Introduction As a dog trainer, I work with anxious dogs every day. Regardless of whether these anxieties are caused by fears, phobias or other triggers, my job is to help such dogs and their households overcome these fears by using positive reinforcement training techniques.
One of the most common issues I m asked to help with is noise phobia, or fear of certain sounds. Noise-fearful dogs often feel panicked, resulting in anxious and distressed canine households. To help solve this problem, I ve teamed up with sound researcher Joshua Leeds and concert pianist Lisa Spector, founders of Through a Dog s Ear, to develop the revolutionary Canine Noise Phobia Series (CNP) a breakthrough in both the treatment and prevention of this debilitating condition.
By combining progressive sound effects, specially-designed psychoacoustic calming music for canines, and reward-based reinforcement protocols, this series not only helps to reduce the anxiety suffered by thunderstorm-phobic dogs, but also reduces the likelihood of thunderstorm phobias from ever developing.
No matter where they live, most dogs are likely to encounter thunderstorms at some point in their lives. This groundbreaking desensitization tool will teach your dog to associate positive feelings with thunderstorm sounds rather than feeling fearful, and will help to gradually reduce your dog s fear when exposed to a real thunderstorm. When used properly and implemented in conjunction with the enclosed behavioral modification protocols, you have an excellent chance of rehabilitating your thunderstorm-phobic dog.
Noise phobia is a complex issue. Please read the Instructions for Use before beginning the treatment process with your dog. Positively,
- Victoria Stilwell
ABOUT THUNDERSTORMS
The foundation of the CNP Series consists of three primary elements:
A. Progressive Sound Effects
This recording pairs clinically demonstrated calming music with the sounds of thunderstorms at gradually increasing levels. The use of progressive and random sounds holds your dog s attention, helping them to acclimate in a controlled environment. Intermixed with music, sound effects progress from faint to heavy throughout five tracks. This technique provides variables that can be tailored to each dog and their specialized situations. Progressive sound effects create the space necessary for human positive interaction.
B. Psychoacoustically-Designed Music
This Prevention and Desensitization recording is uniquely constructed to give your dog the ability to tune out the sounds of a thunderstorm. The simplified piano music of Through a Dog s Ear has been used in thousands of homes, rescues, and shelters to create a safety zone that universally relaxes canines. When dogs associate the music with tranquility, the music becomes a calming trigger, in and of itself. In effect, the music becomes another positive reinforcement. The music also keeps your canine s stress levels below the threshold of fear or distraction.
C. Reward-based Reinforcement Protocols
One of the extraordinary things about the CNP Series is that can be used with dogs prior to the development of noise phobias, as well as for the treatment of dogs who are already sound-fearful. When used properly and in conjunction with positive behavior modification therapies, canines will learn to be calm and associate positive feelings with thunderstorm noises, rather than experiencing fear.
For adult dogs, treatment is accomplished by a perceptual readjustment of offending sounds.
For puppies, this recording serves as a sonic inoculation by introducing new sounds immediately accompanied by positive associations.
