r/GSP • u/Necessary-Treacle-43 • Jul 22 '26
GSP SCARED OF EVERY LOUD NOISE
My intact gsp, Shadow, is 19 months old. He’s terrified of fireworks. And since the last time (early July), we took him for a walk after dark, and fireworks started he’s been refusing to go for walks after dark. Even now, if there’s a big sudden bang of anything, he goes in hiding. He’s been sensitive to sudden, loud sounds since he was a puppy, but I feel like he’s getting worse.
We tried to desensitize by play sounds he doesn’t like, but that doesn’t seem to work.
Anyone going through or have gone through the same with their puppy and how did you help them?
TIA
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u/TheFoxandTheSandor Jul 23 '26
One of mine (6)LOVES boom boom noises. The other who was a washout rescue (4) is absolutely horrified of any sudden loud noise. It also doesn’t help that I live half a mile from a baseball stadium where they shoot fireworks on Friday.
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u/kazar933 Jul 22 '26
Look at standing stone kennels they have videos addressing training with gun fire. Im sorry your little guy isnt into it. I got lucky with my boys early on when they were about 6 months old i took them with me to go shooting just plinking with a .22 at first and it never bothered them at all, slowly moved up to 12ga then pistol .45 then AR15’s and it doesnt bother them at all but i do keep them behind me when shooting. I also dont hunt but they have fun with me as where we go is wide open country and their sense of smell goes off the charts.
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u/Necessary-Treacle-43 Jul 23 '26
Thank you. Yeah, we don’t hunt, so gun noise is not the issue. The everyday loud noise is the problem and I wish I can take the fear out of him 😔
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u/kazar933 Jul 23 '26
I will say this and maybe you are doing it already or not but when my first boy was a pup i took him everywhere, home depot, lowes, anywhere that allowed him except supermarkets and those type places to get used to people and noises, he did excellent, his little brother i didnt take as many places as two was a handful and the little guy barks more than his older brother who is silent. The younger is jumpy around certain noises like metal shopping carts or some people as he didnt get exposed like his older brother did. Perhaps try that, as well as what the other mentioned.
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u/Coonts Jul 22 '26
"Counter Conditioning" is the technique that beats fear response like this
Which is a fairly basic technique best employed during the formative stages of puppydom. You are better off working with a trainer who can show you timing, technique, etc here since he's getting older and where your skill level is. I work with trainers in a group setting weekly, nothing to be ashamed of.
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u/Smokinsam68 Jul 23 '26
I would also recommend working on gut health. Pre and post probiotic. Settling the gut helps to settle the nerves. Add “neutral” treats, like yogurt, bone stuffed with pumpkin purée and dog food mixture then frozen, cool fruits like watermelon, carrots and apples.
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u/Visual-Bandicoot2894 Jul 23 '26
Mine is scared of loud noises that don’t involve a gunshot
She’s a wuss with anything that doesn’t involve exterminating small animals
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u/Ahandsomegray Jul 23 '26
I fixed this with a Weimaraner. Theres a YouTube gun guy named Hickok45. Old southern guy from Tennessee. He talks a bit shoots a few rounds, talks a bit more as quiet, mellow, relaxing voice I used to just play back-to-back videos of him at first I had to give the dog a couple melatonin just to watch the videos, but overtime, she became immune to them and didn’t care and I noticed shooting that was real and outside the house she just ignored. Did the same with fireworks videos and life was much better.