Pets and Storms May Not Mix
While my home is in its fifth day of rain as literal fallout from tropical Storm Fay, all and all we survived with minimal damage.
It was the first big storm test for our Cavalier Anna and she exhibited no fear of the constant thunder or the never ending flashes of lightning.
Of course, she slept a lot during that time frame, so maybe that was her way of coping with the unknown and the expectant anxiety.
Many animals are not so unaffected and the fear of storms can be a real problem for pet owners.
Doityourself.com, offers the following tips if your pet has weather issues:
Expose your dog to a soft tape recording of a thunderstorm and flashes of light.
Speak to him in a soft, soothing voice to reassure him.
Give lots of positive reinforcement if the stays calm, such as bits of cheese, a slice of apple or something else that he particularly enjoys.
Over a period of time, increase the volume of the thunderstorm recording. If he reacts calmly, reward his positive behavior.
Do not yell or get angry with your dog if he reacts negatively to the thunderstorm recording or the flashes of light. If you work with him, he will eventually overcome his fears. If you react negatively, his phobia will worsen.
Do not introduce the storm stimuli too quickly, or you will defeat your purpose and the dog's phobia will worsen.
Be sure your dog has a crate in which he feels safe and secure. This will ease the anxiety level for some dogs. Line your dog's crate with soft blankets or allow him to crawl under a bed. Anywhere he feels safe is fine, as long as it meets your approval.
Never confine a dog that has a storm phobia to a crate. He can damage the crate and inflect severe injury upon himself. Leave the door of his crate open so he can come and go as he sees fit.
Be kind to your dog when he reacts negatively to storms, but do not coddle him or give him excessive attention. This will make the phobia worse.
Remember when you were younger and hid behind your mom, when the thunder boomed?
In fact, some of us are still very fearful of storms.
Well, try to imagine your pets and their anxiety during these weather events. Be aware, be gentle and, if need be, protect them.
On the other hand, for me, the dramatic weather is one of the reasons that I enjoy living and working in the southwest part of Florida.
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