Scary Noises - Noise Desensitization for Dogs
Last week I made a Facebook posted about having the Westminster Kennel Club playing in the background to help desensitize Savvy (our new puppy) to the many noises of dog shows.
These noises included clapping, echoing speakers in the buildings, dogs barking, and everything in between. This type of noise playing in the background for her to hear was priceless.
I cannot replicate these noises in training, so having a recording or watching videos can accomplish this.
Now I want you to think outside the box…this can be great for dogs that are worried about the trash truck, fireworks, vacuums. This list goes on and on.
Now if you are wondering where you are going to find the recordings, check out YouTube, you will be shocked at what you can find available. If you don’t find what you are looking for, you can make your own recording and play it daily for your dog.
If your dog has a phobia, then keeping the volume low to start is key. The last thing you want to do is blare the “scary thing”, creating more issues. If you start on a super low volume and build up to what would be real life, over days or even weeks, that is ideal.
Now, of course, my tip would not be complete if I didn’t use all my tools to accomplish my goal.
This is where diffusing your dog’s favorite doTERRA calming oil comes in.
Start diffusing at least 20 minutes prior to starting your video/recording. You want to ensure that the oils have had time to do their job before introducing something that may be scary.
If you introduce the oils at the same time as the noise, you run the risk of your dog associating the negative sound with the scent of the oils, which you do not want to do.
If you are new to essential oil use, and are not sure where to start, my recommendation would be doTERRA Adaptive, doTERRA Vetiver, and doTERRA Copaiba.
These three oils pack a big punch, and are some of my top choices when it comes to behavior modification work with dogs.
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