Glossary

Noise phobia

An intense, lasting fear of sudden or loud sounds such as thunder, fireworks or gunshots, shown by trembling, hiding or panic.

Also called: noise sensitivity, thunderstorm phobia, fireworks fear, sound phobia, noise aversion

A noise phobia is more than a startle. The dog is truly frightened by a sound, such as fireworks, thunder or gunfire, and may tremble, pant, drool, hide, tear at doors or try to escape. Fear can start with a single bad event and often grows with each storm or holiday.

It is common, and many dogs show it for the first time as adults. Dogs that panic may injure themselves or run away, so keep them indoors in a quiet room during known noise events and keep identification up to date.

Gradual training with recorded sounds can help, but it needs care and professional guidance. Medication from a veterinarian is sometimes part of the plan. Ask a veterinarian early, because the fear tends to worsen over time if left alone.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Fear period A stage, often described around 8 to 11 weeks and again in adolescence, when a young dog may react strongly to things it once ignored. Stress signals Small changes in behavior, such as panting without heat, yawning, shaking off or a tucked tail, that show a dog is uneasy. Desensitization and counter-conditioning A training plan that exposes a dog to a fear trigger at a level it can handle while pairing it with something good, to change how the dog feels. Habituation A dog's learned reduction of its reaction to something harmless that is met again and again without consequence.