Thunder and the dogs!!!
Helping your dog cope through thunderstorms!!!
We in the Northeast have been plagued by rain for the last 10 days. In the last three days there have been some really violent thunderstorms. When I came into work today, one of my co-workers looked especially tired. We were talking about the storm early this morning (2:00 am) and how with the intensity of the thunder and lightening, her dog became especially “spooked” and kept she and her husband up for a good bit of time before, during and after the storm. Our first dog hated the thunder and would shake and shudder as the thunderstorm passed over head. Of course our first reaction was to coddle and cuddle him in order to help alleviate fears. Little did we know that we were just reinforcing his fear by letting him know that he will get more attention during the storm.
Perhaps it is the loudness of the noise to the super sensitive ears of the dog that causes them so much trauma. The level of this noise has been compared to playing the drums in the close proximity of a small baby. Try that and see the reaction that you get. There are several things that can be done to help your dog cope with this fear. One of the first things to do, according to the Humane Society is to create a safe place for your dog. Most dogs want to get away from the sound that firghtens them as quickly as possible. If your dog has a particular spot in your home where he/she tries to go to help calm his/fears, make sure the dog has access to that spot. If the spot is in a particular room, make sure the door to that room remains open. There are also several other ways to help your dog with this fear and they will be addressed in future entries. Because we are in “thundertorm season” now and will soon be in the midst of hurricane season, it is best to learn how to help your dog out now!!
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