by Lauren R. Tharp
Thunder, lightening, and scared dogs all seem to go hand-in-hand. But what can we do, as pet owners, to calm our poor quaking pups?
Coddling VS. Ignoring: The Two Most Common Methods Face Off
Opinions differ on this matter: Some say to coddle the dog while others say to ignore it. I say that these people have never heard of the term “happy medium!” Completely ignoring your dog when it’s frightened can be border on cruelty, while loving on your dog too much can make him feel even more scared (or reinforce negative behavior).
Let me explain that last part. If your dog is scared and you react by “boo-booing” him (or whatever you call being lovey-dovey with your pet in your house), he might think to himself “Wow! My human is reacting strangely too! There actually IS something to be afraid of!!” Or, of course, if you aren’t normally the lovey-dovey type with your pet and you react this way, your love-starved pooch may think to himself “Hey!—This was a great way to get attention!”
Yes, pet your dog. Just don’t pet him more than you usually do. Give him a calming pat or two and then try to distract him with some play time. In other words, act like the storm is no different than any other weather. The more normally you react, the more normally your dog will react. Doggie-see; Doggie-do.
Other Calming Methods & Products to Try
If your dog wants to hide, let him hide. If you own a crate, encourage your dog to use it if/when his hiding instinct kicks in. Or, if your dog normally goes to a certain area of the house, try to make that area as comfortable as you can for them.
Offer a treat after the storm is over. If your dog lives through enough storms, they’ll start to remember that “Hey!—If I’m really, really good, I get a treat after one of these horrible things!”
The Thundershirt. I haven’t personally tried this (and it looks like it wouldn’t be as comfortable for longer haired dogs), but many people swear by it. The Thundershirt uses a small amount of pressure to calm your dog. As they say on their website, it’s similar to how “people with Autism… use pressure to relieve their persistent anxiety.”
Bach Rescue Remedy. This I can recommend first hand. I’ve seen it work dozens of times on my mother’s overly anxious pooch. It’s a miracle in a bottle! Just apply a couple drops of “Flowers” and watch as their worries drift away. And, best of all, it’s Green!