Rebecca Wilde considers herself an extremely lucky Pawrent. Her dogs don't seem bothered by the vacuum.......however, her pups don't like the sound of the blender when she makes their food and they freak out if the smoke detector goes off. Now we know why!
Researchers are finding high-frequency sounds and common noises like vacuums, microwaves, and even smoke detector battery warnings can trigger anxiety in dogs.
The study, conducted by the University of California-Davis with almost 400 dog owners, also finds we humans tend to underestimate their pet's fearfulness and respond with amusement rather than concern. Lead author Emma Grigg says dogs use body language more than vocalizing, making it difficult for owners to understand their pet. Common signs of anxiety include cringing, trembling, and retreating, while less common signs include dogs licking their lips or turning their head away. Grigg says it is important to know what causes dogs' anxiety and minimize exposure.
That and try to understand that your dog is stressed and to not make them feel bad about it. Give them space to get away from the scary noise and you may even want to use positive behavior modification if you want them to get used to the noise. It's not hard but it can be time consuming. They're worth it, though, right? #mustlovedogs
