You're probably pretty ready to say goodbye to 2020...but have you prepared your dog?

Loud, abrupt sounds like fireworks, thunder, and construction noises are out of our control as dog parents, and often happen completely unexpectedly. If your dog hears something loud and startling without ever being exposed to something similar, it can be really traumatizing -- especially if you aren't home with them or aren't able to actively support them during or after they hear the sounds.

The good news is that you can help prepare your dog by setting up proactive training sessions!

Here's an outline of what your training sessions might look like*:

1. Find an audio or video recording like this one with loud sounds such as thunder or fireworks.
2. Make sure you're ready with some really yummy food, a chew bone, a stuffed Kong, or something similar.
3. Turn on the recording at a very low volume.
4. Immediately give your dog the chew bone or Kong, or start feeding your dog the food. You can either scatter handfuls of food on the ground, or continuously feed individual pieces to them every few seconds. You can also talk calmly and pet or massage your dog if they enjoy being pet.
5. Depending on how your dog reacts, you can gradually turn the volume up, lower it, or turn it off. Make sure you are sensitive to your dog's body language and communication during the entire process. If your dog stops eating or chewing, is not responding to your communication, makes an effort to hide, or shows any body language signs of stress or fear, you should either lower the volume or turn it off altogether. 
6. Keep sessions short and positive -- start with just a minute or two at first, then you can build up to longer sessions. It's better to have short, frequent sessions than one that is too long and ends on a stressful note.
7. Continue practicing regularly until you are able to turn the volume high while your dog continues to relax and enjoy their treat.

*This outline is not a training plan designed for dogs with severe noise sensitivity or noise phobia. If that's your dog, or you think it might be, please reach out to a force free dog professional to get individualized support. :)