Noise Phobia in Dogs: Planning Ahead for the Most Stressful Night of the Year
Updated: 10 hours ago
New Year’s Eve is only six weeks away. For many dog owners, it’s less a night to celebrate and more one to dread, because so many dogs live with noise phobia.
In this guest post, German behavioral veterinarian Celina Del Amo walks you through what you can already do now to prepare: plenty of prevention tips for dogs who haven’t shown any fear of noises yet, plus why an early vet visit really pays off for dogs who already struggle with noise phobia.
Thank you so much, Celina, for sharing your expertise on such an important topic with us and our community!
If your dog trembles, hides, or just can’t settle when there are loud noises, you’re not alone. Noise phobia is hard on dogs and on the people who love them, and unfortunately, it’s very common.
A large University of Helsinki study of nearly 14,000 dogs found that about one in three dogs is afraid of at least one noise. Fireworks top the list, affecting roughly one in four dogs. Another study, by behavioral biologist Stefanie Riemer at the University of Bern, found that about half of all dogs are at least somewhat afraid of fireworks. Most dogs develop this fear during their first year. If it shows up for the first time in an older dog, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at their health.
The good news is that there’s a lot you can do. Research shows that training ahead of time can sometimes prevent noise phobia altogether, and can noticeably ease fears that already exist. One simple approach: follow every bang with something your dog loves, like a treat or a quick game. What rarely works is waiting for the fear to go away on its own.
It’s early November, and the new year is getting closer. For many dogs, that means another stressful stretch is on its way, and not just on New Year’s Eve itself, since fireworks often start days ahead and carry on afterward. So now is the perfect time to sit down and make a plan, so you can help your dog through it as well as possible.
To figure out the right game plan for your dog, start by asking which of these two groups they fall into:
a) Your dog has reacted to at least one noise in the past with uncertainty, fear, or even panic. → Your dog belongs to the noise phobia group.
b) Your dog has never seemed unsettled or scared by noises. → Your dog belongs to the prevention group.
Tips for the Prevention Group
If your dog is in the prevention group, that’s wonderful, and a great place to start! It’s still worth taking a few steps now, though. The goal is to keep things that way, or more precisely, to strengthen your dog’s confidence so it stays solid for the long term.
Here’s what can help:
Don’t leave your dog home alone: Try not to leave your dog alone on New Year’s Eve, or on other days when lots of fireworks are likely. This matters most for puppies, seniors, dogs who are unwell, and dogs who haven’t been with you or in their current home for long.
Skip the fireworks show: Tempting as it is, it’s best not to take your dog outside to watch the fireworks. They don’t get anything out of it, and it puts them at unnecessary risk.
Keep young dogs apart: When things get stressful, young dogs should ideally stay away from dogs who have noise phobia.
Stay safe on walks: Put safety first on your walks. Plan them for times and places where fireworks are unlikely. Depending on how sensitive your dog is, how they’re doing that day, and how solid their training is, letting them off leash on these days can be a real safety risk.
Be there for them: If your dog comes to you for comfort, go ahead and offer it. Just don’t crowd them. A friendly, calm presence is the best way to offer closeness and, when needed, a sense of protection.
A safe hideout: Make sure your dog always has access to a favorite safe spot where no one will bother them.
Fun distractions: If it feels natural and relaxed, you can turn your dog’s attention to things they enjoy and that really hold their focus. The DOGLi app has lots of great ideas. Other games and exercises you already do together work well too. Just keep it low-pressure, so your dog has fun and gets to enjoy some small wins.
Licking and chewing to unwind: On stressful days (or as an evening ritual), give your dog something they can lick or chew on for a good long while, like a stuffed, frozen Kong or a lick mat. Many dogs find licking and chewing calming. Working on a Kong gives your dog a way to let off some of that excitement on their own.
Go easy on training: Save new skills or especially tricky challenges for calmer days. When things are more hectic or stressful, they can wait.
No punishment: It goes without saying that punishment is never an option. Avoid any form of punishment, especially anything that involves noise.
Tips for Dogs with Noise Phobia
If your dog already has noise phobia, you know how hard these days can be for both of you. The most helpful thing you can do is get a thorough, up-to-date checkup from your vet. Noise phobia isn’t a mental illness; it’s a sign that your dog is dealing with a lot of stress overall.
Physical discomfort plays a big part in how noise phobia develops, and it keeps acting as a trigger over time. In our veterinary behavior practice, these are the health problems we find most often in dogs with noise phobia:
Pain, whether internal or orthopedic
Digestive problems
Parasites
Hormonal imbalances
That said, any illness, no matter how mild or severe, adds to a dog’s stress load. That can make noise phobia more likely to develop, or make existing fears worse.
Treatment has two main goals:
In the short term, the aim is to keep things from getting worse. The focus here is on easing your dog’s fear, with anti-anxiety medication if needed.
In the long term, the goal is to reduce the fear itself. Medication can help here too in some cases. Other common approaches include changes to your dog’s daily routine and environment (management) and targeted behavior modification exercises. A treatment plan tailored to your individual dog gives you the best chance of success, because every dog has their own history with noise phobia, and that history points the way for treatment.
For dogs who already have noise phobia, planning ahead is key. That means good safety measures for situations that could get tricky, and getting in touch with your vet early. The sooner you reach out, the more treatment options you’ll have compared with a last-minute appointment. You don’t have to handle this on your own.
Sources
Salonen, M. et al. (2020): Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs. Scientific Reports 10, 2962.
Riemer, S. (2019): Not a one-way road – Severity, progression and prevention of firework fears in dogs. PLOS ONE 14(9).
Riemer, S. (2020): Effectiveness of treatments for firework fears in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 37.
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