grow more resilient and learn to socialize with time.
• Which also means, they learn how to behave around other dogs, people, and in new places.
• Everyone else also learns how to behave around your dog, especially if yours is anxiety-prone in the first place – and not too happy being approached by strangers. (Including strange dogs!)

Traumatic events

Unfortunately, some noise phobias stem from traumatic events in a dog’s life. Much like us humans, dogs can also suffer from PTSD – like if you’ve adopted a former military or K9 unit police dog.²

For example, if an irresponsible former owner left your dog outdoors during a thunderstorm, your newly-adopted dog might’ve learned to associate that booming sound with:

• Fear
• Loneliness
• And feeling “abandoned” by their humans

All of which can traumatize your dog with time and make them react fearfully to those sounds in the future.

Pain

Some experts suggest that if your dog seems to have developed noise aversion out of nowhere – it could be due to them dealing with pain. Including conditions like:

• Ear infections
• Joint problems, especially arthritis
• A gradual loss of their senses, especially their hearing

Senior dogs are especially at risk for these health conditions. So make sure to drop by your vet for a full checkup if you’re dealing with a dog spooking or startling more easily once you begin your Sunday vacuuming – especially if they weren’t bothered by it before.

Signs of noise aversion in dogs

The first step in preventing noise anxiety is to know how your dog reacts when they hear a scary sound. Watch for these behaviors in case you’ve got loud noises in your vicinity:

• Pacing
• Trembling
• Barking
• Whining
• Panting
• Hypervigilance
• Hiding
• Drooling
• Destructiveness
• Urinating or defecating in the house
• Running away or trying to escape

As painful as it is watching your buddy freak out, it does help to keep an ear out for what loud sounds could be triggering these behaviors. It could be something as simple as the furnace kicking on, construction work on your street, or a baby crying.

Once you make the association between your dog’s noise anxiety and the sound or sounds that trigger it, you can take steps to manage their fear, such as behavior modification or creating a safe space for your dog. (Which we cover a bit further below.)

⚠️ But even with all your planning and prep, you might still end up with a runaway dog at hand.

All dogs – no matter their age, breed, energy levels, or how well-trained they are – can fall prey to their own “flight” instinct, especially if there’s something spooking them in their environment.

So in times like these, just hit “LIVE” on your trusty Tractive device:

So you can start tracking your dog right away – with just a glance at your phone – and follow their every as they make their every step.

Because in a “runaway dog” situation – every second counts. Making all the difference between finding your buddy safe and sound…or potentially never seeing them again.

LIVE Track Your Dog

What noises are dogs scared of?

Loud, sudden noises or high-pitched sounds seem to be the worst culprits for noise anxiety in dogs. Here are a couple of common “loud” phenomena that might spook them:

• Thunderstorms, including the smell of rain, flashes of lightning, and changes in barometric pressure which may also signal the upcoming fearful noise to your dog.
• Gun shots
• Buses and trash trucks, which tend to make jarring beeping, clunking, and screeching sounds. Many of these vehicles also create high-pitched sounds that humans can’t hear, but which can spook dogs.
• Vacuum cleaners, which aren’t just loud – but also invade your dog’s space! Th whining motor is most likely what bothers them most.
• Crying babies and toddlers, where your buddy might also be picking up on your anxiety as you try and calm a fussy or colicky baby.

• Construction noises, which come from all types of heavy equipment and cause booming, grinding, drilling, and clunking sounds. Living next to a construction site can trigger anxiety in dogs, especially if you’re leaving them home for most of the day to handle these unpredictable sounds by themselves.
• Car alarms and sirens, especially from police cars or fire responders. When these go of all at all hours of the day or night, they can interrupt everyone’s sleep – including your dog’s.
• Flights taking off, especially the whining, high-pitched noise of a jet engine.
• Air conditioners or furnaces, which – the older they are – can be very loud and spook your buddy if they’re at home alone.

What are some calming noises for dogs?

Just like some sounds can produce anxiety in dogs, other sounds can help to calm them. 

• Classical music can ease anxiety in dogs if they’re in a sheltered environment.
• White noise, including the sound of rushing water, can also help mask “scary” sounds.
• Sound machines designed for dogs can also help muffle loud noises – including indoors (like if you have a new baby at home.)

How to treat noise anxiety in dogs

You can help your dog learn to handle loud noises, overcome their phobias, and create a positive association with a sound that frightens them.    

Create a safe place

Notice where your dog goes, or tries to go, when they are afraid. Do they hide under your bed, for example?

• If so, leave the bedroom door open so they can rush to this “safe space” whenever they need.
• Got an outdoor dog? Install a doggie door so they can come rushing back indoors and away from the noise.
• Just be mindful that if your dog paces and moves about when experiencing noise anxiety, a “confined” safe space may not be the best approach.

You can create a hidey-hole for your pooch to escape to when they are stressed.

• Make this spot small, dark, and in a quiet area of your home.
• Perhaps turn on a radio or white nose machine nearby to help mask the scary sounds. 
• To get your dog comfortable in the hidey-hole, feed them treats in that spot. They will begin to associate that location with a positive activity.
• Most importantly, the hidey hole (or other location) must be a place that your dog can enter and leave freely. Locking them into a specific location, such as their crate, will only increase their anxiety.

⚠️Worried your buddy will end up squeezing into some weird tight spot indoors? (Like the space between your bed and the wall – where you might not be able to spot them right away or even hear them crying out for help?)

Get tracking them indoors with your trusty Tractive device’s short-range Bluetooth-powered Radar mode – built to locate your buddy in spots where GPS might not help. (Like indoors!)

Here’s how:

Find Your Dog Indoors

Keep your dog busy

When your dog first shows signs of getting anxious, keep them busy to distract them from the noise.

• Get out one of their favorite toys, like a tug of war rope or a ball.
• Revisit your dog’s training, including basic commands like “Stay”. Keep some treats at hand and offer a ton of pets and praise!
• Try a YouTube video designed for dogs – including comforting sights and sounds from nature, for example. (Just be mindful if your buddy has a prey drive towards woodland animals – or doesn’t like the sight of other dogs or animals!)

If the thunder or other loud noise increases, you may have to work harder to keep your pup’s attention. Each time noise anxiety arises, see if you can engage your dog for longer periods of time. This can help reduce the duration of their anxiety.

Get your dog “used” to the sound

Modifying your dog’s behavior takes time and patience. They didn’t learn these reactions overnight – so you’ll have to be at this for a while before you see any changes. Be prepared to invest at least a few weeks (if not months!) in any behavior modification routine.

Here are some counter-conditioning tricks to help desensitize your buddy to the loud sounds:

• Find a way to recreate the loud noise that causes fear. (You may be able to find a recording or sound effect online – like on YouTube.)
• Play the sound at a low volume while you engage your dog with a fun activity, game, or offer a treat.
• Gradually increase the volume of the sound while continuing to engage your pup with the activity.
• After daily practice, your pooch may come to associate the previously-feared sound with something pleasant. 

With time, these steps can help your dog figure out that these sounds aren’t scary or life-threatening the way they might feel right now.

If these steps don’t work, don’t hesitate to leave some jobs to the pros – be it with a professional trainer or your vet, who can prescribe your dog anti-anxiety medication. 

Modify their environment

If you know a thunderstorm is approaching or fireworks are planned for a holiday, be prepared.

• Stay home with your dog if you can. If not, get a pet sitter or a friend or loved one to stay home with them for as long as you’re gone.
• Close all the windows and doors, and draw the curtains to muffle the loud noises from outdoors.
• Turn on the TV, a white noise machine, fan, or some music as background noise to block out the sound.
• Consider using a calming spray or pheromone plug-in to help reduce your buddy’s anxiety.

Read more: 5 Tips: How To Leave Your Dog Home Alone Without Feeling Guilty

Help your buddy overcome their noise anxiety like a pro

Noise anxiety in dogs can be difficult to handle – especially if your buddy is picking up on sounds and high-pitched frequencies you can’t! But with patience, love, consistency, and a few distractions, you can help your dog overcome their anxiety the next 4th of July, New Years, or if the garbage truck comes by.

The most common reasons your dog might have noise anxiety include:

• Learning it from Mama dog
• Not being socialized properly – meaning they haven’t learned how to behave around other dogs, people, and in new environments
• Traumatic events from the past
• And in specific cases, even pain – like from an ear infection or arthritis

When it’s not pain, the most common “loud” noises that spook dogs include:

• Fireworks
• Passing vehicles (including airplanes, as well as car alarms and sirens)
• Construction noises
• Household appliances, like hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, and even your AC unit
• Crying babies or toddlers

And here are some practical steps to help your dog manage their noise anxiety:

• Create them a safe “hiding spot” indoors they can escape to whenever there are loud noises.
• Keep your dog busy with some playtime or training to distract them from the noise.
• Get your dog used to the sound by playing it initially at a super low volume – while you keep them distracted. With time, this can help your buddy come to understand that the noise isn’t scary or life-threatening at all.
• Get in touch with your vet, who can best advise you whether to try anti-anxiety medication – or work with an animal behavior specialist.

But most importantly…

• Plan ahead for an emergency – i.e., a situation where your dog spooks and runs off anyway.

💡 Which, if you’ve invested in a Tractive device, has never been easier to do.

With just a glance at your phone and a push of the “LIVE” button – you’ll be tracking your dog in real-time and intercepting them in no time.

Always know where your dog is

Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.

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And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.