Nov
17
- Provide a safe spot
Watch your dog during a storm- is there a place or room they like to hide in? This is where they feel safest and would be the best area to confine them in. Confining them somewhere where they don’t feel safe can lead to increased anxiety, fear, and injury.
- Desensitise
This aims to reduce your pups sensitivity to the sound. Try a noise recording CD or even some type of white noise when they are calm, starting low and slowly increase the volume with time. Reward your pooch with treats or petting when they are showing signs of confidence and noise tolerance.
- Counter conditioning
Sounds complicated but it’s really not, basically you are trying to do something that your pooch loves (car ride anyone?) at the time of the storm or noisy event so that they start to associate the storm with positive feelings.
- Pheromones
A mimic of the happy dog pheromone known as dog appeasing pheromone. Available as collars or diffusers, helps calm many dogs.
- Peppermint extract
It’s claimed that the intense smell is so distracting to the dog that they can’t focus on anything else! I’m not sold on this one as Peppermint oil can be very irritating to dogs, so only use the extract and no more than 1 drop on each paw pad (not the skin).
- Garments
Products like a thunder shirt. They apply gentle, constant pressure that is shown to be calming similar to swaddling an infant.
- Seek Veterinary advice
Having a dog that suffers from a noise phobia or anxiety can all be too overwhelming- and some cases will require prescription medication. Seek Veterinary advice to get an action plan in place for your pooch, neither of you should suffer through the storm.
About The Author
Claire is a QLD graduate with 19 years experience as a neighbourhood Veterinarian in Australia and the UK. Animal lover and the founder of VetChat, born from a passion to help pet carers everywhere access trusted advice earlier, for healthier, happier pets. Grateful to be carer to her beautiful Red-dog.
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