Sookie, one of Jaci’s dogs.
Everyone who loves to watch storms got a special treat last night. The constant lightening was a pretty awesome display, and so many stayed up all night (willingly) to watch the storm. But what about your dog? Do you think he/she thought it was so great? I know my pups weren’t all that impressed.
In fact, Hey Jude thought it was pretty awful. Sookie (the sweet girl pictured above), who is fairly easy going and un-phased by, well, anything (even being corrected when she’s getting into trouble), thought nature’s display last night was a bit much. She hid in the master bath all night – which is where she felt safe, and I left her to it.
So how do you cope with a pet who is afraid of storms? I believe it’s a delicate balance, and I believe you can prevent your dog’s anxiety from becoming out of control. The key thing to remember here is that your reaction and patience is of vital importance. For me, I never coddle too much; being overly emotional with your dog does not provide them with the comfort it provides the human, in many cases, too much frantically emotional “it’s ok, it’s alright, calm down, calm down,†makes the situation worse and can cause the anxiety to spiral out of control. What they need in that moment is calm reassurance – not an anxiety driven helpless wave of emotional soothing. That’s not too say it’s ok to go to the other extreme and be too harsh or scold their behavior during a storm either – that creates equally undesirable results and teaches your dog not to trust you.
Many dogs sense the storm is coming well in advance. This could be from drop in air pressure, Hey Jude became jumpy yesterday afternoon – long before the storms arrived. Sookie couldn’t have cared less – until the storm actually got here.
My method for my pups is simple, it’s a formula of safe exercise (so they are worn out by the time a storm comes. ALWAYS be sure to keep your pet leashed and make sure he/she is wearing identification, especially before severe weather. If your dog is too frightened when a storm is coming, exercise him in your home/enclosed yard only). Then, it is about maintaining the norm. Hey Jude paces when he is anxious (which is pretty typical of German Shepherds), and when he gets a little too anxious – I tell him to go lie down, calmly. Giving your dog a task such as a down stay, sometimes helps. Giving your dog something to do is far more effective then focusing on what you don’t want him or her to do. Sometimes a smart dog chew toy filled with peanut butter or treats is the answer. If it really gets bad, my guy heads into his crate on his own, which is his safe place. It is important that your dogs feel safe, and allowing him/her to be in the space that makes them feel safe (within reason that is). I always provide some sort of white noise to distract from the storm. I’ll close the windows, and turn on the AC unit (even if it’s just on the fan setting), and my fur kids do just fine.
But what about the rescue who has already developed severe thunderstorm anxiety? Trust me when I say I’ve dealt with dogs so terrified of storms that I’ve woken to them shaking and trying to crawl underneath my pillow. How you react is even more important in cases like these. You can try a Thundershirt, and The Humane Society Of The United States has some great solutions for helping you and your dog cope with thunderstorm anxiety.
In the most extreme cases, if your dog is a danger to himself during storms, then ask your veterinary about more options.
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