THUNDERSTRUCK: RIDING OUT THE STORM WITH A PHOBIC PET

I’m sure we can all recall the recent thunderstorm we had, and some of you have dogs that went nuts.  I’d like to share what I learned from those mentors whom I respect.

I had a golden retriever who tried to dig a hole in the sofa to get away from the storm.  My maternal instinct told me to hold her and try to comfort her.  What I later learned was that I was reinforcing her behavior. I felt so guilty when I learned that, but I found a few ways from the experts. 

Some owners are willing to simply put up with symptoms of storm phobias like hiding, trembling, whining, drooling, and pacing. In more severe cases, however, panicking dogs have been known to tear drapes, break windows, and more during thunderstorms. In either case, the behavior is a sign of a terrified, unhappy dog.

There is a product on the market called the thunder shirt; a soft fleece that fastens with Velcro strips. It’s based partly on the work of Temple Grandin, noted author and Doctor of Animal Science. I have used it, and seen it work on other dogs. It gives gentle, constant pressure, and has a dramatic calming effect for most dogs and cats if they are anxious, fearful or overexcited. It doesn’t always work on all dogs, but it’s inexpensive and comforting.

They may be reacting to a sudden drop in air pressure or the electrical charge in the air.flashes, the sound of thunder, wind blowing around the house, or the sound of rain on the roof. Some dogs even start to pace and whine half an hour or more before a storm. Part of their discomfort comes from static from lightning and can be very uncomfortable for them. I wipe the dog all over with dryer sheets this helps to take some of it away.
 
Most important, though, is that your treat your dog gently and kindly when he is afraid. Don't cuddle and reassure him, because that will reward his scaredy-dog behavior. Damage to his crate and himself if he's confined. Put a crate with blankets or clearing a space underneath your bed. Just make sure that he can get out whenever he wants. A panicked dog can do a lot of damage to himself and the crate if panicked enough. 

I do the “jolly dance” with him. He may think you’re nuts, but it will show hom that you weren’t afraid so maybe he shouldn’t be either. Instead, just be calm and provide him with a safe, familiar place where he can feel secure and ride out the storm. 

Your best bet for helping your pup overcome his thunderstorm fears is to find a qualified dog trainer. They can help you develop a program to gradually retrain your scaredy dog by gradually, gently helping him adjust to storms through behavior modification. 

Technically called "systematic desensitization," this involves exposing the storm-phobic dog to some gentle reminders of a thunderstorm, such as a very soft tape recording of thunder or a flashing light, and rewarding the dog with lots of treats, attention, and other positive reinforcement only if there's no evidence of anxiety. 

Over time, the intensity of the stimulus is increased, and only calm behavior rewarded. Be patient, it will take time, but the rewards are worth it and you won’t end up with a neurotic dog.

If gentle, patient retraining doesn't help your pooch, there are some prescriptions that can. Your veterinarian can prescribe one of several anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications, or BACH Flower Remedy (Klein’s Pharmacy or CVS) in their water can produce a calming effect as well.

Jennifer Mielziner is the owner of Fer's Furry Friends, a professional non-violent reward based method of pet training, professional pet sitter, and pet consultant for over 35 years in Los Angeles, California. fersfurryfriends@gmail.com