In recent week’s here in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, it’s been particularly rainy. With hurricane season well underway, and record storms out in the Gulf, many of us may have been woken up to the sounds of loud thunder.
Couple that with the recent July 4th holiday, and your dog has probably been dealing with a lot of loud noises that are out of the ordinary for them.
A fear of loud noises and novelty sounds, particularly fireworks and thunderstorms are common for many dogs. This can be extremely problematic and stressful for both dog and owner.
Why Are Dogs Afraid of Thunder?
Why thunderstorm phobia? The best answer may be “Why not?” All animals (humans included) learn certain fears more readily than others — many people are afraid of snakes, but aren’t typically afraid of butterflies. We learn as we age that snakes have teeth, and could potentially cause of harm. Whereas butterflies do not, and are pretty harmless. But that news doesn’t come as a shock to you, because you learned this throughout your years of life.
For dogs, thunderstorms mean loud crashes and sparks of bright lightning. Heavy rains and the pounding of raindrops on the concrete outside. The temperature drops and the sunlight goes away.
Being startled by these things is likely just part of your dog’s evolution, and since they’re indoors listening to all of that racket, there’s never been an opportunity for a dog to learn that it’s just a little rain and won’t actually cause them harm.
Unfortunately, such phobias are not only easy to develop, they’re hard to shake. So how can you help your dog get over their fear of thunderstorms?
The standard therapy for fears is counter-conditioning and desensitization. You start desensitization by exposing your learner to the frightening stimulus in its mildest possible form. A human who’s terrified of clowns might look at a painting of a clown or the circus. For dogs, we can counter-condition by pairing the scary thing with a super-special treat. When the dog learns that a mild form of the scary thing reliably predicts the deluxe treat, she starts acting pleased by the scary thing. The trainer increases the scary thing’s intensity bit by bit, always waiting for the dog to look relaxed and happy before the next step.
While controlling the intensity of a storm is going to be impossible for you, there are some steps you can take to condition your dog to be more comfortable during thunderstorms. And if controlling the weather isn’t impossible to you, then, there’s a few folks at the National Weather Service that would love to hear from you 😉
Keep Him Close to You
In Florida, rain can come out of no where! But, we typically see the sky darken shortly before the rain and thunder begins. If you see a storm on the horizon, keep your dog close to you. The comfort of being next to you will help ease the anxiousness a dog might experience when the thunder starts. Over time, they’ll become more comfortable in the setting because they’ll have seen your reactions to similar instances in the past.
Play!
Say your dog is only mildly anxious, maybe a little restless, before and during storms. He responds to your cues, he’ll eat, and he doesn’t shake, salivate, or try to hide. If he also has a game that he just loves, try playing that game during a storm.
The minute you’re aware that a storm is coming, bring out the ball or the tug toy. If you throw a play party whenever there’s a storm, your dog may learn that storms predict good times. These little things can go a long way in sticking to your dogs mind during future storms.
The Treatment Will Depend on the Dog
While you’re dressing your dog up and playing to distract your dog, cut out as many features of the storm as you can. Draw curtains, close windows, turn on the A/C or play soft music.
If your dog wants to hide in the bathroom or sit next to you, let her. Debate rages over the effect of comforting your dog by petting and talking to her.
The attitude that you and your dog have to be tough guys is laughable, or sad, but maybe your voice and touch do reward fearful behavior. On the other hand, a calm, encouraging friend can help us through an anxious hour. I believe the right response is the one that’s right for you and your dog.
Now it’s your turn! What steps have you seen that help your dog during thunderstorms or fireworks? Let me know in the Facebook comments for this post.
Keep on living (and enjoying) life with your best friend!
