American Bulldog – Handling Noise Phobia for Your American Bulldog
The Basics of Noise Phobias and Its Effects on Your Dog
Some animals develop a certain fear of noises as they grow older. Fear of noises, and even of thunderstorms, is a very common problem among dogs, that it is now termed as noise phobia or thunderstorm phobia. Thunderstorms are more common occurrences of loud, disturbing noises, so it is closely associated with a dog's noise phobia. However, dogs with noise phobias can be scared of any kind of sound, such as the sound of rain, and any other unfamiliar sounds. To detect early noise phobia signs, you have to be very observant of your dog's behavior or responses to certain sounds. Anxiety can be manifested in hiding, panting, pacing, running, jumping, irregular eating habits and bowel activity, excessive barking, to name a few. If you detect any anxiety, try to evaluate if it is a noise phobia or a minor anxiety. Either way, you need to do something about it.
The Causes of Noise Phobias
Noise phobias can often begin as natural fear of noises or fear of storms. However, if the fear or anxiety is not relieved, your dog can develop a noise phobia. The word "phobia" was adopted because phobias relate to fear or anxiety that is unfounded or not directly caused by anything. The causes of noise phobias can vary from one dog to another. When your dog experiences something bad, it can associate the experience to a noise that it heard. It can also experience times when a sudden noise frightens or scares it. As dogs have excellent memory and are very sensitive creatures, they can easily retain feelings of anxiety that is connected to the noise. Also, dogs can develop fear of even noises that are just similar to a noise that they previously got scared of. A noise phobia is considered full-blown if the dog becomes scared of any strange noise that it does not hear on a regular and normal basis. Some animal experts say that phobia from noise in dogs may also be closely related to separation anxiety, which pertains to a dog's anxiousness when left alone or separated from its owner.
Handling Noise Phobias
The best remedy for noise phobia is not to soothe and comfort the dog. Although this may be your initial instinct, as a dog owner, this can further intensify the dog's fear of noise. When you comfort your dog, it will accept that it is alright to be scared, that there is a reason to be scared, and that the noise anxiety can go away with a few comforting strokes from its owner. The best way to handle a noise phobia is not to react to the fear or anxiety, because any reaction can just heighten the dog's fear. Try to control your responses to your dog's anxiety. If the noise phobia is becoming a serious problem, you should consult a veterinarian. Some veterinarians can give medications that can be taken during seasons when the dog fears noises most, such as during stormy seasons. Some alternative remedies include therapy and behavioral conditioning. The process of behavioral conditioning is similar to a training process. You need to change the dog's response to the noise from negative to positive. Milder noise phobias can also be remedied by directing the dog's full attention to something else during noisy times, or by taking the dog to a place where the sound is less pronounced. It is also very important that you, as the owner, is not anxious or scared of sounds as well because your dog can sense that as well.
American Bulldog Handling Noise Phobia for Your American Bulldog
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