| Thunderstorm Phobia |
Thunderstorm phobia is triggered by one or more stimuli: wind, rain, thunder, lightening, changes in barometric pressure, and low frequency rumbles that precede a storm. Some dogs will pant, tremble, hyper salivate (drool), lose control of bladder or bowel, pace, hide, be restless, seek attention, self-injury or destroy objects. 1. Move your dog to an interior closet or bathroom (anyplace the dog may be most comfortable and quiet). 2. Behavior medication- try playing a CD of storms at a lower volume once a day to elicit no response to the dog, and then slightly increase the volume of the CD each day. When you are playing the CD, you could try relaxation techniques or obedience commands with positive based training and your dog’s favorite treats. 3. When there are no storms, practice putting a Gentle Leader (halti collar) or collar and leash on the dog and practice commands with positive based training and treats. You can then use this technique to distract the dog during the storm if you are at home. 4. DO NOT punish the dog for its fearful behavior and you should not reinforce fearful behavior by petting or words of endearment during episodes, except in response to improved behavior. When in doubt, it is best to ignore fearful behavior. 5. Anti anxiety medications can be prescribed if your dog is not responding well to the above suggestions. We must have a current examination on file (in the last 12 months) and a doctor’s approval. The difficulty in dealing with medication is getting to your dog as early as a storm starts if you are gone. You will need to become very weather conscious in the summer for your dog. |
