Helping a Fearful Dog Get Over a Fear of Unknown Sounds

For this Omaha dog training session we share tips to help a dog get over a fear of unknown sounds to stop Ollie the 1 year-old Corgi from barking and being anxious.

Ollie was quite the anxious dog; snapping his head in all directions when any new sounds occurred. I wouldn’t say he was scared of unknown sounds, but they clearly upset him and caused him to react.

I could see he had cortisol in his blood so we talked at length about the things that could be contributing factors.

An example of this is petting a dog who is acting anxious. As humans we think petting is a good way to calm and reassure a nervous dog, but it actually backfires.

Anything a dog is doing when you pet them is what you are specifically rewarding the dog for; this includes unbalanced states of mind like fear, stress, excitement and anxiety.

Tips to Help a Dog Get Over a Fear of Unknown Sounds

After discussing methods to establish a healthy leader-follower dynamic and addressing the dog’s needs—such as petting with a purpose, passive training, enforcing rules and increasing exercise—I demonstrated to the guardian how to use counterconditioning and desensitization to stop a dog from being scared of new sounds.

Counterconditioning and desensitization can help dogs stay calm when they react to common sounds like garage doors opening, doorbells ringing, or knocking.

How can Counterconditioning Help Anxious Dogs?

Dogs often develop these reactions through classical conditioning, where they associate certain noises with excitement, anxiety, or threats. By slowly changing these associations, you can teach your dog to stay relaxed in situations that once triggered a strong response.

Start by introducing the sound in a controlled way while giving your dog a treat, ensuring they are calm before the noise occurs. This helps them form a positive connection instead of reacting with fear or excitement.

If your dog becomes too overwhelmed, they won’t be able to learn effectively.

To prevent this, lower the intensity of the sound—turn down the volume of a knock or increase the distance from the source. Watch for signs of stress, like pacing, wide eyes, or refusing treats, to determine when to slow down the training.

A leash can help manage reactivity by controlling movement, which can otherwise increase excitement. Teaching your dog to relax is a key part of training. If they stay too stimulated, be patient—wait until they calm down before continuing to reinforce the desired behavior.

Over time, the goal is to gradually move closer to the stimulus while maintaining a positive association through rewards.

Easy Ways to Stop a Dog from Being Scared of New Sounds

Understanding stress hormones like cortisol can help manage a dog’s reactivity. When a dog is highly alert, they may ignore treats or stay fixated on potential threats. Training works best when the dog is relaxed, and reinforcing calm behavior through controlled exposure can lead to lasting improvements.

To help a dog get used to triggering sounds, try recording noises like construction or door knocks. Play them at a low volume while rewarding the dog for staying calm. Slowly increase the volume over time, allowing the dog to build tolerance.

Consistency and patience are key—changing deep-seated reactions takes time. With regular practice and a structured approach, dogs can learn to stay calm instead of reacting with fear or excitement.

Counterconditioning is a great way to help anxious dogs overcome their fears. I suggested that the guardian make a list of all the sounds Ollie is afraid of so she can address them one by one, helping him overcome his fears for good.

No one wants to see a dog act fearfully to sounds or things they don’t understand. As Omaha’s dog behavior expert I have been stopping dog fears with counterconditioning for years.

To help the guardian remember everything we covered in this in-home dog behavior training session, we filmed a roadmap to success video.