Thunderstorm anxiety is terrifying for a dog, and is heartbreaking for an owner to watch. Buy a CD of thunderstorm sounds and play it at random times so your dog will learn what thunder sounds like and know not to be afraid of it when the real thing happens. Why Do Dogs Freak Out During Thunderstorms? It’s as easy as putting the thundershirt on and then watching as your dog calms right down. Caroline Spencer, our natural canine behaviourist, looks at why dogs bark and how to stop, If you’ve got an itchy dog, we can help. This may help your dog take thunderstorms in their stride. They do have places to go to feel safe, and I do. 2. Method 3 of 3: Medicating Your Dog During a Storm. It mimics being wrapped in a blanket or having his mother covering him with her protection. You may find your dog's anxious reaction to even the smallest storm annoying, but anger will not help. Keeping your dog calm during fireworks may require a menu of strategies. If you're in hot weather conditions and are concerned about your dog overheating, some garments (Anxiety Wrap) can be moistened with water. Really any basic command will do. How to Calm Your Dog During a Thunderstorm. Build a relationship of trust between you and your dog, when your dog knows for sure you’re their ultimate safety net, then they are going to believe you more readily when faced with their nemesis, what ever that maybe, in this instance we are talking thunderstorms. Pet and cuddle with your dog to help alleviate his fears. Caroline has over 30yrs experience with dogs from gundogs to pet dogs. What to do if your dog is scared during a thunderstorm The incidence of pancreatitis is growing among dogs. Our Calm can offer needed relief to your dog's anxiety symptoms. Required fields are marked *. This is not bad behavior – your dog has a genuine phobia. If your dog is scared of fireworks and storms, this music can really help them to relax. With symptoms ranging from barking and chewing to self-injury, it can be a serious problem for both dog and owner. Be sure to read the ingredients before sharing your melatonin – it may contain Xylitol or other ingredients that are toxic for dogs. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Do they pace, pant or whine hours before the first dark cloud rolls in? No, there isn’t any clinical evidence yet. Gradually increase the volume until your dog doesn't even notice the difference between real thunder and silence. Fortunately, as your dog’s owner, there are certain things you can do to help your dog calm down and alleviate some of their anxiety. 1. This article has been viewed 144,407 times. Consult the product directions for safety information. Clomicalm can be quite effective when used every day during thunderstorm season. You can place it on his own bed, in his special hiding place or just cover him up wherever he happens to be. Once you learn how to detect when your dog is anxious, you can begin to identify the triggers that are causing the anxiety. When dogs are afraid, they go where they feel the most safe – a kennel, the closet, under the covers in the bed. Some dogs have jumped through glass windows or scrambled over fences trying to flee the noise of a thunderstorm. if you … Of course it is. How to calm a dog down during a thunderstorm and help it rest is so important for their health and welbeing. If your dog is afraid of thunder, play calming music to drown out the thunder claps. Thunderstorm phobia in dogs is real, not uncommon ... 'Come on and lie down here,' and the dog still knows what to do." Beverly Ulbrich is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Founder of The Pooch Coach, a private dog training business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. C.S., West Palm Beach, Florida. ", "I like that you said to wrap the dog in a blanket, it helped him from being scared. It all depends on how scared your dog is from the thunderstorm. Thunderstorm season can be stressful for certain people and for their pets. Many dogs are terrified of thunderstorms. There are different ways that owners can help their dog stay calm and comfortable during a thunderstorm. How to Calm Dogs During Thunderstorms. Stay Calm: The best thing to do is to remain calm around your dog during a thunderstorm. We were able to manage her fears with a variety of techniques, patience, and products. ", https://dogtime.com/dog-health/63091-anxiety-contagious-dog, https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/shelter-health-poison-control/5-pet-safety-tips-storm-preparedness, https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/dog-storm-phobia#2, https://www.thedodo.com/dogs-in-thunderstorms-1375156998.html, http://thebark.com/content/essential-oils-and-dogs, https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/animals-pets-summer-storms-weather/, http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2085&aid=2545, https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/pets/dog-behavior/dogs-and-thunderstorms, https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/how-calm-high-energy-dog, http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/dog-storm-phobia, https://www.rspcavic.org/health-and-behaviour/tips-for-a-happy-pet-and-owner/fireworks-and-thunderstorms, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Another great product for thunderstorms is the thundershirt. For this reason, we sat down with our Trupanion veterinarian Dr. Caroline Wilde to learn about how to calm a dog during a thunderstorm and the benefits to help keep your pet calm for the future. [1] X Research source During a storm, give your dog no indications that something is wrong. ... how you can help calm your anxious dog (without medication). If you know your dog has an issue with storms, noises or a generally fearful character then preparation many months before is going to help your dog far better than firefighting on the night. A thunder jacket replicates swaddling and may sooth your dog into a calmer state. His comfort ultimately lies in his confidence in you. Smile and speak in a calm, reassuring to… You could try a thunder shirt and some lavender spray to calm him. She has been voted the best private dog trainer in the San Francisco Bay Area 4 times by SF Chronicle and by Bay Woof, and she has won 4 "Top Dog Blog" awards. Keep calm. Check out products that may help your dog weather the storm. Some of these garments (Anxiety Wrap) press against acupressure points associated with stress relief. Wrap Your Dog in a Blanket It may not be as effective as a Thundershirt but wrapping your dog in a big, heavy blanket may alleviate some of … Providing a distraction from the storm is another great way to calm your dog. how to stop puppy biting and chewing you and your belongings. Be sure to consult your veterinarian before using, the oils are very concentrated and can be harmful to your skin as well as your dog's. If your dog has thunderstorm phobia and a storm hits, you have lost the battle. If you’ve read our blogs before, you must be sick of hearing us say this but…every dog requires a different dose, no matter the size or weight, and each dog will react differently. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. The reaction to a thunderstorm varies from cat to cat and, of course, the severity of the storm but how do you calm a cat during a thunderstorm? How do you calm a dog down during a thunderstorm? You may notice distinct signs of distress from your dogs when there are storms in the area. Step 2. Nicholas Dodman of Tufts University in the USA notes that may dogs will seek the comfort of a bathroom, shower or bath to rest away from the effects of static[1]. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. It is still not clear as what triggers this kind […] 1 decade ago. He'll feel safe and protected with you near. "I have two dogs that become anxious on July 4 and thunderstorms. Last Updated: October 8, 2020 Then reward your dog after they’ve successfully followed your command. Some dogs have been known to hide under the bed covers during a thunderstorm. The best thing you can do is prepare for the experience and offer kind and supportive words whenever you can speak them. Certified Dog Trainer. 8 Ways To Calm Your Dog Down During a Thunderstorm By melissa | September 21, 2018 | 0 melissa | September 21, 2018 | 0 What to Do About Thunder and Lightning. You can play a game, such as tug of war or fetch, with your dog inside. Never give a dog medication without consulting a veterinarian first. Act like the thunderstorm is not a big deal. You aren’t alone. Sileo It comes in a easy to use gel that you simply dial the dose and apply to your dogs gums to help calm him. Advertisement. Not all dogs are afraid of thunderstorms. The ideas were very helpful. Use Pheromones If you have a question, join up and ask the experts. They can also damage furniture. Hands-on “touch” therapy, exercise, homeopathic supplements, and even short-term use of veterinary anti-anxiety meds may all prove helpful to ease the fears of frightened pets. Be calm. Follow the same routine you would any other night. Reward for calm behavior in the presence of the feared sound. This makes it rather hard to calm down a dog, unless you know an effective method. Bach flower extracts (as found in Bach’s Rescue Remedy ), diffusing lavender oil, and dog pheromones can promote relaxation. In the beginning, your dog will not like this exercise. It’s not nice when your dog suffers from thunderstorm anxiety. 4 March 2020. For example, treat your house like an indoor obstacle course and lead your dog around asking him/her to perform certain commands. A treat ball, KONG toy, or puzzle board are good activities for your dog. Create a calm atmosphere with calming music; Be there for them, hold them, show them there’s nothing to … Give your dog a bone or toy to play with while you play thunder sounds so it starts to associate the sounds with positive things. Some even suggest that you line your dog’s hiding area with foil. Step 1. Severe thunderstorm anxiety can endanger a panicky dog's life. If you haven’t heard of the Thundershirt, it’s a product that’s specifically designed to calm down dogs during storms by providing consistent pressure on their bodies. For more tips, including how to prevent your dog’s fear of thunderstorms, keep reading! As the rain starts to pound on the windows, you may find Rover hiding under a … Is it possible my dog is just not scared? Trust is not built on training your dog to perform sit, stay etc. Do not punish a dog exhibiting fear or anxiety during a storm. More Tips on Calming a Dog During a Thunderstorm. 3. It helps to first try to understand why dogs fear thunderstorms in the first place. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Trust is built from how your respond to all their communication signals throughout their day with you. Your email address will not be published. Beverly has over 17 years of dog behavior training experience and specializes in dog aggression and anxiety training. Turn up the television or music to drown out the noise. She has also been featured on TV as a dog behavior expert. Training a Dog Example During a trip to the veterinarian’s office, if you dog gets overly anxious in the waiting room, tell it to “sit” or “lay down”. If you know a thunderstorm is coming, let your dog outside to go to the bathroom. Do they tremble and hide at the first drop of rain? My pug gets extremely upset during thunderstorms, and we have a lot of them. If your dog feels safe under the covers give him his own blanket to weather the storm. MarcusPeterson. If your dog is afraid of thunder, play calming music to drown out the thunder claps. If so, they may be showing the signs of storm anxiety. Bring your dog indoors during a storm. The loud noises, static electricity, and barometric pressure changes cause fear, anxiety, and panic. Make sure that the volume of the sound is low. If this agitates your dog too much, start with 5–10 minute daily sessions instead. And yes, there are things you can give your dog to calm him down. Choose a selection that is soothing. and Co-Author of “Parenting Your New Puppy” With Lesley Harris. Dogs talk by what they do and they feed off what we do 100 times more than what we say or request of them. Turn on some music. Here are some ways to calm your dog during a thunderstorm: Play soothing music. It applies gentle pressure to the dog’s body, dramatically reducing anxiety levels. 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