How to Help a Dog Overcome a Fear of Loud Noises (reprinted from wikihow requested by Bleu)

Transcription

1 HPPR_March_2014_Newsletter.doc HPPR Newsletter, July 2017 Volume 5, Issue 7 Overcome Fear of Loud Noises... 1 Body Language of Fear... 3 PAWty Treats... 4 Catnip Treats... 4 Find Us On Facebook... 4 Terri Lynn Cares... 5 Yankee Candle... 5 Chewy s... 5 Amazon... 5 Moon Doggie Coffee & Tea... 5 PAWSident s PAWdcast... 6 Happy Tails!... 8 Captured by the PAWparazzi... 9 Dear Tabby Join Our Mailing List Our Wishlist Wooftrax Cans for Canines and Cats Adoption Specials Mark Your Calendars! How to Help a Dog Overcome a Fear of Loud Noises (reprinted from wikihow requested by Bleu) According to a survey by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), around 49% of dogs show a fear of loud noises, including fireworks, sirens, or thunderstorms. Unfortunately, many owners accidentally reinforce their dog's anxiety by petting or fussing over the dog when it is anxious. This action tells the dog that they are doing the right thing to act afraid and the petting reinforces the fearful behavior. In the short term there are strategies that can help decrease the dog's' fear, and in the long term you can attempt to desensitize the dog to loud noises so that it is no longer so fearful. Method 1 Using Short-Term Strategies Minimize the stimulation. Insulate your dog from the bright lights and loud noises of storms and fireworks. Bring the dog indoors, and close all windows and doors. Draw the curtains so the dog can't see the flashes. If appropriate put the TV on with the volume low, to act as a distraction. Remember to act normally and go about your normal business so as to send out the message that everything is OK and you aren't worried. Give the dog a safe place to hide. A fearful dog instinctively wants to hide. If the dog chooses to go to ground and hide under a bed or behind a sofa then let it. You may wish to provide additional security by laying a blanket over the edge of the bed to provide additional sound insulation. If the dog is crate trained, it may wish to go to its crate. Cover most of the crate with a thick blanket so that it is even more cave-like and secure than normal. Place something with your scent on it inside the crate to add to the dog's feelings of security. If your dog is not crate trained then consider doing so as part of your strategy for helping him overcome this fear. Use pheromones. When a lot of thunder or fireworks are anticipated, plug-in a DAP diffuser beforehand. These devices give off a synthetic dog pheromone that makes dogs feel safe and secure. The diffusers help to give an anxious dog heightened feelings of security, and can diffuse some of its anxiety. Put a Thundershirt on the dog. These work by fitting the dog snugly and pressing against its body. This is akin to swaddling a young baby, which gives a sense of security and safety. For some dogs it takes the edge off of the anxiety and helps to bolster their confidence. (Cont d on page 2) 1

2 Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 How to Help a Dog Overcome a Fear of Loud Noises (Cont d from Page 1) Consider using medications. Some dogs are so fearful they try to escape, harm themselves, or lose control of their bladder or bowels. If your dog has this type of extreme anxiety then get it checked by your vet. If there is no medical explanation for the dog's extreme fear, then the vet may be able to prescribe medications to calm the dog during the event. There is no one drug that is perfect, but one useful combination is diazepam and propranolol. Diazepam is a tranquilizer, which lessens the feelings of anxiety, while propranolol is a beta blocker, which prevents the heart from racing. This combination helps to keep the animal relaxed during a scary event. Acepromazine (ACP) sedates the dog but it still experiences the fear. So externally the dog seems improved, but it is still fearful. This is why this drug has fallen out of favor. Method 2 Training a Dog to Overcome Fear of Loud Noises Act normally. It is important that the owner ignores any fearful behavior the dog is displaying. While it is perfectly natural to want to reassure an animal in distress, in reality it trains the dog to give in to the distressed behavior. Retraining is doomed from the start unless you understand this. By acting unconcerned you send out a strong message that you are not worried and therefore the dog has nothing to be fearful of. Never force a dog to face its fears head on. In other words, don't take a fearful dog to a fireworks show and expect it to adjust. This is a technique called sensory flooding and it is inhumane. The dog is bombarded by what it fears and instead of overcoming that fear, the dog may become traumatized and emotionally damaged instead. Expose the dog to a very low level of the feared sound. Train the dog to remain calm during the sound by rewarding calm behavior with a treat or affection. This is different than sensory flooding because you are using very low levels of sound and working gradually. To do this, purchase a CD of the sound the dog fears, for example fireworks or thunderstorms. The idea is to play the CD on the lowest possible volume so that the dog remains calm. Praise the dog and reward it for being calm in the presence of the sounds. If possible, leave the CD playing quietly in the background for an hour at a time but don't leave the dog alone while it is playing. Gradually increase the volume of the feared sound. Once the dog is regularly taking no notice of the quiet background sounds, turn the volume up a tiny amount. This should be slightly louder than previously, but not enough to make the dog shows signs of anxiety, such as lip licking, pacing, whining, shivering, or shaking. Again, reward the dog with love or treats for being in the presence of the alarming noise, but not being fearful of it. Repeat this exposure until you are sure the dog is not reacting at all, and then you are ready to turn the volume up one more notch. Expose the dog to the CD sounds on a daily basis. If at any stage the dog becomes fearful, restart the next session with the volume one notch lower. Don't forget to act very relaxed yourself while doing this training. The dog needs to see that you are unconcerned. It may take a large amount of time, but with determination and dedication, it is possible to help your dog overcome its fear of fireworks, sirens, or thunder. (Cont d on page 3) 2

3 Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 How to Help a Dog Overcome a Fear of Loud Noises (Cont d from Page 2) There are a number of online sites where you can download/play sounds that may frighten your pets to help in the desensitization process. Here are a few of them:

4 Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 PAWty Treats Petcipes for the Discriminating Pet s Snack Attack By Marley the Magnificent and Mom So I am reporting on the great catnip treat bakeoff! My mom made them today and us cats got to help (specifically, we got to lick the tuna juice which is otherwise WASTED by pouring it down the drain!). It was NOT a hit. (The recipe is attached). Mom says it is because we are not "fish cats" and next time she will try it with canned chicken. The texture was nice, and they were very easy to make, but we did not like the cooked tuna. They were VERY FUN to bat around the house though (ping pong anyone?)! Mom did not like that part. She gave the treats that we didn't bat around to the neighbor - who has a Chihuahua that ate them ALL. Dumb dog! Now I suppose he'll be high on da nip that is in them! ~Marley CATNIP TREATS 1 cup flour 5oz Tuna (drained) 1 egg 1 TBSP olive oil 2 TBSP dried catnip Put all in blender and mix well. Form into small balls and place on cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. Press down with finger. Bake at 350ºF minutes or until lightly browned. Keep in sealed jar. Substitute canned chicken for the tuna (Marley prefers this version over the tuna he isn t a fishy cat!) Just guessing, but I suspect he would also prefer more catnip in them! Find Us on Facebook It s Kitten Season! 4

5 Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 Remember to Shop at Our Merchant Partners Terri Lynn Cares Fruit, Nuts, Chocolates These are the same wonderful treats you get at many school and church fundraisers. According to those who have already purchased items from our site, the quality is exceptional. They make excellent gifts for any occasion. Helping PAWS gets 20% of the proceeds. Please patronize our TerriLynnCares store at: Our Yankee Candle Spring Sale is still going on! Candles and decorative items from Yankee Candle make great Mothers Day gifts. Enter Group # Order pet food from Chewy.com using our special link: and YOU save 20% and get free shipping...helping PAWS will receive a $20 donation from Chewy with your first purchase. Amazon.com where HPPR earns a percentage of all your purchases made through our link: Moon Doggie Coffee and Tea Enter HELPING PAWS in the comments section at checkout and we will earn 20-30% of the purchase price. 5

6 PAWSident s PAWdcast By Marley the Magnificent, PAWTUS Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 Hi Everybody! It's me, Marley, back with another Presidential Pawdcast! I would like to start with a big WOOHOO! for one of my sponsor pets, Gatsby! He has been adopted along with the adorable Mahalo! Since I was down to one sponsor pet, Gabby (pictured at right), I decided to add to my sponsees and have sponsored Ebony (pictured at left), a beautiful 14-year-old long-haired BLACK CAT! Ebony and two siblings had to be surrendered by their owner when he went into assisted living, and they are now looking for new homes. Gabby too is still anxiously looking for her furever human(s) and home! She is very loving and playful, as well as very purrrrrty! Come down to Helping Paws and meet her soon, she'll be very glad to say hello and purr for you! Now on to our July events! We'll start with this one: July is Dog House Repair Month - that gives you humans a WHOLE MONTH to fix or replace any outdoor doghouse in need of it - I feel sorry for the dogs that have to remain outside! At the least they should have a decent house for shelter that doesn't leak. July is also National Lost Pet Prevention Month. This is sponsored by PetHub, and you can find many resources here: I think I have mentioned many times that microchipping is a very good thing, and if your PAWsident is chipped, then so should you be! ;) To promote helping PAWS Pet Rescue and the upcoming Pet Pageant CCPH is offering microchip implants at the discounted price of $25 for the entire week before Brownstone Days and all proceeds go to HPPR. Please call for an appointment to ensure the shortest possible wait time. Next on our list is the biggie - July 4 is Independence Day. This US holiday is no holiday for dogs (or cats!) - the sound of fireworks causes many pets to panic and run, resulting in many lost dogs (and cats) every year. If you have outside pets or if your pets are just outside playing/walking etc., please move your pets safely INDOORS before the noises start, and keep them there until all is calm again! If you have outside pets who are not allowed indoors, make sure they are contained or leashed safely outdoors and have a safe place to retreat to when the noise gets intense (doghouse, cardboard box with blanket flap, etc) - somewhere they can hide and feel at least a bit safer. Also make sure your pets are wearing properly fitting collars with id tags - and consider microchipping! That way your pet stands a better chance of being returned to you if they should become lost during the noise and confusion. I say confusion because it IS very confusing for us pets - we don't know why you humans insist on blowing things up in the sky and yelling about it so cheerfully while you do it! It's just noise and shouting (Ooooh! Ahhh! Look at THAT one!) and a break from our routine with our humans outside during that noise while we are alone and scared - all that adds up to a lot of confusion and fear for us. My mom has a trick she uses for the 4th - she closes windows and puts the air conditioning on - this creates a soothing "white noise" which covers the sounds of those scary fireworks. She also puts the TV or music on for more background noise and sits on the floor to play games with us. Purrhaps there are other pets out there who (Cont d on page 7) 6

7 PAWSidential PAWdcast (Cont d from Page 6) Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 would like to share their parents' tips and tricks for coping with this noisy time? (These tricks also work for bad thunderstorms, by the way! So share your tips, we can all use them!) July 15 is National Pet Fire Safety Day - this one kind of scares me! Did you know that almost 1,000 house fires each year are accidentally started by pets?! I was surprised to learn that my mom knows this firsthand because her first cat Baby was very fluffy and one day he jumped up on the stovetop and walked past a lit candle - his fluffy, waving tail caught on fire from the candle and he did not know it, but kept walking across the counter, and mom ran to stop him before he got near the curtains! It was a near disaster for house and cat, but all was well and mom got there in time to put the fire out on Baby's tail (she says Baby didn't know WHY his mom was smashing the fluff of his tail between her hands!) - she also stopped using candles with open flames after that! Here are some preventative measures you can take to help protect your pets and house from pet-caused fires: Extinguish open flames - Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home or going to bed at night. Remove stove knobs - Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire. Invest in flameless candles These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles. (my mom uses flameless candles all over and they are very pretty! A bonus with the flameless ones is that they can be tucked in to fake greenery and other places that real candles cannot and they provide a nice look!) Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck. The sun s rays when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead. Secure young pets - especially young puppies - keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas. Now a few pet tips: Keep collars on pets and leashes or carriers at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue your pet. Since pets that are left alone can't escape a burning house, consider using monitored smoke detectors which are connected to a monitoring center so emergency responders can be contacted when you re not home. These systems provide an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms. Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. Make sure to update the number of pets listed. (we have 3 of these! Front, back, and side windows) These are available in many places; my mom purchased ours when she ordered our tags at luckypet.com - but you can get some free from the ASPCA right here: and there are other places as well, or you can make your own and tape to the window! (Cont d on page 8) 7

8 Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 PAWSidential PAWdcast (Cont d from Page 7) July 21 is National Craft for your Local Shelters Day. I am not sure exactly what this is, but I have crafted a poem for HPPR for this day - here it is! Oh catnip plant that grows so green and makes the air smell fresh and clean I wish I could grow you inside and always with you I'll abide. But since you grow best in the garden I will admire you from a-far-den, guarding you from all stray cats who enter my yard for midnight snacks. Oh catnip plant I so love you and specially your leaves I love to chew Then I drool and get spaced out, roll on the floor with love devout. Ah, catnip plant with your stem so tall - will your leaves grow back? Cuz I ate them all. ~Marley July 31 is National Mutt Day. Hmmph, what a way to end the month! But, I suppose we must allow the mutts to have their day! There had BETTER be a National Moggy day coming up for us mixed breed cats though! OR ELSE! Well, that is all for this pawdcast, I will "see" you all next month - Marley, signing off! Happy Tails! Odie (at left), Gatsby (above left) and Mahalo (above right) all found their FUR-ever homes in June! 8

9 Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 Captured by the PAWparazzi Rumor has it that the PAWparazzi is on the prowl, looking for pets to photograph. If YOU have seen him or her snapping photos of your pets, please BE SURE to send them to so that we can include them in the next newsletter. Pets are welcome to send in photos of their favorite toys, treats, friends, gardens, or even their humans! Hi Helping PAWS! The PAWparazzi paid us a visit, so Hastings and I decided that we would send you some pictures from the Rainbow Bridge. It's pretty great here. There is a river of catnip (that's the purple stuff in the first picture) and it's named after us Persians. They call it Purrsian Blue! Also, there are boxes with little birds in them and balls that hang on the trees and have squirrels inside. We aren't allowed to eat the birds or the squirrels (much to Hastings disgust), but we can chase and play with them. It's called "catch and release." Gotta run. Lily Spotted on a Baseball Bus Tour on the East Coast recently were two women sporting some baseball bling! (Cont d on page 10) Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc. 939 W. Bayfield St ourhelpingpaws.com 9

10 Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 Captured by the PAWparazzi (Cont d from Page 9) Lucy and Bleu, tolerating one another for a change. Marley s Catnip Garden And speaking of foxes, look who came to visit the PAWTUS and his siblings! The Catnip Plant Guards uh, isn t that like asking the Fox to guard the henhouse? Helping PAWS Pet Rescue, Inc. 939 W. Bayfield St ourhelpingpaws.com 10

11 Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 Dear Tabby Dear Tabby: My brother is a sissy. He's a big hairy collie who cowers and cringes at the sound of big trucks and sirens. What a wuss! How do I get this guy to man-up? A Thundershirt didn't work, so I am beside myself. Maybe I need to re-home him, since he is eating food and getting attention from mom and dad that rightfully belong to me! I can't wait until the 4 th of July maybe he will run away in fear. Lucy Dear Lucy: First, let me say that being afraid of sirens might not be such a bad idea. If a tornado comes and the siren goes off, it's a good idea to be afraid and hide in the basement. Likewise, you might also want to get out of the way of big trucks. All that being said, it sounds like your problem may have less to do with manliness and more to do with sibling rivalry. Every dog has a right to food, love and attention; not all of it is exclusively yours. Try being a bit more understanding and a better sister. You may find that your brother will also be more tolerant of your little eccentricities. Tabby Dear Tabby: My sister is a pain in the tuckus. She constantly ridicules me because I'm afraid of sirens, but let me tell you what she is afraid of: nail clippers and men! Wave a pair of nail clippers in her face and she is off like a shot, climbing the walls to get away. And if it is a MAN waving the nail clippers, her behavior becomes even more frantic and ridiculous. I'm sure that in a past life I had a nasty run-in with a siren-wailing vehicle, making my little fears perfectly reasonable, but what could be scary about a pair of nail clippers? How do I make my evil sister stop tormenting me for my fears? Bleu Dear Bleu: It must be a lot of fun living at your house. I assume that there are dogs running, fleeing, hiding and climbing walls on a daily or even hourly basis! Stop the bickering and try to get along. As I told your sister, everyone has their own little quirks, so if you both apply the Golden Rule, your home will be a lot more peaceful. On the other hand, if you continue down the road you are on, your mom and dad may decide that what they really need is a calm, laid back, cuddly CAT! Helping PAWS currently has several excellent kitties available, so if you don't change your ways, you may find that you have to change your address. Tabby Dear Tabby: My mom recently bought some catnip plants just for me!! But now she has built a cage around them so I can't get to them. Is that fair? I want to phone my Union Rep at Felines International to protest this outrageous behavior, but I can't find their phone number. Do you by any chance have it? Nip Fluffbottom Dear Nip: First, I would not suggest calling your Union Rep while you are high on da nip. You are high, aren't you? Second, I'm fairly sure that the catnip plants your mom bought were not all for your exclusive use. As I recall, there are other cats living in your house who might also enjoy a nip now and then. Without the little cage to protect them, I'm afraid those catnip plants would already be history, and then where would you be? As a brilliant philosopher once said (I think it was me): Moderation in all things. Give the plants a chance to grow and be willing to share. Be patient; be temperate; be the nip! Tabby Send your questions to Dear Tabby at DearTabby@ourhelpingpaws.com. Editor s Note: Bleu, some pointers are in this newsletter beginning on page 1 that might help overcome your fears. As to your weird sister and her fears, I m afraid there is no explaining such wimpiness. Nail clippers, really??? 11

12 Are YOU On Our Mailing List Yet? Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 Are YOU on our mailing list? If not, why not? To join our mailing list, please subscribe at We promise not to spam you, and you can unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link within any mailing list . Our Wishlist Have YOU Programmed Your Cell Phone Yet? Make Money for HPPR Every Time You Walk Your Dog or Just Go For A Walk! Go to to get the app. The Wooftrax app can be installed on both Android and iphone devices, and as long as your phone is on while you walk with it, it will track your mileage and support our rescue with periodic payments. Be sure to select Helping Paws Pet Rescue, Inc in Washburn, WI as your supported rescue. After you download the app onto your smartphone, take the phone with you when you walk your pet(s) or simply when you go for a walk. Simply press the Start Walking for button and the app will keep track of your walk. When your walk is stopped it is credited to your selected shelter or rescue. The more people walking for that organization, the more we earn, so please spread the word. Cans for Canines and Cats Next time you are at Country Care Pet Hospital, look for the little structure pictured at right where you can place your bagged recyclable cans. All proceeds from recycling the aluminum cans will benefit Helping PAWS Pet Rescue. Aluminum cans only, please! 12

13 Adoption Specials: It s Kitten Season! Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 If you are in the market for a cat or kitten and are a Veteran, grab your ID requirements and stop by Helping PAWS to see if we have a furry companion to suit you. If you want to increase your family size exponentially, stop by Helping PAWS and pick out the cat or kitten you want to adopt, then select his or her PAWfect complement. 13

14 Mark Your Calendars! Helping PAWS Pet Rescue July 2017 Dog House Repair Month National Lost Pet Prevention Month July 4: Independence Day. This US holiday is no holiday for dogs; the sounds of fireworks causes many dogs to panic and run, resulting in many lost dogs every year. July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day July 21: National Craft for your Local Shelters Day July $25 Microchipping at Country Care Pet Hospital to benefit Helping PAWS Pet Rescue and the upcoming Pet Pageant CCPH is offering microchip implants at the discounted price of $25 for the entire week before Brownstone Days and all proceeds go to HPPR. Please call for an appointment to ensure the shortest possible wait time. July 27-30: Brownstone Days, Washburn, WI July 31: National Mutt Day 14