Marybeth Bittel shares six tips to deal with a dog’s fear of thunder. They include:
- Watch your own behavior during a thunderstorm
- Use a Thundershirt
- Switch environments when it starts to thunder
- Increase exercise before a thunderstorm starts
- Use counterconditioning during a thunderstorm
- Try desensitization if your dog is scared of thunder
Bittel recommends talking with a veterinarian if none of these approaches works.
Source: Dogster, June 5, 2018. Link.
If you remember nothing else, remember this: Constant petting or consoling is often interpreted by pets as a reward for the fearful response — or reinforcement that the fearful response is warranted. Conversely, punishment will only increase a panicked pet’s anxiety level.
Also see:
- Comprehensive list of remedies for noise-phobic dogs, Whole Dog Journal, March 4, 2016.Link.
- Search results for: thunder, Animal Health Digest. Link.
- Noise sensitivity and pain in dogs, Animal Health Digest, April 3, 2018. Link.
- Is technology driving pets insane?, Animal Health Digest, April 11, 2018. Link.