* Update! *
July 4, 2021
We’re reposting this, originally posted last year. If your dog has “stormphobia” (high anxiety during thunderstorms), then it’s likely he’ll experience anxiety during fireworks as well. Some of the suggestions below will apply to the holiday.
Also, this is a terrific article from Dr. Karen Becker at Healthy Pets. “Tips for Surviving the July 4th Holiday With Your Pet” => click here.
Enjoy a happy and safe Independence Day!
Originally posted June, 2020...
As we discussed in Part I, “Stormphobia” is very real and can be a very serious. It can even be dangerous if your dog stops listening and obeying commands when anxiety strikes.
What causes this anxiety in some pets and not others is a mystery, and once a pet develops this fear, it’s almost never cured.
5 things you can try that might help your loyal friend.
1. Create a safe space.
As you may already know, we’re strong believers in the use of crates for dogs. Yes, we understand that not everyone agrees with us. But all in all, if it’s not overused, we feel it’s a humane tool that helps create a well-behaved dog. (As always, feel free to comment below if you’d like to discuss this in more detail!)
One huge advantage of a crate-trained dog is that the crate often becomes a safe place for the pet. It’s a place your pet can go when you have company or when there are unusual distractions in the home. A thunderstorms is an excellent example of when a crate should be used. When you know a storm’s coming in, give your little friend some love and then tuck him into his crate with his favorite blanket and chew toy.
This, in our opinion, is the best solution.
2. Minimize the effect of lightning.
If possible, keep your dog in an interior room, or close the windows and blinds. Often, the flashes of lightning can be frightning to dogs and if you can prevent this, all the better. It might also be smart to leave the lights ON, in order to minimize the flashes of lightning.
Sometimes we’ll lay a blanket over the crate. Keep in mind that it’s best that your dog is used to this before trying it in a storm.
3. Try to help control the static electricity.
As we mentioned in Part I, some experts now believe that dogs suffer from the electric charge in the air during storms.
To protect your pet from this you can provide a grounding mat in the crate, or in another safe location.
There is also “storm wear” that you can put on your dog to help avoid the electrical charges. The Storm Defender, Anxiety Wrap and Thundershirt are a few examples. (Click here to see the study showing successful use of the Anxiety Wrap.)
One other option is to rub unscented dryer sheets on your dog during the storm. This has proven effective in reducing static electricity.
4. Anti-anxiety medications.
In the most serious cases, you may need to use anti-anxiety medications.
Only take this approach after speaking with your veterinarian!
5. Lastly, always be gentle, be patient and remain calm.
It’s easy to become frustrated. Just remember, your dog is not intentionally misbehaving or disobeying. This reaction to thunder is usually completely out of your pet’s control, and your anger or frustration will only make it worse.
If the dog is trying to jump up into your arms, or something extreme like that, don’t allow it. Don’t reward this behavior. Keep him on the floor or next to you and speak softly. Touch him lovingly. And stay calm!
