Tips to help dogs with fear of Fireworks & Thunderstorms
It’s that time of year again for both fireworks and thunderstorms; two things that unfortunately many of our canine companions have fear and anxiety around. In some cases it can be rather severe. We certainly hate to see our furry friends struggling so much and while it may not be possible to completely eliminate the fear, there are definitely some things you can do to help.
Exercise - Take a long walk, jog or hike early in the day before the fireworks get started. Don’t forget to also get your dog out for potty breaks before the action begins.
ThunderShirt or similar product - They don’t work for all dogs, but for others they can make a significant difference. The idea around this is that the tight fitting garment provides compression, which can be comforting and calming to many dogs. Even if the shirt doesn’t resolve the anxiety completely, it can often be paired with other techniques to help create a layered approach of methods that can make a difference. A search on YouTube or Google can point you to DIY options for creating your own compression shirt.
Behavior of the humans - Try to act as normal as possible. Our first natural reaction is to comfort and coddle our scared buddies, but this can sometimes make things worse. This reinforces to them that something unsettling has happened based on your change in behavior. The best reaction you can display for your pup is as if nothing happened. Completely ignore the loud sounds and have your dog practice some basic commands for some high-value treats or start playing with a favorite toy if they are able to focus on some of their favorite things.
Calming environment - When we know the fireworks are coming or we know a storm is brewing, you can create a safe retreat for your dog. Basements are a great place to do this because the sounds are often more muffled. A large closet or internal area away from windows can work as well. A crate with a heavy blanket over it can be a comforting safe space. Do make sure the dog can leave the crate as it wishes, as opposed to confining you pup, as being confined can make matters worse for some dogs. Add a frozen Kong, bully stick or other tasty treat that will keep your pup occupied (if they aren't too nervous to eat it). Don’t forget to close doors and windows to help dampen the sound as well.
Turn up the sound - A loud television, music, etc. can help muffle the scary sounds. Another great tip is to put a dryer safe shoe and run it through the dryer, as that can mimic the sound of the fireworks and often dogs aren’t fearful of the dryer.
Calming treats - There are many calming treats and CBD options available for dogs that can help.
Desensitization - There are videos and other digital media out there of different sounds specifically for helping with desensitization. Play the firework sounds at a low level in the background while you play with your pup or toss high value treats. Very gradually increase the volume, making sure that this is done gradually enough that your dog never gets too far over threshold. Build up the volume slowly over time. It does seem that with thunderstorms, dogs may be picking up on other triggers, such as barometric pressure, so this can get tricky to desensitize to if that is that case. Just start with fun activities or high value treats (think meat, cheese, hot dog pieces, etc.) at the first signs of anxiety.
Counterconditioning - Begin pairing the digital sound (or real sound) with something really awesome, like a tasty frozen Kong, playing with favorite toys, etc. Toss treats to your dog right after a loud clap of thunder or a loud firework explosion. This teaches them that good things happen immediately following the scary sound.
Stay home and secure your dog on the 4th - Staying home can help lessen anxiety in your dog during the 4th of July. It is also a day that many dogs escape or run away due to fear and anxiety. Do a quick check to make sure your gates, windows and doors are secure. If you have a dog that tends to bolt, have more than one barrier to the outside world. Be sure to keep tags on them as well. It might be hard to run a microchip on a holiday, so a tag with contact information can be the fastest way to get your pooch back if he/she does manage to get loose.
Training Between the Ears (TBTE) online course - We use TBTE training methods with great first-hand success for a variety of behavioral issues. TBTE offers an inexpensive online course that provides practical and usable advice for dealing with fireworks and other noise stressors. Sign up and get started here. They have other wonderful courses as well. Be sure to check them out here!
Several of these methods can be used together to help eliminate or at least lessen the anxiety. Keep trying combinations until you find something that helps. If you’ve tried these techniques and your dog’s anxiety is simply too high, plan early to get medication from your veterinarian, as wait times for appointments and prescriptions can be long these days. Best of luck and enjoy the holiday!
