What would make a dog hate a certain noise?

Question

Molly can't stand to hear the sound of you clapping your hands or anything that resembles the sound of a slap. She starts barking at where the sound comes from. What do you suppose would make her this way? She was adopted from a shelter in May. We are her 4th owners.

Answer 1

maybe she was abused by her prior owners. or they clapped right before they punished her. but with such a non-existent background...who knows for sure? i hope this helped

Answer 2

If she was ever hit, it may have made a similar sound. Or maybe it's just too loud or a weird pitch. Who knows.  

Answer 3

Do you know if she was abused? The sound could be reminding her of her past owners if they ever hit her. Or they could've used the sound as a threat to her, maybe if she was doing something bad and they'd clap/yell at her to get her to stop.

With adopted pets it's hard to tell what would cause things like that.

Answer 4

It could remind her of some abuse she suffered in the past, if indeed she was abused,

but then again some dogs are just afraid of certain noises.

Amy is terrified of thunder, lightning, fireworks, road traffic noises, she's been with us from 8 weeks old and never been abused, so it's just l suppose like a phobia.

Maybe Molly has a phobia to clapping hands.

It's nice to hear that Molly has now got a forever home, l think she deserves it!