Help Your Canine Cope With Thunderstorms and Fireworks

Some might say that summer is a season of strange noises. With fireworks frequently fired on Memorial and Independence Days, and thunder that often accompanies storms, many dogs find these strange sounds difficult to deal with.

Whether your dog barks, hides, or simply seems afraid, you can help your pet to cope better with summer’s sounds. If you start working with your dog now, there should be significant improvement by the time firecrackers start popping.

The most important thing to do is to understand how dogs think. Remember that whenever you pet your dog or use a “sweet” voice, your dog is going to feel praised. Not soothed! Therefore, if your dog is hiding under the coffee table during a thunderstorm and you bend down to pet him and “soothe” him, instead of feeling soothed, your dog will feel as if you are saying “Good dog! Good hiding under the table!” Of course, this is the exact opposite of the message you’re trying to impart!

Instead, a more appropriate way to communicate with your pet would be to tell him “No,” get him out from under the table, and redirect him into a more normal, relaxed activity such as doing obedience commands or playing ball. Then, after your dog is behaving more naturally, that’s when you should use the praising voice, petting, and rewarding him for more relaxed behavior.

Of course, when it comes to thunderstorms, it may be difficult to just sit and wait for one to come along in order to have the opportunity to practice. You can address this by purchasing a thunderstorm CD or download (ironically found in the relaxation section of music stores). Begin by playing the sounds softly, as background noise while you practice obedience commands with your pet. Then, gradually make it louder and louder until it sounds like a real, strong thunderstorm. Another reason this is helpful is because it gives you the opportunity to practice with your dog with the sounds alone, rather than also with the atmospheric pressure that accompanies a real storm.

With a little advance practicing, proper socialization and building confidence in your pet, your dog can learn to be more relaxed during summer’s sounds. If you need help, consider contacting a knowledgeable, experienced trainer for assistance.