Monsoon Season is looming for us who live in Arizona, and with the passing of an impressive thunderstorm sparked an interest to learn more about how we can help our pets deal with such a frightening experience for them. We all know thunder is loud, it wakes us up in the middle of the night when it is close, and can even lull us to sleep if it is far away. We all also know that our furry companions experience sounds at a much greater volume than we do, which is why thunder is such a terrifying happening. Imagine you are relaxing on your couch, tired from work, and are gently rolling in and out of a nap when suddenly the sound of a semi crashed through your eardrums, as if it were coming for you. You hear this terrifying sound and jolt awake, but do not see any signs of threat. We can rationalize that there is no incoming threat, dogs cannot.
This type of fear is very difficult to “cure” but there are ways to help them get through storms easier. If you can hear the sky churning and know that your pet does not respond well to thunderstorms, you can try and distract your dog to keep the anxious behavior at bay for a short time. Play with them using their favorite toy or work on training with treats for as long as you can before fear takes over and they feel the need to flee. With each time you use the distraction method, you may be able to keep their attention for longer and longer, allowing your pet to deal with the noises in a positive way for longer.
Sometimes, though, the fear is embedded too deeply to be distracted. Take note as to where your pet goes to hide during a thunderstorm, and allow them to have access to this place if there is nothing there to hurt them. Create a dark, cushioned area for them to use as a “hidey-hole”, a place where the sound is deafened and will be there to comfort them. As a pet parent, I know that the first thing I want to do when my pet is trembling with fear is to pet and speak softly to them. In fact, this is counter productive, as it is telling them that their fear is being rewarded, and that it is correct to be frightened.
Thunderstorms are a not too common occurrence in the desert, which can make the training that much more difficult than that of a dog who experiences a thunderstorm once a week. Your pet feeds off of your energy, so the calmer you are, the more they will realize there is no threat. Do your research and speak to a veterinarian or a behaviorist if you feel out of control.
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