Helping Your Pet Cope With Thunder
Does your pet lose all dignity when thunder and lightening strike? Cowering under furniture, growling, barking, hissing and running amok? Try out these tips help keep your pet calm and your house intact!
Banish That Fear of Thunder!
- Safe Spaces – Make it a point when you get a new pet to both define a safe space for them and condition them to normal noises. A safe space may be a crate or the laundry room where you keep their bed. Really anywhere that your pet is left alone to relax away from activity. When the thunder rolls you can confine them to a comfort zone to minimize house damage!
- Condition them when they are young – Consider purchasing a CD of a thunderstorm and playing it on low while doing normal, happy things with your pet. Gradually increase the volume and let your pet adjust and acknowledge these noises as occasionally regular occurrences with no threat involved.
- Compete with it – If you have a rescue pet or an older animal, try competing with the noise. Play some music, turn up the T.V., or try confining them to an inner room where the thunder is muffled.
- It’s okay to calm them – Some people say not to baby pets when they become frightened by thunder. You can calm them without babying. Try playing their favorite game, giving them a treat, or just scratching their ears. The key is to behave completely normal like nothing is amiss. If your pet sees you behaving differently they will perceive validation for their fear.
- Consider a “Thundershirt” – These “shirts” have an 80% success rate with calming anxious dogs. They can be used for thunder or any other situations that produce anxiety in your pet.
- Make sure people know – If you have a pet sitter or are anticipating guests when there is a chance for thunder be sure to disclose your pet’s fear. Pet sitters will need to know how to interact with and/or help your pet.
Do you have a fail-safe trick for helping your pet with thunder? Share it with us!
photo credit: under the covers via photopin (license)