Helping your dog weather the storm season

The best approach with dogs if they are fearful of storms and thunder, is ‘not’ to sooth them with your voice as you would a child.  If your dog is stressed and we coo to them things like ‘it’s ok boy’ or ‘you’ll be alright poor thing’…our vocal tones can be construed as being anxious ourselves. Instead just go about what you were would usually be doing indoors and act as if there were no storm.  If your dog wants to be close to you that is ok but when an animal is anxious we should avoid petting them which can simply reinforce their current mental state.

You can buy recordings of thunder to help acclimate your dog because you have the option of gradually building up the volume over time.  The other bonus is that you can control when the training takes place.  You won’t be able to replicate the same feeling in the air as a real storm but a recording is a good start.

You may have also heard about products a dog can wear to help ease anxiety during storms. They come under a variety of names like thunder jackets, thunder coats and thunder shirts.  These types of products work by applying gentle pressure to a dog’s torso.  The science reports it is similar to the way infants can feel more secure with constant gentle pressure when swaddled.  Thunder coats will not work for every dog but many manufacturers have a lot of faith in their product and often offer a money back guarantee.  A quick caveat – Please do not hug your dog through a storm as a means of applying pressure.

If using a new product see the manufacturers instructions for correct fit, amount of time a product can be worn and how often to check e.g. for irritation or rubbing on the skin.

Make certain your dog is wearing a means ID so you can be contacted if she is lost.  If she is micro-chipped and her collar has gone she can still be easily identified.

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)