Helping Sound Sensitive Dogs Beyond the Front Door

Outdoor Coping Skills Matter for Sound Sensitivity in Dogs

Somewhere between half and two-thirds of dogs will develop a noticeable sound sensitivity involving a fear response in their lifetime. Dogs are commonly sensitive to thunder, fireworks, gunshots, vehicular, construction, and electronic noises, and they can develop intense reactions. Many dogs will generalize their fear to numerous sounds rather than just one.

Although treatment is often geared toward addressing fear of sounds at home, strategies for navigating sounds away from home, particularly on walks, are equally important. It is common for dogs with a fear of sounds to show avoidance of new environments, and some will begin to refuse to go for walks. This might be associated with hearing startling noises when away from home. 

Although treatment is often geared toward addressing fear of sounds at home, strategies for navigating sounds away from home, particularly on walks, are equally important.

It is important to note that pain can exacerbate noise sensitivity and lead to hesitancy during exercise. Any dog, regardless of age, who exhibits noise sensitivities should be thoroughly evaluated by a veterinarian for potential pain. If the underlying chronic (possibly subtle) discomfort is not treated concurrently with sound sensitivities, interventions will be less effective.

Strategies When Encountering Startling Sounds on Walks

Being prepared with strategies to address unpredictable and startling sounds during a leash walk will help set the pet guardian and the dog up for success. Rather than trying to work through it, you can focus on getting the dog out of the situation while minimizing any potential negative impact.

However, there are exceptions. If the dog is not showing overt signs of fear, is taking treats, eagerly responding to known cues, and the sound is not moving closer or getting louder, it might be reasonable to work through the situation.

The same trained behaviors can be used whether departing from the situation or working through it. Behaviors that keep the dog moving or ambulatory, rather than stationary, are usually easier for the dog to perform. Since they are already moving, continuing to move will draw less attention to the sudden noise. In contrast, stopping and requesting a stationary behavior, such as a sit or down with duration, might make the sound more salient to the dog. 

Some ambulatory (moving rather than stationary) strategies you can train and utilize before they are needed are listed below, with exercises for each outlined in the sections that follow:

• Find it,
• Let’s go, and
• Nose touch to hand (or target) and follow.

Teach and practice the behaviors in a familiar, non-distracting, and comfortable environment. The goal of these behaviors will be to redirect the dog and get them out of a noise event without eliciting further distress. A sufficient and consistent history of performing the behaviors in calm environments without sound triggers is imperative for a sustained positive association for the dog. These behaviors will become your default response to the dog hearing a noise. Choose some or all of the following, or come up with your own. 

The goal of these behaviors will be to redirect the dog and get them out of a noise event without eliciting further distress.

Below are options for teaching the behaviors, but feel free to modify and adjust them to what works best for you, the dog, and the situation. The instructions are meant to provide some guidance if needed.

The ‘Find It’ Game

Use this game to get the dog’s attention, encourage the dog to orient toward you for direction, and smoothly guide the dog where you want to go, whether that means making a turn, moving away from a trigger, or redirecting the dog’s focus.

Tips: 

• In multiple pet households, if the dogs will be walked in close proximity to each other, you might consider just saying your dog’s name and “treat” followed by handing a treat to the dog rather than doing the find it game. 
• Have a preloaded treat in your hand before saying, “Find it.” This makes for a smooth transition. 
• Make sure the dog is looking at you before you roll the treat. They need to see where the treat is going. 
• You can have the dog follow the treat in your hand to reorient them in a different direction before rolling the treat. For example, if you need to make a turn. 
• You might need to practice your treat rolling skills before working with the dog to avoid frustration.  
• As you and the dog become proficient with this behavior, you can:
  • Take it on the road while out on a walk. Practice on leash in the house or yard before taking the game out and about. Your fluency with treat rolling might falter with the extra equipment. 
  • It is important for the leash to have plenty of slack so that the dog can chase after and get the treat. Avoid tossing it too far so the dog is abruptly stopped by the leash as they follow the treat. Be ready to run with the dog if the treat rolls further than expected. 
  • Say, “Find it” when the dog is looking at something else. If they are not too distracted, we would expect them to turn to you to see where you will roll the treat.  
  • Practice rolling the treat in a different direction to help them change direction (maybe to avoid an upcoming distraction). Say, “Find it,” and when the dog looks to your hand with the treat, pivot your body and roll the treat in the direction you want them to go.

Learn ‘Let’s Go’

Use “Let’s Go” to teach the dog to confidently walk with you and comfortably change direction, so that, eventually, you can navigate away from startling sounds together in various environments.

• Use a positive event marker, such as a clicker or conditioned word, as the dog moves forward with you. 
• Stop and deliver the treat. Repeat.
• Once the dog is beginning to be proficient with this, try turning 90 degrees away from the dog. 
  • Either in a stationary position or walking side by side, cue “Let’s go,” and turn your shoulders and feet 90 degrees away from your dog. 
  • Encourage your dog to follow you by patting your leg, saying their name, and making a kissy-kissy sound. This should look fun and relaxed rather than stiff and rigid. 
  • Potential reinforcers for your dog turning with you are:
    • a mark and treat,
    • a treat without a mark, and
    • a cue such as find it (especially if your dog likes to “capture” their treat), followed by rolling a treat along their path.
• Other variations to practice in the home are:
  • 180⁰ turn away from the dog,
  • 90⁰ turn toward the dog,
  • 180⁰ turn toward the dog,
  • Change which side the dog is walking on (right or left),
  • With a leash and collar on (lots of things in your hands now!), and
  • Add in other known cues, such as sit, touch, and find it.
• Once you and the dog are proficient at home with all of the above, take it outside to a low-distraction area, such as a fenced yard or private patio. 
• Build up to incorporating on walks. 

Tips:

• As long as you are not in an emergency situation, avoid pulling or yanking your dog when making a turn. Give them time to orient to you and follow you with verbal encouragement. 
• Turn your shoulders and feet in the direction you want the dog to go. This provides them with clear communication about where you are going. 
• The treat value might need to increase as the distraction level rises. Have a variety of treats available. 

Boop! Teach a ‘Nose-Touch-to-Hand’ and ‘Follow’

Use this activity to build positive associations with following your hand or target stick, helping the dog comfortably move with you through or during potentially stressful situations.

What to do:

• Present your hand or the end of the target stick and hold it still a few inches in front of the dog’s nose.
• Click/mark and then treat the dog for touching his nose to the hand/target. The click should occur while his nose is touching the hand/target. Remove the target as you offer the dog a treat. Repeat 5 times.
• Present the target 1-2 inches to the right of the dog’s nose, 1-2 inches to the left, then 1-2 inches below and above the dog’s nose. Click/mark and then treat each successful response. Repeat each position 5-10 times.
• Once predictable, add a verbal cue, “touch” (or “nose” or whatever you want the cue to be) just before presenting the hand/target. 
• Begin to have the dog follow the hand/target several steps forward to touch it. 
• Add the following: follow the hand/target as you make a direction change (turn).
• Once on cue, practice in various environments, including on leash, to generalize the behavior. 

Tips:

• For dogs who get excited and bite the leash or have a history of redirecting to a person holding the leash, touch-and-go behavior should not be used during periods of high excitement. 
• When presenting your hand or the target, if the dog does not approach and touch the hand/target, avoid moving the hand/target closer and touching the dog with it.  
• If the dog is hesitant to approach the hand/target, evaluate your presentation and position to the dog. 
• When using your hand as a target, some dogs prefer a closed fist, a flat palm, an index finger, or 2 fingers (the 2^nd and 3^rd fingers).
• A dog with a learning history of being taught “Leave It” with things in a person’s hand might be hesitant to perform a nose touch to a hand. 
• When adding the cue, if the dog does not perform the behavior within a few seconds after the cue, calmly remove the hand/target and cue another behavior your dog enjoys. Once successful, go back to trying the touch cue again. 

Teaching three fluent, moving strategies helps the dog navigate potentially distressing situations with ease while minimizing emotional damage. 

Teaching three fluent, moving strategies helps the dog navigate potentially distressing situations with ease while minimizing emotional damage. 

Need help?

Take your training a step further and join me for Boom, Bang! Solutions for Sound Sensitivities, a live, four-week virtual class to help your dog find solace from scary sounds through sound sensitivity training.

If you are new to clicker training, you may benefit from hands-on coaching from a qualified trainer as you work through the training program. A trainer is someone who can answer your questions, break big learning goals into smaller, achievable steps, and problem-solve if things go off track. Consider working with a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner in your area to learn more about clicker training and how it can be used to keep your furry family members feeling confident and safe!

Note: This article was originally published on 05/21/2026. We regularly review our content to ensure that the principles and techniques remain valuable and relevant. However, best practices continue to evolve. If you notice anything that may need updating, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].