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Some dogs are afraid of thunder, fireworks, and other loud noises. What should and shouldn't you do to help get your dog through the storm.
Many people have owned, or at least heard of, a dog being scared of loud noises. Thunderstorm phobia doesn't effect all dogs but it is common. Dogs of any breed and age can be affected and the fear of loud noises can develop or get worse with time.
Diagnosing a fear is not hard to do, the dog may tremble, want to be near or on you, or run and hide. In extreme cases dogs will become destructive as they try to get away from the noise. Owners may come home to destruction in the house and a dog that was previously potty trained may have eliminated in the house. Some dogs have been known to break through a window or door trying to escape the sound. If the dog was in a crate the dog may have eliminated in the crate or destroyed it while trying to get out. Outside dogs have been known to run, breaking chains or fences trying to flee the noise, many times they end up hit by a car or in the city shelter. Shelters are always full after a storm or following a fireworks display. Thunderstorm phobia is very real and owning a dog with this problem can be heart braking and hard to live with.
Solving the problem:
- Talk to a behaviorist, get a referral from your veterinarian.
- Desensitize the dog to the loud noise. Make thunder and other loud noises fun. Play with your dog during the storm. Make a recording of loud noises. While doing something your dog enjoys - eating, playing fetch, etc, play the recording, softly at first, then increase the sound as your dog becomes accustomed to the sounds. Don't increase the recording to quickly, make sure your dog is not scared during the game. Remember loud noise=fun.
- Put your dog in a safe place during a storm or fireworks display. An interior bathroom, one that doesn't have windows, makes a safe place. While your dog is in the bathroom turn on the exhaust fan or play music to help drowned out the noise. Make sure there is nothing to be destroyed.
- Many dogs will hide in a closet or under the bed, this works well as long as there is nothing harmful in the area or nothing the dog might destroy.
- Play white noise - turn on the radio between stations or play the TV on an off station. White noise works well to mask unwanted sounds.
- A tight fitting t-shirt is supposed to help. I don't know how it helps but many people swear by it.
- Never pet or baby your dog while it is afraid. This is very tempting to do but it will make the problem worse by reinforcing fear. When the dog is loved on while it is afraid it is being told that fear of the loud noise is good or that it should be afraid. It is better to ignore the dogs fear.
- There are medications available from your veterinarian that may help. Many of these drugs are sedatives and need to be given 30 minutes before the storm hits or 30 minutes before a fireworks display.
- There are also herbal remedies available like Rescue Remedy and DAP Diffusers. Rescue Remedy is a combination of flower essences and is meant to calm a stressed dog. The DAP Diffuser releases appeasing pheromones into the dogs environment. It is plugged into an outlet like an air freshener, people and other animals won't notice it, only dogs. The DAP should help the dog feel less anxious and safer.
- Senior dogs with cognitive dysfunction may develop a phobia to loud noises. Feeding an older dog a diet rich in antioxidants, like Hill's b/d, might help.
Teaching your dog not to be afraid will take time, don't give up on him/her. Until then keep your dog safe.
Tips from the Humane Society.
Sources:
The Humane Society
Help Your Dog Cope With Thunder and Fireworks
A Dogs Life
The copyright of the article Calming a Dog Scared of Thunder in Pet Care is owned by Charla Dawson. Permission to republish Calming a Dog Scared of Thunder in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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