Summer is a great time to get outside with your dog and spend some wonderful quality time together. The weather is warm, the sun is shining and it’s time to have some fun! It’s time to get outside more and enjoy walking and playing with your dog, going to the cottage or for a swim in your backyard pool. However, summer isn’t all fun and games. This is also the season that many of my clients are concerned about the effect that thunderstorms and fireworks have on their dogs.
Many dogs have a deep rooted fear of thunderstorms and fireworks. At some point they were frightened by such events and since then, have developed a true anxiety. Your dog’s sense of hearing is much more sensitive than ours so if thunder and fireworks seem loud to you, imagine what your dog hears! Dogs may also sense changes in the electrical currents in the environment, a warning to your dog that a storm is on its way… So, dogs can not only hear but they can also feel a storm approaching long before it appears and long before we can. Often this can trigger anxiety before the storm even arrives and as the storm approaches, the anxiety builds. Some dogs exhibit this anxiety by staying right beside you; others will hide under the bed or in a closet, while still others will actually destroy their environment by chewing through barriers such as doors. This is true anxiety and dogs that experience it have little control over their behavior once it starts. This is why you need to deal with noise phobias before they occur. As with any behavior modification, this may not be an easy task and will require hard work on the part of you and your dog. Helping your dog to cope with this anxiety often involves multiple techniques used together and it is important that you seek the assistance of your veterinarian.
Some techniques which may be helpful may include:
Noise Desensitization: This is a process whereby you help your dog to become desensitized to the loud noises that result in the anxiety. It requires a recording of a thunderstorm, including rain, wind and thunder. The recording should have mild effects, such as rain only and should build to a true severe storm with all three aspects. In order for this to work you will need to find an area where your pet is usually at ease. Start by introducing a recording of mild storm effects at a low volume. It is important to provide positive reinforcement while the recording is playing. This reinforcement can come in the form of affection and treats. Do this for a very short time frame in the beginning. As you progress, increase the volume of the recording and increase the time as your dog is able to tolerate it. If he becomes anxious stop the session and try again at another time. As you progress the storm sounds should become more severe and louder. Do this until your dog seems to be able to sit through the recording at a loud volume and without becoming anxious. If your dog is also afraid of fireworks you may need to start the process from the beginning with a firework recording.
Pheromones: A pheromone is a chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal which affects the behavior or physiology of others of its species. Dogs produce a specific pheromone to help to reduce anxiety. This pheromone has been isolated, reproduced and been made available commercially. It can be used in combination with behavioral modification to help your dog overcome his anxieties.
Anti-Anxiety Medications: Are drugs that help to calm and relax.
Both pheromones and anti-anxiety medications work by helping to decrease your dog’s anxiety level so that she can relax more during desensitization. However, these products do not work alone, and support and continued hard work is still a necessary part of this process.
Storm Jackets: Special storm jackets have also been used to help for storm anxieties. These jackets are meant to be worn prior to an oncoming storm. It is thought to help in two ways. The first is similar to the effect of swaddling a baby, whereby it helps your dog feel more secure and the second is to dampen the effect of the electrical current that your dog feels prior to and during an electrical storm. There are often a number of factors that make your dog feel anxious during a storm. The two most common are the sounds and the electrical current. Dogs have very sensitive hearing and so can hear a storm coming long before we can. They are also able to detect a change in the electrical current in the atmosphere. The jackets help to decrease this effect, thus decreasing the anxiety.
Please remember that punishment is never a useful tool in dealing with behavior and is especially detrimental in times of anxiety. If you punish an anxious dog he will only become more anxious in the same situations. Reinforcement of positive behavior with affection and treats is a much better approach. Your dog needs support through this stressful time.
Thunderstorms and other loud noises can be very terrifying for many dogs. None of the methods described above are meant to work alone. You may need to combine all of these techniques in order to decrease your dog’s anxiety. It can take time, patience and hard work but with these tips and the help of your veterinarian you may be able to help your dog feel more comfortable in these unavoidable situations.
