My Pet World: Managing a noise-sensitive dog requires the right combination of things that create calm

Dear Cathy,

I have a beautiful three-year-old white Havanese named Penny. This past July 4th, she became spooked by fireworks and has been an extremely frightened dog ever since. At the slightest noise, she scurries under the bed and remains there for several hours. It can be as simple as my son dropping the soap in the shower or a loud noise from the TV.

I am uncertain how to approach this behavior. We all love Penny, dearly, however, this is no life for her, and we want our precious dog back. How can I treat her and return her behavior to six months ago?

— Fran, Oyster Bay, New York

Dear Fran,

Penny is exhibiting behaviors consistent with being a noise-sensitive dog. Some dogs are noise-sensitive from birth; others have traumatic experiences that set the stage for this anxiety and behavior change. There are many things that can frighten dogs, but fireworks are probably the number one thing causing them stress.

There are things you can do to help Penny overcome this behavior. These suggestions are not foolproof and can take time to accomplish. It also may take a combination of things and not just one thing to work. So don’t just try one of the following suggestions on its own. Combine things until you find the right combination that reduces her fear and anxiety.

I recommend getting her a pheromone collar to reduce some of her anxiety and jumpiness when it comes to general noises around the house. Start her on over-the-counter calming chews available online or at a pet store. Get her an Anxiety Wrap® or Thundershirt® to wear as much as possible as the snugness of these products may make her feel safer and less likely to startle.

After laying this groundwork to create a more calming environment, spend time counter-conditioning her by exposing her to a low-level noise that you know she won’t react to and rewarding her for remaining calming. Continue increasing the volume of the sound, slowly, over time, and rewarding her for each baby step she takes towards remaining calm when she hears certain noises. This will take time, so be patient with her as you teach her there is nothing to be afraid of.

Dear Cathy,

My four- year-old dog Kodi, an English lab, was rehomed at one year by a couple who bought him from a show dog breeder. He is a great dog except for stopping and laying down for any person he sees or hears during our walks. He seems to think they are coming to see him.

If someone is walking behind us, he lays down in the road to wait for them. I try to pull his 85-pound body up, but no luck. He just slides on the pavement. I know he loves and befriends everyone, but this is embarrassing and time consuming. Do you have any thoughts?

— Donna, Roanoke, Virgina

Dear Donna,

It can be challenging to untrain him to “sit” or lay “down” when someone approaches, but you can add another step to his training. Train him to “follow” you immediately after this behavior. To do this, ask him to “sit” or lay “down.” When he does, say his reward word or use a clicker to mark the behavior, and give him a treat.

Then take the treat and put it near his nose and slowly draw it away from him while you ask him to “follow” you as you turn and walk away. Start the training in the house, then in your yard, and then during your walks. Once he learns that “follow” means following you, you should be able to tell him to “follow” when he begins to sit or lay down, and he should follow you instead of staying put.

Dear Cathy,

I just read your article in Newsday and wanted to let you know that there are many collars available now that have integrated AirTag®pockets, so the tag doesn’t dangle and cannot be removed without disassembling the collar. My dog is chipped, too.

— Scott, Dix Hills, New York

Dear Scott,

Yes, there are Airtag® holders that slip through the collar and keep flush against the neck. I think AirTags are a great way to keep track of lost objects, and several readers swear by them for tracking their pets.

But Apple’s website says not to use AirTags on pets. They say batteries can leak if chewed or swallowed. But if one wants to use an AirTag on their pet, then yes, the products you mention are needed to keep it from dangling or falling off the dog’s collar.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)