How do I stop my dog from being scared of loud noises?

Hey folks! This is Frank from Sit Happens Dog Training.

Welcome to another Q&A session where I answer questions from y'all on the internet.

Today's question is:

"How do I stop my dog from being scared of loud noises?"

 Answer

Okay, that's a good one. Again, this comes back to what I just said. It depends on how your dogs wire. Okay.

Um, some dogs are more sensitive to loud noises. You have to be your own dog's advocate and understand your own dog's behaviors and personality. I'll give you an example. One of my dogs does not like Fourth of July, does not like fireworks. Uh he doesn't freak out. He's not running around barking or yelping, but you can see with his demeanor that he's very just like, you know, hunched over. He's looking for an area in my house to just be able to be feel safe. 

So, typically with that particular dog, out of my three dogs, I may give them something such as um uh CBD treats, uh a natural way to help the dog be more calm in those environments. So, that's the first thing you got to know your dog, okay? Not all dogs are going to be able to handle loud noises. Now, there are some techniques that we can discuss. Again, it comes down to the big biggest word is socialization. So, taking your dog into those environments where, you know, they're introducing the dog to new noises, new sounds.

 You know, some, you know, young puppies, they get distracted by big trucks, construction trucks, trains, you know, that kind of stuff. That stuff you can actually socialize your dog to. And again, I can't say this enough. I think I've said it in past question sessions. The correct way to help your dog get more comfortable is not to reward them. Do not say, "Oh, it's okay. This is fine. You'll be okay if they're barking and freaking out." Because all you're doing is telling that dog in their brains, "It's okay for me to keep doing what I'm doing." The best way to correct it is being the pack leader and saying, "Ah, you're okay. Uh-uh. Just listen to me. You're okay. Uh-uh. Just sit here. just lay down. That's the best way to help socialize your dog and helping your dog understand you're the pack leader and you're going to keep that dog safe.

Summary

Regarding how to stop a puppy from being scared of loud noises, Frank Silva emphasized that it depends on the dog's wiring, as some are more sensitive, and owners must understand their dog's personality. They shared an example of giving one of their dogs CBD treats to help them remain calm during events like the Fourth of July. The speaker stressed that socialization is crucial, which includes introducing the dog to new noises and sounds like trucks or trains (00:03:27). Frank Silva also noted that owners should not reward fear behaviors by comforting the dog, but instead act as the pack leader by reassuring the dog and directing them to sit or lay down, reinforcing that the owner will keep them safe (00:04:35).