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10 tips to thunder-proof your dog

Being a Meteorologist, I admit to the blissful enjoyment of a good, loud thunderstorm. I am growing more thankful each day that my 11 month old Black Lab, Olive...
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Being a Meteorologist, I admit to the blissful enjoyment of a good, loud thunderstorm. I am growing more thankful each day that my 11 month old Black Lab, Oliver, is okay with them too. I’ve been using some tricks that helped me with my previous dog Theo, who was a puppy when I lived in East Texas (one of the stormiest places I know).

Since I am less familiar with what doesn’t work, I am also getting some help by the Humane Society for the don’ts. So here we go!

1. “Storms are good!” A lot of people who are keenly aware of storms or leery of severe weather tend to have animals who are scared of storms. Why? When your behavior changes, your dog will take notice of that and start to connect your behavior to the frightening storm. If a storm rocks the house after you feverishly bring in your lawn furniture, you may be signaling to your dog that something bad is on the way every time you do that. When there’s stormy weather, try to act the way you normally do. Make the storm preparations, actions, and attitudes normal, everyday occurrences. You can even use secret words with your family instead of “storm” or “lightning” if your dog is already afraid. Spelling them out “s-t-o-r-m” is also a way of not allowing Fido to put two and two together. But they will eventually catch on.

10 tips to thunder-proof your dog

2. Praise them when storms move in. When I lived in Tyler, Texas, I had a great balcony which allowed me to observe the storms while being in relative safety and security under an overhang. Even during strong storms, Theo was out there with me. And if the sliding-glass door was open, he still wanted to be out there. Here’s why: Every time there was a crack of thunder, I would exclaim how awesome it was…not knowing that my dog was listening to me. “Wow!” “Good one!” “That was awesome!” Little did I know that I was using the same positive words I used when he was learning to go potty outside. After a while, I learned these phrases calmed him down.

10 tips to thunder-proof your dog

3. Use a thunderstorm for a time to practice training. And even if you think your dog is too old or not smart enough for tricks or training, you’d be surprised. Especially if you have your dog’s favorite reward ready for a good deed. If they have their undivided attention on you and the treats, they won’t pay as much attention to the storm outside.

10 tips to thunder-proof your dog

4. Play music and keep the TV on during storms to keep them distracted. But don’t just do this when there are thunderstorms. You’ll have to do this at random times because dogs are creatures of habit. They’ll catch onto your scheme if you always turn on the TV or radio before it storms. Don’t forget to vary it up a bit. And in the meantime, allow her to hide, so long as the area is safe and it appears to help her relax.

10 tips to thunder-proof your dog

5. Remember that dogs work on persistence. Since storms are still pretty sporadic (happening only a few months out of the year) it’s hard to see immediate results. Don’t give up if you don’t see immediate results.

10 tips to thunder-proof your dog

6. Don’t reassure your dog when she’s afraid. The worst thing you can do is say “I am so sorry,” and cradle them. While you’re offering comfort, it can create separation anxiety if you’re not there to do it every time there’s a storm. And after a while, they will realize your reassurance won’t make that scary storm go away.

10 tips to thunder-proof your dog

7. Don’t crate a scared dog. Even if your dog is crate-trained, putting a scared dog in a crate where they don’t feel comfortable will only increase the chance she will try to get out. In the process, she may become injured trying. Not to mention, that safe crate will become a place associated with scary storms.

10 tips to thunder-proof your dog

8. Don’t punish your dog for being afraid. Don’t punish your dog if she doesn’t respond to these tips right away.

10 tips to thunder-proof your dog

9. Don’t force your dog to be close to what she’s afraid of. If she’s afraid of storms, don’t make her stay out on the porch like I did (see #2). Instead, put her on a leash and take her to potty before the storm moves in when there’s rumbling. But be careful with an unleashed dog. If your dog becomes scared, she may try to run away from the perceived danger. Now you have a terrified dog running the neighborhood in a thunderstorm. Also, by forcing your dog to face her fear, she could become aggressive. An aggressive dog is much worse than a scared dog.

10 tips to thunder-proof your dog

Positive reinforcement has worked well with my Labs. And you’ll find that a lot of these tips work with fireworks too! At the lake in Wisconsin, it seems that everyone is setting off fireworks around the 4th of July. By saying “Good one!” and other words of positive reinforcement, you’re using the same positive word that comes with a job well done. Give her a treat and tell her she’s smart.

You may find after a while, your pooch comes to you with a wagging tail every time there’s a loud bang of thunder or fireworks. Okay, I lied. This is really a top-ten list. But the final tip is for YOU!

10. Most important: don’t give up. Dogs are definitely creatures of habit and are more stubborn than most people! Getting your dog’s fears under control may take some time…or not work at all. But trying is definitely worth it. If you need some help, ask your Veterinarian. They may have more tips and some medication to ease your pooch during the stormy season.

Good luck to you and your pooch!

-Meteorologist Eric Sorensen

 

 

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