Hi everyone,

  So it is the season for loud scary noises: train horn going off.  (more loudly during summer for some reason) and someone working nearby that makes loud firework/gunshot noises starting around 6:50 am a couple days a week (periodically throughout the day), sometimes on the weekend. Plus 4th of july is coming up.  Chloe is on anti-anxiety meds now to help and I try to have 'white noise' in the house by turning on fans and music, but short of having an extremely obnoxious house whenever I can't take her somewhere, it doesn't actually prevent even me from hearing the triggers.  I am renting a house and the ideal strategy would be for the owners (school) to replace the really old single-paned windows (to double paned, other problem is that they have aluminum frames, which in coastal environment means corrosion and problems opening/closing), but thats never going to happen.  I hope to graduate in a year, and move elsewhere (where there is a job!) but in the meantime I am looking for more options since summers seem to be worse than any other time of the year.

What I would love to get Chloe is a pair of noise cancellation headphones/earmuffs.  Here are products I have found, but I wanted feedback from anyone who has any anecdotal evidence of using these (or alternative methods) and what your consensus is:

1. Mutt Muffs: I've read mixed reviews online for these 'aviator' earmuffs for dogs.  Seems that they either work great (even for dogs who dont like gunshot noises when the owners take them hunting) or they dont work at all.  I am debating whether to try them, but they are $60 a pop and I just spent a lot of money for chloe's annual physical with some check up x-rays and her roundworm medication (yuck, its from secretly scarfing cat poo and dirt when i let her outside I think... I digress). Also, chloe seems to have a small head and big ears (for the sizing chart) so I worry that they might not fit 'correctly' regardless of what size I buy (head circumference=medium, ear size is large).

2. 4 Paws Aviation Earmuffs: the only competing brand I can find to mutt muffs.  The upside is that they look more comfortable and better made than mutt muffs (reviews complained that mutt muffs seemed to be cheap quality for money paid).  Also apparently they are a bit heavier than mutt muffs earmuffs. Also, some people said they can't return these 4paws brand because they are considered 'specialty' items. At least with mutt muffs I can return them and get money back. They are the same price as mutt muffs.

Training: I do always give her treats when we hear the noises and she doesn't go into full blown anxiety attacks like she used to at the start of last summer (which is why I know summer is worse) *unless thunder is involved, then I take her up to lab*. meds+treats=some relief. I just wish she didn't have any anxiety

3. Open to any suggestions: especially if anyone has any ideas on how I can turn a human bose noise cancelling headphone into something for my dog.  a little diy project of sorts.

-Chloe's mom