Flashing lights. Booming cracks. Are thunderstorms terrorizing your furry loved one?
Dogs have that fight-or-flight instinct like we do. They hear a loud, scary sound and some may react without a thought. Sadly, they don't always make the right decision. Instead of hiding away temporarily like a cat, dogs try to escape and get as far away from the scariness. That doesn't bode well for them or for you!
You can help your dog in these stressful times, though!
-
Reward calm behavior. If you aren’t giving your dog praise or treats for being calm, now is the time. You shouldn’t wait until a storm comes. Teach your dog, in advance, that calm, relaxed behavior is appreciated and rewarded!
-
Create a safe haven. Where does your dog go when a storm approaches? Turn that location into a safe place by providing a cozy bed and a special treat. Ensure that your dog can easily come and go. They shouldn’t feel trapped, so I don’t recommend relying on a crate.
-
Desensitize. Play CDs (or other media) of thunderstorms to desensitize your dog from the sound. Keep the volume relatively low as you don’t want to scare your pet. This won’t stop their sensitivity to the static electricity or barometric pressure changes, but it can provide some relief.
-
Engage with your dog. Now is the time to pull out that dog tricks book and reinforce any others that your dog already knows. Ask your dog to perform a task and give him a treat when he does it.
-
“Dress Up” your dog. We all enjoy snuggling under the covers on dreary, stormy days. Give your dog a snug-fitting shirt to bring comfort. The ThunderShirt® is an option that's proven to work.
- Ask your vet or trainer. They deal with dogs regularly, getting positive and negative feedback from their clients on what works, so they should be able to steer you in the right direction.
If your dog is a repeat escape artist due to fear, a GPS collar is a stress-free tool for knowing where your dog is when he manages to get away.
Have these tips helped? Do you have any not mentioned? Join our community of dog parents by commenting and sharing.
(And don't be shy! Myself and Kodiak are here to answer any dog-related questions you may have. Send an email to customerservice@goodlifeinc.com with “Ask Kodiak” in subject line and it may be featured on this very blog.)
Recent Articles
-
Ultrasonic Bark Control and Electric Fences Don't Mix
Dogs need consistency and repetitive training in order for them to learn new behaviors, tricks, or boundaries. Our bark control products use a simple yet effective ultrasonic sound frequency to train dogs not to bark and stop other unwanted behaviors. But what happens when similar tones are used for additional types of training – like invisible fences? Good question. We do not recommend the use of any ultrasonic bark control product in conjunction with invisible fences (especially not shock fences). Doing so will confuse the dog and cause a lot of frustration for both you and your pup. Here’s Why...
-
Prevent Animal Cruelty
There are many forms of animal neglect, cruelty, and abuse, and it happens all over the world. So how do we recognize the signs of abuse, and how can we make a difference? -
OnGuard Training: 3 Steps to Success!
The OnGuard™ is designed to make training your dog easier, as well as to stop unwanted barking and bad behaviors in their tracks! It's one of our most versatile products, but still people ask what its purpose is and how they are supposed to use it effectively. -
Barking In Your Sleep?
Is your neighbor's dog keeping you up all night from their incessant barking? Or maybe it's your dog that likes to bark at night. Read these tips to help you and your pet get a better night's sleep! -
Anxious Olivia
Due to the severity of Olivia’s anxiety and fear, the volunteers were desperate to try anything that could help her…
