Why does my dog get scared by loud music or instruments and run away?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I definitely think Dakoda's reaction will be different based on the music you play! Dogs hear just like we do (actually more sensitively than we do), so louder, more aggressive music may excite them more, whereas softer, more soothing music may cause them to be more relaxed. Dog's actions and emotions are very similar to humans, so it is not wrong to think about how a human would react to these types of music and apply that information to dogs. I hope this is helpful!

Hi and thanks for your post on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The cell phone sounds or rings may be loud and irritating to Buddy. It sounds like he has a noise aversion. Fortunately, there are ways to help. Next time the cell phone goes off, get his attention with a tasty treat, toy, or have him engage in another activity (such as reviewing basic commands such as sit, stay, down, etc). Doing this can help turn his attention to other things and he will learn that when the phone rings, fun and good things happen instead of fear. I hope this helps and thank you for your post!

It could be lots of things, a sound only Miki can hear, itching from fleas or allergies, pain, etc. If this behavior continues in 24 hours, it is a good idea to have him examined by a vet for any possible medical causes.

Oh poor girl! She is adorable! Sometimes dogs can get scared of a number of things and act that way. Try to think of anything that could have scared her such as a visitor, neighbors or even loud outside noises. Rarely, dogs try to get away when they do not feel well (more commonly seen with cats). Keep her close, pet her and let her know that everything will be ok with a calm demeanor and gentle voice. If no improvement is observed by tomorrow, have her examined by your veterinarian to ensure that there is no medical reason for her behavior. Good luck!

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! No, there is likely nothing at all wrong with Mike. What he is experiencing is likely irritation to the pitch of the car horn. Have you ever heard dogs in movies howling at police sirens? Likely the same thing. Imagine what you are hearing with a car horn (already loud) and then imagine amplifying it several hundred of times. This is how our canine and feline companions hear things. Many think loud noises are uncomfortable for them in general. I hope this helps!

Poor pup! It sounds like your dog is a fearful girl in general - this can be due to genetics, lack of early socialization, negative early experiences in life, or some combination of all three. Many fearful dogs are afraid of loud noises, and are often more fearful of men because they are physically larger and have louder, deeper voices than women. Generally speaking, a treatment plan for this type of problem would involve managing your dog so that she isn't put in stressful or scary situations as much as possible, as well as working with her to help associate good things (like treats!) with men, noises, and other things that frighten her. Depending on how severe her anxiety is, medication may also be helpful. I would suggest making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate her in person - he/she can put together a detailed plan to help you work on this problem, and can also prescribe anti-anxiety medication for her if needed. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

I recommend thinking about what changes have happened in the last couple of days. Have you moved any furniture, replaced lightbulbs, or plugged in any new appliances? Some electronics can have sounds that we can't hear, but can trigger anxiety in our pets. There are a couple things you can try for anxiety; Composure chews and Adaptil diffusers. Adaptil is a pheromone that can help with anxiety. It is available as a plug-in room diffuser for large areas, and as a spray for small areas like a mat or bed. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-calming-aids/comfort-zone-diffuser-with-dap-for-dogs Thanks for using PetCoach.