Like people, dogs have many different temperaments and personalities. When they are a puppy, you never know just how their fears and insecurities will energy during the course of their life. If you have a dog who is spooked by loud noises , you may find them cowering during a thunderstorm – especially since here in South Florida, thunder and lightning can be an almost daily occurrence.
If your pets are afraid of storms, you’ll want to learn how to help them cope. Here are some tips to calm dogs down so that they are not unnecessarily stressed.
Calm Dogs are Happy Dogs
- Provide a Crate: Some dog owners don’t like the idea of a crate for their dog, but crating can actually be quite comforting for your animal. A dog’s instinct is to hide in a den when they are threatened or frightened, and a crate provides that opportunity. Fill a crate with their favorite toys and blankets, and make sure it is the right size. A crate should be small enough to make your dog feel secure, but large enough to avoid claustrophobia.
- Be Present: Some people dog owners are of the mind that if you comfort a scared dog, you will reinforce their fear. Although there is truth to that theory, the time to start teaching the lesson is not in the midst of a loud and scary Sarasota summer storm. Dogs are pack animals, which is why they are so loyal to their humans- and they are likely to be confused if their “pack” abandons them when they are afraid. Even if you crate your animals, stay in the room with them in order to have calm dogs throughout the storm.
- Use Natural Remedies: Some natural cures have been known to help calm dogs in stressful situations. Melatonin works well to take the anxious edge off, as do some flower extracts and lavender oil. Be sure to ask your veterinarian about specific doses and treatment options which might work well for your pet.
- Ease Them into It: Sometimes you can train your dogs to remain calm when the situation is not so scary. You can play storm sounds during the day to get them used to thunder and rain, and some people even chose to play videos of storms on the TV. In this way they grow used to the sounds while the sun is shining and they aren’t feeling threatened. You can also teach them to positively associate with storms by sitting with them and rewarding them for remaining calm when there is a lightening flash or loud boom.
- Consider Medication: Your veterinarian can provide help if your dog’s anxiety or fear seems too severe for you to deal with. Although most dog owners resist the idea of unnecessarily medicating their pet, in some cases it makes sense. You don’t want to have a dog who is so scared of storms that you run the risk of losing them if they bolt out the door or out of the yard in fear. Inducing sleepiness can help to calm dogs who won’t otherwise be soothed.
- Try a Thundershirt – Many dog owners have reported success with the thundershirt, which applies pressure when worn and leads a dog to feel more secure.
If you need additional assistance in teaching your dog to ignore distractions and feel more confident, call the experts at Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training. No matter your dog’s behavioral issues, we can help.
