backfiring fire drill training..

[borzoimom]

At the new house we have an alarm system, totally different sounds. Also the driveway has a motion detector if someone pulls in the driveway.. Poor Femka is so confused.. She hears that beep and I know she must be thinking " fire alarm game mom?"... Looks at me to see which way to go.. I am sure it will take some time for her to learn the difference but still. We also have not spent alot of time at the house yet and won't until the move Wednesday. Right now we are just " visiting.." With the change in alarm systems, the old one had a delay before it went off. The dogs almost never heard it. The new system goes off as soon as its contacts are moved.
I am thinking when the move comes, I will make that sound mean " cookies" after I put the cancel. ( ie the second beep).. And the beep for the entry to the driveway- that beep means " cookies" as well... Anyone else have other suggestions? If it helps after we move I can do a video tape to show you what is happening..

[lizzybeth727]

Do you want the dogs to react whenever they hear the beep? Does the fire alarm make a different noise? If it were me, I'd just ignore the little beeps and let the dogs desensetize to the sound until they didn't hear them anymore either. Then you can teach them that the fire alarm sound means something important, and go from there.

[borzoimom]

Originally Posted by lizzybeth727

Do you want the dogs to react whenever they hear the beep? Does the fire alarm make a different noise? If it were me, I'd just ignore the little beeps and let the dogs desensetize to the sound until they didn't hear them anymore either. Then you can teach them that the fire alarm sound means something important, and go from there.

hmm... good idea.. They are just not use to all the extra beeps. Our old system did not have all that. Right now to them any beep ( as it would be rare) is something to pay attention too... Zubin is doing better than she is.. Femka is totally convinced she is supposed to leave the house if she hears the beeps. Femka has alot of baggage. We did not even get her until she was 5..
The fire alarm or medical is a loud siren. I will contact the company and ask them if there is a way I can set it off on disable to dispatch to retrain the dogs.