A quick search on the internet yields a great deal of information. I’m hoping one day I’ll be able to walk Winston without him barking, lunging and things that frighten him. If he’s feeling playful, grab his toys and have some fun with him. If a dog is punished or ignored during a frightening event, it’s likely to worsen the anxiety. Like many dogs who struggle with unexplained fear of thunder, Grant seems unusually sensitive to any storm-related occurrence, such as changes in barometric pressure. Meanwhile, using desensitizing exercises with your dog to the noise of thunder or fireworks often prove very effective. However, keep the crate door open so your pet won’t feel confined (which can dramatically increase anxiety). 2015 Preview SONG TIME Don't Stop Retrievin' 1. Once the sound components have been dealt with (thunder and rain) it is time to move on to the visual side of the, lightning or fireworks. There are ways that you can manage it effectively. There’s no guarantee that you can ever fully resolve your dog’s fear of thunder. “Thunder Phobia” can develop in dogs between ages two and four. It is very important that you remain calm and act normally around the dog. As your dog grows older, storm anxiety can evolve into hiding, pacing, whining, scratching and a complete personality change. These steps listed below are best started when there is no thunderstorm or fireworks going on if at all possible. Always reward relaxation/no response or even less response from the dog with praise and a food treat. My dog is anxious or unsettled about car rides. Instead, offer a positive stimulus, such as gentle petting, to distract and calm your dog. Your dog chooses these locations because they make him feel protected and the noise that frightens him is muffled. Have a calm and positive attitude. She is an amazingly intelligent dog and definitely takes her cues from my own behavior! Not to state this too strongly, but the Thundershirt is a miracle. I LOVE storms and I wish THAT vibe would help HER to remain calm also. For many dogs you can try all you might to do everything right to allay your dog’s fear of thunder and still, they are extremely anxious. 31:10 PREVIEW Melancollie. Tellington Touch has been proven to help thunder phobic dogs. While your dog remains relaxed at this level, say a simple cue word like “chill” and provide a yummy treat every 15 seconds or so. My 4 year old German Shepherd female Zora was never afraid of thunderstorms until the previous summer when we were in the car at a stop sign and the people at the house to the right of the stop sign shot off a huge firework that even made ME jump! Get tips and exclusive deals. Can you suggest something I can do to remove the collar and not allow her to take her bandage off? Is your dog scared of thunder? THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay and District Humane Society is stepping in to help the city deal with its stray cat population. This approach involves several steps and centers around desensitization and counter-conditioning (DCC). But take a cue from Grant — a little dedication and ingenuity from you may be all that’s necessary to help your canine cope successfully! It works for fireworks, too. Manufacturers of the Thundershirt claim an 80% success rate when it comes to calming fearful canines. “Logic would say to avoid deep base tones and loud percussion as these are the types of tones that typically have an adverse effect of dogs—similar to the sound of fireworks, thunder, etc.” If you are looking to help calm your dog with sounds, a good place to start is with the Pet Acoustics Pet Tunes calming music dog speaker. All rights reserved. Listen to Calming Dog Music: Play During Thunder or Fireworks - 5 Hours by Relaxmydog on Apple Music. 4. If your pet heads for his crate, try covering it with a blanket to increase feelings of security. Thunderstorms are a normal part of summer in the South, but some dogs … If your dog will still engage, try a game of indoor fetch, tug, or offer a high-value chew. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Calming music designed to slow the heart rate and aid in de-stressing the dog have worked wonders for many dogs – especially when used with aromatherapy and/or flower essences. Whole Dog Journal’s tips for soothing a dog who is afraid of thunder >>, 6 Things to Remember When You Have a Fearful Dog, Is Your Dog Scared of Thunder? https://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/calming-products-for-dogs When the music of Through a Dog’s Ear went into clinical testing in 2004, we didn’t even test it on dogs with thunder-phobia. Buy Thunder by Hot-Dogs on AudioJungle. Because a dog’s flight response is on overload, it is seeking a haven. Remember that even if storm anxiety crops up suddenly, treatments tend to take time to work. Once your pup can remain relaxed on command, increase the volume a single notch and repeat the process. You can also try calming essential oils or pheromones, such as the canine-calming pheromone DAP. In fact, if you know you are due to have thunderstorms use the calming remedy of your choice as early as the day before the storm or noise is predicted to take place and continue it through the event.