Loud Noises
So I guess we need to work on loud noises as well. I am surprised ecause with 2 kids my house is noisey. I do know that car backfires or other stange loud sounds - she does not like it. But if the kids bang in the house she is okay. I am stumped on how to work with her because it seems specific loud noises. If I can put my finger on it I would say it is unexpected loud noises. Any suggestions on working on these types of sounds. Thanks |
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| I remember Vicki saying she bought a CD with 'noises' on to help George get used to firework noise as he was very nervous as a pup. Maybe you could search for something like that?? |
| reactive dogs can be helped using desensitivity techniques like the tapes, but they also need to build confidence. i would consult a professional. |
kerry wrote: reactive dogs can be helped using desensitivity techniques like the tapes, but they also need to build confidence. i would consult a professional.
Fortunately she has one right in her own back yard more or less - Patricia McConnell http://www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com/index.php I don't know that this necessarily warrants professional help except if you don't know how to address it, in which case, yes, it's well worth getting help. You see a fair amount of noise sensitivity in certain herding breeds - border collies are almost notorious. We supposedly have a bit of in some OES as well. It's not the same as thunder phobia and she may not be noise sensitive either, especially as she tolerates it just fine if she's accostomed to it and it's not a surprise. So rather, I'd be inclined towards what Kerry suggests, that she needs to build more confidence and she's just reacting to the sudden upswing in commotion. Teaching her confidence means teaching her that she can handle it and nothing bad happens. As long as you remain confident, back off on the difficulty level of what you're asking her to do to and don't reward fearfulness (but rather ask her to do simple things so you can reward any ability to function normally under stress - even responding to her name or your "watch me" cue for a brief second may be rewardable if that's all she can handle, and you may need to move her farther from the action at first, but not remove her) it may be something that resolves itself in a relatively short period of time. I'd tell the instructor about your concerns and ask for suggestions on how to handle it - s/he may be able to help you resolve it without having to resort to the big guns (Patricia  )
I welcome opportunities like this because it shows me what we need to work on and gives me a chance to do so, so don't get all tense and want to immediately leave if something similar happens again. Instead, since it's unlikely Miley is the only dog who is bothered on some level, your instructor may take the opportunity to do some lower level distraction proofing for your group. What you're teaching her is that, yes, unanticipated commotion/noises are a part of life, and, guess what, she can handle it. Whatever you do, don't get it fixed in your mind that this is some huge, insurmountable issue because then you risk making more of it than it necessarily is. Because while you're thinking "Oh, no, I don't want her to be this way and I'm not sure I know how to deal with it!", she's reading you and thinking: "Oh my god! Mom is tense too! This must be TERRIBLE!! We could become stroller chow any second now!!" 
Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote: We could become stroller chow any second now!!"
Kristine Your advice was perfect - and you made me laugh! |
| Good advice and funny too. |
| Some dogs reaction to loud noises more than others. A lot of this has to do with experiences when they are young. If a puppy is exposed to many, many different locaitons with different noises and smells, and people they are much less inclined to react to unfamilair ones.
We have had Bosley since we got him from the SPCA at 9 weeks old. With loud, teen kids in the house he is very used to comotion. When we got Dixie at a year old from an seizure she had been living out in the country like a wild dog...wtih no "normal" house expereinces. For the longest time she reacted to our big screen TV when we changed the channell...Just the flashing lights would set her off....and openign the refrigerator made a sound that would send her terrified down the hallway. It was very important for her to be "allowed" to run and get away from the scary thigns, so we just ignored her behavior...BUT...when she started to realize that often popcorn seemed to near the TV, and the fridge producced cheese they were not so scary afterall. This is called counter-conditioning"...Making the scary thing mean something pleasant. So in your case just popping a tiny treat into your dog's mouth at any loud noise might help...But this has to be done "before" she has had time to react. When in class you would do as the teacher suggests, but when outsdie the class this is what I would do. And as already suggested, good focus excercises to distract her from her fears. |
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