| Fireworks Fears and Noise Phobias |  |
Now that summer is over we are heading towards that time of year again, when the nights get dark earlier and the fireworks season is just around the corner. It might seem too soon to be thinking about this, but if you have a fearful dog, now is the time to prepare. Fear is a perfectly normal emotion, which helps dogs to deal with dangerous situations. It prepares dogs for taking action in circumstances that might endanger their lives. However fear becomes a real problem when harmless situations cause an excessive reaction.
Many dogs develop extreme reactions to loud sounds such as fireworks, thunder, or gunfire. The normal way for a dog to react to a fearful situation is to run or hide from it (avoidance) or to show aggression (attack). They use their flight or fight instincts. In the instances of noise, it is impossible for the domestic dog to avoid this, so they need to develop other ways of coping.
Dogs tend to go to ground in these situations. This is why your dog will try to hide in a corner, behind the settee, or start to dig frantically at his bedding. I even recently saw a picture of a Bull Terrier who had managed to open the freezer door, then pull out one of the drawers and wedge himself inside the freezer. This poor dog had been left alone during an unexpected fireworks party and had gone into complete panic.
I have worked with many noise phobic dogs, and have found two methods to be most effective for dealing with this distressing problem. These are, called systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning. However I also find that these work more effectively if supported by anti anxiety remedies, particularly in the early stages. Let me explain what I mean by these behavioural terms.
Systematic Desensitisation gradually allows the dog to become less fearful and more relaxed about the sounds, and counter-conditioning undoes the effects of bad experiences and gives a more confident feeling around those sounds. Anti-anxiety remedies are any products that will help a relaxed state before starting the behaviour correction programme.
Desensitisation
This is carried out by using a special therapy CD of fireworks sounds. There is a right way and a wrong way of working with this programme. First of all, lets look at how you can make this programme successful.
- Desensitization takes time. If you are not prepared to be patient, it will never work. This is not a quick fix, so don't think you can sort this problem out in a day or two. Every dog is different and each one will take it's own time to get used to the sounds. The more fearful or phobic the dog is, the longer it is likely to take
- Get the best CD that you can. It needs to be of good quality and be specially designed to replicate the noises in a steady stream. Continuous noise works far more effectively than a CD with gaps in the noises. Such as those taken at a real fireworks session. After lots of research, one of the best CDs I have come across is "Sounds Scary". This CD is more expensive than some, but it does contain two CDs. One with the noises of fireworks and gunshots, and the other with the noise of rain hail and thunderstorms
- If your dog is very fearful of fireworks, you will often find that he is also frightened of thunderstorms, and other noises that sound similar to the bangs of fireworks. So it is useful to desensitize him to these other sounds as well. "Sounds Scary" comes with a 30 page booklet with information on fears and phobias as well as very detailed instructions to systematically desensitize your dog. This is the very essence of the programme. The instructions must be followed to the letter for the programme to work properly. I particularly like the assessment chart so that you can judge the level of fear or phobia that your dog is experiencing. This then gives you some indication on how long it will take your dog to progress through the programme
- Your sound system speakers should be placed near windows or doors, as this is the direction that the real sounds come from. On a dry day, you could even place the speakers or a portable sound system outside to make it more realistic. (Make sure you don't annoy the neighbours!) It is also important to change the times that you play the CD so that your dog does not associate a particular time with the noise. For best effect, the CD should be played for around 10 minutes for 3-4 times a day.
- You need to start the CD at a volume that does not produce any fear response at all. Your dog needs to be calm and relaxed to begin with. You should set the volume at the lowest level and very slowly increase this just until you see your dog's ears start to twitch. This is then the level you start the programme at. Only once your dog is completely relaxed at this level of sound, can you then increase it very slightly. You can repeat this process gradually building the level of sound over the next few weeks. If at any time your dog starts to seem anxious, you must go back to the previous level and work with this for a few more days
- When your dog no longer reacts to the sound when played at a moderate level, you have completed the first part of the programme
I have come across some people who say that this method has not worked with their dog. However further investigation has revealed that most of these people had made some basic mistakes. These were:
- Rushing through the programme too quickly because they started too late in the season. (The programme needs to be started at least one full month before the fireworks season. It also needs to be kept up throughout the year to keep the dog used to the sound)
- Not carrying out the programme strictly in accordance with the instructions
- Desensitising their dog, but had not then going on to counter-condition. (The two parts need to be completed to teach your dog a different way of coping during this fearful situation)
- Had only played the CD in their living room. (How often are fireworks let off in your living room)?
- Playing the CD too loudly too quickly. (Because they couldn't hear it they thought the dog couldn't hear it)
- Playing the CD on poor quality equipment, including using it on a computer.
- Playing the CD at the same time every day. (Needs to be done at different times so that the dog doesn't associate a particular time with this sound being OK.)
If you avoid these mistakes you will be much more likely to succeed.
Now you have completed the first part of the programme you are ready to start counter-conditioning.
Counter-conditioning
This stage is equally important as the desensitisation. This is where you are going to change your dog's emotions, so that he associates loud sounds with a pleasant experience.
- This time, set your CD ready to play, again at a very low sound, but do not switch it on until you have some food, or a toy to play a game. Wait until your dog is calm and relaxed before starting
- Set the CD to play, and as soon as you hear the sound, give your dog the food, or start the game. As soon as your dog stops eating, or you stop the game, you must turn the sound off
- Repeat this exercise many times over, until your dog starts to look excited when he hears the sounds
- You can then gradually increase the level of the sounds and the repeat the same process at each level
It is extremely important that you turn the sound off when there is no food or game occurring. If you do this, you should eventually get to a point where your dog associates the sound with playing and feeding and responds with pleasure. I'm sure most of you have seen this reaction to different noises in your house. For example, my dogs know that the sound of the utility room door opening means food is coming. They are there like a shot, with waggy tails and bright eyes. I'm sure you all have something similar - your dog associates this sound with something pleasurable. This is the same feeling we are trying to achieve with the association of loud sounds.
The "Sounds Scary" CD also has a stage 2 counter-conditioning section to really cement this feeling in your dog.
Personally, I think it is worth the time spent doing this to have a really happy dog.
Anti Anxiety Remedies
DAP
If your dog has reached the stage where his fear has become extreme, or he is phobic about loud sounds, the anxiety levels he is experiencing can prevent him from learning effectively. This can make behaviour correction very difficult. The use of pheromone treatment can help in this situation. The Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) has been found to help relax and reduce anxiety levels in dogs that experience sound phobias.
Now for the science part! The pheromones produced mimic the pheromones that the dog's mother produced when she had her puppies. The dog's specially developed nasal organs carry this message to the area of the brain (hypothalamus) that detects pheromones and controls social behaviours. The brain stores this pheromone memory and decodes it as a safe environment, thus helping the relaxation process.
The DAP comes as a diffuser which should be plugged in to the room where you are doing your training and as close as possible to where your dog rests. It is completely safe and will not interact with any medication that your dog might be on.
Drugs
Occasionally it can be useful to use drug therapy to initially control the fear or at least reduce anxiety levels. In extreme cases this might be needed long term, but in most cases short-term support is enough for the dog to respond positively
If you are considering drug therapy it is important that the medication does not lead to sedation, so that your dog can still function and be able to hide or escape if he feels the need to. Until recently, Acepromazine (ACP) (a pre-med sedative) was commonly used as a tranquilliser. As a pre-med before surgery it is an effective drug, but thankfully most vets now avoid use of this drug for the treatment of fears, phobias or aggression. Any drug that sedates your dog in a way that makes him so drowsy he can't walk must be avoided, as this can cause an increase of the fear. Think about how you would feel if you were put in a situation where you were so drugged that you could not escape from something that you thought was going to do you serious harm. With these drugs, the dog may seem relaxed, but in fact, though not in control of his faculties, he is still very mentally aware of what is going on around him!
For those of you who would rather avoid drugs, there are some natural remedies that can help.
Herbal Remedies
- Scullcap and Valerian tablets are a traditional herbal remedy for relief of anxiety, nervousness and even excitability. They are also used for dogs that suffer from travel sickness. They help promote calm, and relax dogs (and cats) suffering from apprehension or phobias.
- Valerian Compound is a liquid concentrate that acts quickly for short term "over the top" or fearful behaviour.
Flower Essences
- Dr Petals "Fears" is an organic mix of traditional Dr Bach flower essences. "Fears" helps animals cope emotionally with traumatic events. Flower remedies are reported to be the safest form of natural remedy you can take.
- Dr Bach "Rock Rose" can be used on animals that experience complete terror and panic
- "Cherry Plum" is for animals that have uncontrollable behaviours, extreme fear and recurring phobias.
- "Aspen" is for apprehensive animals that have a fear of unknown things, to help restore courage.
Homeopathy
- "Aconite" can be given to dogs that have been badly frightened. It can help dogs that are afraid of thunder.
- "Borax" is for dogs that are frightened of sudden noises. It can be useful for gun-shy dogs
- "Gelsemium" is for fear and anxiety. It is useful for dogs that panic at loud sounds, trembling and shaking. Also useful for dogs frightened by traveling in the car.
Don't wait until it is too late - Start now to help your companion get the best out of life
If you are still having difficulties, you may need expert help from a behaviourist, who can provide you with more detailed advice and guidance.
Please ring us if you have any questions, or see our website www.k9centre.co.uk
Carol Martin (Behaviour Therapist and Active Associate of Animal Care College)
Edmiston House
Nethermill
DUMFRIES
DG1 3NG
Tel: 01387 860322
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