A Dog Fears a Text Message
Is she sending a doggy message of her own?
Her Pomeranian has started running out of the room when the owner gets a text message. Can dog fears send a message of their own? Can their fears be tamed? Pet expert Cathy M. Rosenthal weighs in.
Dear Cathy,
I have a seven-year-old Pomeranian rescue. I adopted her when she was about two. Six months ago, she started running out of the room whenever I got a text. After two weeks, I changed the text notification sound, and she was OK for about a week, but then she started running out of the room again. My vet checked her out and said dogs do weird things sometimes. I wonder if you or any of your readers have experienced this and if you found a solution.
— Susan, Westbury, New York
Dear Susan,
Your Pomeranian may associate the sound with something like a doorbell or another trigger, prompting her to run as if someone is arriving or she needs to greet a visitor. However, since you changed the text notification sound and it worked for a short time, this may indicate that it’s not just the specific sound but perhaps her sensitivity to certain sounds.
One option is desensitization, where you gradually get her used to the sound by playing the text alert at its lowest volume. This is followed by positive reinforcement, such as treats. Go slow and only increase the volume when she seems comfortable at a specific sound level. If she suddenly runs out of the room again, turn the volume down to the previously accepted level, and continue desensitizing her to that sound before increasing the column again.
Additionally, try another notification sound — something softer or more neutral that won’t resemble any familiar household sounds. Once she gets used to the sounds at a normal volume, toss her treats every time your phone alerts. (She will stick around if she thinks the “ding” means she will get a treat.)
You can also practice obedience cues, like “here” to call her to you, or “stay” to keep her from leaving to redirect her focus back to you. Pair the sound with the command and reward her with treats when she does what you ask. Then, give her a chew or puzzle toy to redirect her energy.
Your vet is right, though. Dogs can develop quirky habits for reasons we may not fully understand. But with patience, desensitization, and positive reinforcement, I think you can help her overcome this idiosyncrasy.
If other readers have had similar experiences, please feel free to share your story along with your solution.
Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist, and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. She addresses reader questions as diverse as outdoor cat safety to dog fears and bizarre behavior. Send your pet questions, stories, and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.
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