England’s World Cup match against Mexico will still kick off at 1am on Monday after FIFA decided not to bring it forward by six hours
England’s early-morning World Cup game against Mexico will go ahead at the original scheduled time of 1am on Monday, after FIFA reversed its plan to move the match six hours earlier.
However, with the game kicking off early in the morning, people with dogs should take extra care to ensure they are safe. This is because some pets may be noise-sensitive, and the early timing means they could be disturbed while they would normally be asleep.
According to PDSA’s page titled “noise phobias in dogs”, it notes: “Dogs can hear a much broader range of frequencies than humans, so what feels like a quiet, far away noise to you, can be loud and scary for a dog.”
Common noise phobias
A dog can be afraid of almost any noise, but common triggers include:
- Fireworks
- Thunderstorms
- Vacuum cleaners
- Cars
- Bangs
- Beeping
- Hairdryers
Some dogs may even hate the sounds of loud TVs and shouting. And if a goal is scored, it’s only natural to scream, yell and bang on a table. In fact, even the sound of car doors slamming and people entering homes to watch the match with pals could trigger a dog’s phobia.
Experts at Dogs Trust suggest that younger dogs could be more at risk of being scared, especially if they haven’t been exposed to certain noises. It explains: “Your puppy needs to experience a range of household noises.
“This includes washing machines, vacuum cleaners, doorbells, telephones, radio or TV, and food mixers. In most homes, this will happen naturally. But if there are particular noises they are unlikely to experience, then you should use recordings of these sounds.”
What are the signs and sympto
Some of the most common symptoms of noise phobia include:
- Looking scared (showing the whites of their eyes, tucking their tail away)
- Tremors
- Cowering down or freezing on the spot
- Running from noises
- Hiding
- Becoming uncharacteristically jumpy
- Excessive barking/growling
- Attention seeking
- Destructive behaviour such as digging and chewing
- Toileting in the house
Noise phobias can be caused by:
- A previous bad experience: for example, being startled by a car or balloon as a young dog.
- Lack of exposure to noises as a puppy: your dog is much more likely to be scared of noises that they don’t hear until they are an adult.
- Pain: pain can cause some dogs to become sensitive to noise, which is why you should always have your dog checked by your vet if they suddenly develop a noise phobia.
My dog is scared of noises. Should I contact my vet?
Yes. The PSDA stresses: “An untreated noise phobia is likely to get worse with time, so it’s best to contact your vet as soon as you notice your dog showing any signs of fear.
“Your vet will first check your dog is healthy, not in pain and then discuss the best steps to get them some help. They might recommend seeing an accredited behaviourist.”