Very Scared of Noise

[Kerry]

I am totally new to this but I wonder if someone could help please?
We have a new dog which we have had 1 month, she is a 4 year old Stafforshire Bull Terrier. Everything appeared to be going perfect, she is very obedient, very affectionate, loves children and other dogs. But every time she hears a bang (usually gun fire) she is terrified and want to flee back to either the car or home. And just will not listen to any command. When we took her back to the same spot the next night she just shook. She is a very scared little dog and we need to find a way to overcome this. We live in the country and she will have to hear guns often. She will not listen to reasurance or any commands.
Please can you help?

[Doberluv]

The only thing I can think of is to somehow try and get her use to it from a distance at first, where it's not so loud. If she becomes agitated and afraid, try not to make a fuss over her and inadvertantly give attention for that. But if you can catch it before she starts showing the fear and give attention/treats/party time... for remaining somewhat calm, she may begin to associate that noise of gun fire with an OK time. Then over a long period of time, expose her to the noise getting a little louder. I don't know how you can control the volume that she is exposed to, but if you can do it from a distance at first for a long time, perhaps that would be the way to go. It would have been good if she were use to it as a pup. But you didn't have her then so now it will be harder.

There may be some drug you could get from your vet to assist you in the early training stages....a beta blocker of some sort to calm her a little, so that you can reach her. Once she gets beside herself with anxiety, there's no reaching her. She's off in her own world. I wish you the best.

[Barb04]

We were trying to get Kona used to strange noises. When we put some pennies in an empty small plastic bottle and shook them, she ran, so we put the bottle on the floor and let her get used to it. Then we rolled it a bit for the noise, then we eventually shook it. Now Kona runs up to take the bottle. She doesn't care about the noise. I've been finding it she's afraid of something, we slowly introduce her to it until she feels comfortable around it. We don't force her but let her take her time. I thought of the pennies even in a can that can be closed only because it will make a noise.

[casablanca1]

Poor dog. Maybe you could ask around and see if anyone around you trains hunting dogs (setters, pointers, etc.) That's got to be an issue in their work, gun-shy dogs.

[Renee750il]

If she's four years old and you've only had her a month, you've got to wonder what her past experience is with loud noises and why they are so traumatic for her. Barb's technique with Kona would be a good start.

[bubbatd]

The socialization period begins when a pup ( 3 to 4 wks) reacts to a loud sound. I did at that time what Barb is doing.....rattle a can with pennies, drop a metal pan on the floor, hammer a nail into wood, all sorts of different sounds. Soon they got used to all kinds of sounds . Obviously the breeder didn't do these things . I hope patience from you will undo this fear factor.