Preventing Noise Fears in Dogs: Why Early, Positive Exposure Matters

Many dog guardians know the sinking feeling when fireworks go off and their dog starts trembling, hiding, or panting. Noise fears are one of the most common behaviour challenges in dogs, and once they appear they can be tough to undo.

Guess what though? There is good news!

A recent research manuscript by Dr. Stefanie Riemer entitled, Therapy and Prevention of Noise Fears in Dogs—A Review of the Current Evidence for Practitioners revealed that a little bit of pro-active positive early learning experiences can make a world of difference later on.

"Preventative training appears to be highly effective in preventing the development of noise fears in puppies and adult dogs."

Why Noise Sensitivity Matters

Fear of noises like fireworks, thunder, or even kitchen appliances isn’t “just a quirk.” These dogs are experiencing a genuine stress response that can affect their quality of life in different ways including sometimes leading to escape attempts to increase distance from the source of the noise, destructive behaviour potentially harming themselves in the process, or wider anxiety related symptoms. These reactions aren’t a sign of "stubbornness" or poor obedience. They’re an emotional response that deserves the same care and support we’d give to any other fear those we care about might have.

What the Science Says

Dr. Riemer’s 2023 review looked at dozens of studies on how dogs respond to sound. It found that dogs who received gentle, reward-based exposure to common noises before any fear developed were far less likely to show strong fear reactions later.

For puppies who did this kind of preventive training during their sensitive period for socialization, fear scores around fireworks were dramatically lower than in dogs who hadn’t been exposed this way or at all. Even adult dogs benefited if training started before serious fear responses appeared.

That’s an encouraging reminder: it’s never too early, or too late, to start helping your dog feel safe around sounds.

How to Help Your Dog Build Confidence with Noise

You don’t need fancy equipment or endless hours to make a difference. Try weaving these simple habits into your regular training and play routines:

1. Pair noises with good things.

   Play short clips of fireworks, thunder, or garbage trucks at a low volume while offering treats or playing a favourite game. The idea is to help your dog associate those sounds with something that you know makes them feel good like food, toys, affection, etc.

   
   

2. Keep it comfortable.

   If your dog shows any hesitation (e.g., freezing, ears pinned back, raises one front paw, leaving the room, jumping and mouthing in a frantic manner, attempting to hide behind furniture or you), turn the volume down or pause it completely. The goal is curiosity, relaxation, and creating a pleasant experience, not bravery.

   
   

3. Integrate sounds into everyday life.

   Let normal household noises like closing doors, pots clanging, dropping/kicking off shoes, and hair-dryers blowing happen while happily giving your dog something they enjoy. Over time, these noises can become part of their “normal day-to-day soundtrack.”

   
   

4. Create a recovery space.

   Even for prevention, it helps to have a familiar “safe spot” (a crate, covered bed, or quiet room) and teach them to relax there. This gives your dog somewhere to retreat if something unexpected happens. Allowing our dogs to hide and observe until they feel it's safe to emerge is helpful, don't force them to come out before they are ready.

   
   

5. Keep exposures short and sweet.

   A few minutes of “sound and treat” practice a few times per week is plenty. It’s all about building positive associations, not flooding your dog with noise.

If Your Dog Already Shows Fear

If your dog already reacts strongly to sounds, don’t worry, you haven’t "failed". It just means we shift from pro-active prevention training to behaviour support training. Techniques like desensitization and counter-conditioning (paired with medication support prescribed by a veterinarian if needed) can still make a huge difference. The key is to start where your dog feels safe and work gradually.

Why Early Training Matters

Prevention often gets overlooked because the problem isn’t visible, until it suddenly is. But proactive training helps dogs stay resilient, confident, and adaptable. It’s one of the most loving investments you can make in your dog’s psychological health and overall well-being. When we teach dogs that the world’s noises predict good things which stimulate happy feelings, we’re not just training behaviour, we’re building trust.

Puppies go through a sensitive period for socialization between roughly 3 and 16 weeks of age. It's a window of developmental time where new experiences leave lasting emotional impressions. Gentle, pleasant exposure (from your puppy's perspective) to sounds during this time can lay the foundation for a lifetime of confidence.

That’s why our puppy socialization group training program includes guided noise-exposure exercises, we show you how to do this well and what to watch for to know if you're doing it right. You’ll learn how to make these early experiences count, setting your puppy up to grow into a relaxed, resilient adult dog.

Want Help Getting Started?

If you’d like guidance on how to introduce noise-positive training in a way that fits your dog’s comfort level, we offer private training programs where we can build this into your everyday routine. Learn more, including how to register for an initial consultation by clicking here.

Have a new puppy in your life, or expecting one soon? Learn more including how to register for our Puppy Social program by clicking here.

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