Tips On How to Calm Your Frightened Dog
Is your dog afraid of thunder, fireworks of any other loud sound? Have you ever seen a scared dog run around trying to find a place to hide? Panic is not a good thing to experience as a human or as a dog. Here are a few tips on how to calm your frightened dog.
Most dogs are frightened to some degree by very loud sounds, especially those that are unexpected or unpredictable. If a dog has a significant fear of thunder, their veterinarian might diagnose him with having a storm phobia.
There is some evidence that specific breed temperaments may play a role. Also, in other dogs, sensitive hearing or separation anxiety may contribute to anxiety or fear. Clearly, for some canines, a minor case of nerves can escalate into a major phobia. A phobia is described as an irrational, chronic, excessively panicked, fear response.
What causes dogs to be afraid of loud sounds?
While some dogs have a traumatic experience in the past that makes them more afraid of loud sounds than other dogs, it is unlikely that you will ever know what happened. The good news is that the treatment is not based on the cause of the dog’s fear, but the symptoms.
Here are some tips on how to calm your frightened dog.
First, you need to recognize the signs and symptoms of a dog experiencing storm phobia. These are the same as those demonstrated by a dog terrified of fireworks or any other very loud and unpredictable sound.
The Signs of Canine Storm Phobia
Dogs with storm phobia do not all have the same signs or symptoms. While many dogs have similar behaviors, there will often be some variations. The most common actions seen in a dog with storm phobia are as listed below, in order of severity.
- Restlessness, as demonstrated in many different ways, sometimes associated with destructive behavior
- Whining or barking
- Staying very close to his favorite human
- Hiding in a small, den-like area
- Pacing and trembling
- Drooling and panting
- Dilated pupils Frequent urinating and defecating; sometimes losing control
- Running away if the option occurs
Some Specific Tips on How to Calm Your Frightened Dog
None of us want our dogs to be afraid. It is hard to watch a dog you love suffer anxiety and fear. So, what can you do to help your dog deal with his fear? Whether his fear is caused by thunder, fireworks, or other loud sounds, these tips on how to calm your frightened dog should work equally well.
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You Must Have A Calm and Positive Attitude
Both humans and dogs are social beings and they are affected by their surroundings. Therefore, it is vital that you are calm when around your dog. This is especially true when your dog is frightened or anxious for any reason.
If you demonstrate anxiety or fear it will increase their negative feelings. Our best friends are always tuned in to our feelings and state of mind. Here is a link to a great study on this topic. https://happymutt.org/study-shows-your-dog-feels-when-you-are-upset-and-in-need-of-help/?fbclid=IwAR1VbnazkDeX-j3U5-TZQFV-c15vYudXZvpMx1IKIDtQSTtPRMoQZB7QjBI
Excessive consoling or petting may be interpreted by your dog as a reward for the fearful response. It reinforces their feeling that the fearful response is appropriate. On the other side of the coin, punishing your dog will only increase their level of anxiety or fear.
Timing Is Important
The most important thing is that you take action as soon as you realize that your dog has a problem with loud sounds. Do not delay in addressing his fear. If not dealt with early on, his fearful behavior will get worse. Each time your dog is exposed to loud sounds, his fear will increase.
To take action as soon as symptoms can be seen means that you must be available when it happens. This means planning in advance. If you know there will be fireworks where your dog will hear them, plan to be there with him.
If you expect a huge thunderstorm, do not leave him outside to deal with it alone. Being left alone will make your dog more fearful. You want him to feel as secure as possible when exposed to potentially terrifying sounds.
Know and Take Advantage of His Safe Place
Your dog needs to feel safe. Hiding is one way dogs have protected themselves for centuries. Do you know where your dog runs when he hears thunder? He might hide under your bed. Some dogs hide under a table or run to the bathroom or a closet. Occasionally, they try to hide in a basement.
Create a specific place where your dog can go whenever he likes to be alone.
A change of location can be very helpful. Not only does it shift their focus away from their fear, the change in volume of the thunder or fireworks is also helpful. Many dogs like to lie on the bathroom rug with the overhead fan muffling any threatening noise. This “white noise” helps to block out any sound that can disturb him.
Very often, dogs run to their crate for safety. A crate is an ideal place for them to go to feel safe. It also helps to keep him free from harm that can occur if he tried to run away.
If your dog runs to his crate when he is frightened, then move the crate to a place that is safe. The crate door should be left open so your dog can easily come and go. Covering the crate with a blanket also comforts the dog. If you do not have a crate, create a safe place for your dog within your house.
You need to shield your dog from the loud sound as best you can. His safe place to hide may be a crate or another place you have made for him. You need to train him and to encourage him to become comfortable with that spot as a place of safety.
Encourage your dog to hide in his place of safety whenever there is thunder. Give him toys or special treats to make this place even more enjoyable. It will also help you to take his mind off the thunder.
Keep in mind that not all dogs try to run away. Also, if a dog has never been in a crate, it is better not to put him in a crate during a thunderstorm. Most dogs do feel safer in a cave-like place when they feel the need to hide. But it works best when they have had a prior crate experience when not frightened.
Distract Your Dog from the Fearful Behavior
As mentioned earlier, you need to catch the first signs and symptoms of your dog’s anxiety or fear. Be on the lookout for the indications that your dog is becoming fearful.
As soon as you see any of those signs of fear, immediately engage your dog in an activity that diverts her attention. Whether it is playing with a toy or enjoying a treat, it can help you delay the buildup of fear.
It is important that you do not try to force your dog to play and that you stop as soon as they become disinterested. Otherwise, insisting that they continue can make the behavior worse. Since consoling a fearful dog encourages the fearful behavior to worsen, you don’t want to reward that behavior.
If you train your dog to follow your commands it will make it easier to distract your dog from the early symptoms. The earlier you intervene, the better chance you have of preventing your dog’s fear from becoming worse.
Desensitize Your Dog
This is one of the ways by which many people have successfully desensitized their dog to thunder. Remember that fear of any loud sound can progress to fear of other loud sounds. So, helping them deal with their fear of any loud sound will also help them be less fearful of other loud sounds as well.
This technique involves playing a CD of thunder sounds to your dog in the absence of any other noise. Start with a low volume so it will not frighten your dog. Slowly and gradually increase the volume. Be sure to keep an eye on your dog for any signs of anxiety or fear.
As your dog remains relaxed at the lowest level, give the dog a verbal cue. For example, say “chill”. Every 10 or 15 seconds. Then, give them a special treat. Next, gradually extend the time your dog is required to remain calm before giving them a treat.
If your dog shows signs of accelerating fear while the CD is playing, stop it immediately. At the next session, start off playing the CD at whatever volume they tolerate without fear. Rewarding your dog with a treat or by playing with them while listening to the CD is also helpful. Remember to incorporate your cues and rewards into real-life events that frighten your dog.
Continue to have these sessions, gradually increasing the volume each time. Do this until your dog no longer shows any fear of the CD sounds of thunder at any volume. This is one very helpful way to help your dog be less fearful of thunder.
When is the best time to desensitize your dog to thunder?
The most successful desensitization of thunder is done when there is no real thunder expected. Try to plan your sessions when you are not predicted to have daily thunderstorms. Also, as with everything else, nothing is 100% effective with every dog. If your dog has already developed an extreme phobia, it will be harder to overcome.
For desensitization to be successful, it should be done in the season when there is no thunder so that the dog will not encounter the actual sound. However, this process might also not work for all dogs.
Use Counterconditioning
This simply means for you to help your dog to associate something negative (the thunderstorm or fireworks) with something positive. For example, choose a favorite toy that is only brought out for play when your dog demonstrates fearful behaviors. You may also give your dog an extra-special treat only during frightening times. These things shift your dog’s focus. By enjoying playing with the toy or eating the treat during the frightening event, his response will be reconditioned.
Anxiety/Fear Reducing Attire
Just as newborn babies are comforted by swaddling clothes, anxious or fearful dogs may be comforted by a similar approach. Hospital nurseries use swaddling blankets to comfort newborn babies and teach the new moms how to wrap their babies before discharge. One of our daughters purchased a special waddling sleep garment for her last baby. We laughed at how funny it looked but the baby was much calmer and she slept through the night much earlier than any of our other grandchildren ever did
Fearful or anxious dogs may be comforted by wearing a Thunder shirt, anxiety wrap, or a storm defender cape. Once again, nothing works for all dogs. However, many people claim that these products have worked wonderfully for calming their fearful dogs. Makers of the Thundershirt claim an 80% success rate when it comes to calming fearful canines.
This is a great link to view security blankets for anxious dogs. No obligation to make a purchase and you can browse other categories through their search box. Just click on the picture below.
The Use of Natural Remedies
There are herbal products that are used to treat anxiety in dogs. In general, this is best addressed by your veterinarian. Treating anxiety as a chronic problem rather than giving your dog medication only when he is afraid of a specific event might be a more effective choice.
It is vital that you discuss any over the counter product you give your dog with your vet so she can tell you of any potential risks to your dog. Give her a copy of what you have read about and wish to give your dog. Many people have had excellent results in treating their anxious dogs with CBD oil. Here is a link to that topic.
Seek the Help of Your Veterinarian
Medication can be safely used to relieve both anxiety and fear in your dog. Your vet knows your dog’s underlying health conditions and any medications he may already be taking. They should also know any tendencies toward anxiety that is inherent in your dog’s breed. Your vet should know the most appropriate and safe medication for your dog.
There are some medications that you give your dog only when needed. For example, this would be giving medication to a dog terrified of fireworks or thunder when you expect the event. Other medications are given throughout a season or period of time where there will be frequent events.
It can be a complicated decision so discussing it with your vet is advisable. Besides, these medications require a prescription so a vet must be consulted. Just like with people, do not give your dog medications that a vet has prescribed to another dog.
Some Tips for Everyday Things to Do to Prevent Anxiety
There are things that you can do to address anxiety and fear when your dog has symptoms. You can also do things to help keep your dog’s anxiety level low. The lower your dog’s bae level of anxiety, the easier it is to prevent it from escalating when exposed to the fear causing event.
Maintain Your Dog’s Good Health and Nutrition
A dog with health problems may also have an increase in their stress level. Just like with humans, increased stress in your dog may lead to anxiety. Nutrition has been proven to play an important role in this area. Your vet should be able to recommend a nutritionally balanced diet that is best for your dog’s needs. The vet will consider your dog’s breed, age, sex, level of exercise, and general health condition.
All Dogs Need Exercise
While all dogs need exercise, some need more than others. Exercise is an excellent way to stimulate your dog. When you can, try to give your dog a vigorous exercise session on a day you expect a thunderstorm. A dog who has expended a lot of energy will be both mentally and physically tired. This leaves them less energy to respond to their fear. Exercise is known to help relieve anxiety, stress, and fear in both humans and dogs.
A Quick Reminder of What Not to Do
Dogs form a deep emotional bond with their human family and their reactions make a deep impact on them. We have talked about steps to take that will help your dog deal with anxiety and fear. Here are a few things you should not do as they will make your dog’s behavior worse.
Do Not Punish Your Dog
If you punish your dog for their fearful behavior, you are reinforcing that behavior. If you give them any attention, negative or positive, when they are demonstrating fear, it seems like a reward to the dog. They then keep repeating the behavior to get your attention. Do your best to ignore it and pretend you do not see what they are doing.
Do Not Force Your Dog to Be in Frightening Environments
Some people think that exposing their dogs to loud and unpredictable sounds will “cure” them of their fear. This only makes things worse.
Do Not Over Coddle Your Dog
Excessively petting or clinging to your dog makes him think he is right to be afraid and reinforces his fear. He also likes the attention and that can make him continue the behaviors as well. You need to act as normal as possible and to ignore your dog’s fearful behavior as much as you can.
Fireworks Terrify Most Dogs So You Need to Know How to Calm Your Frightened Dog
According to the American Kennel Club, the weekend more pets go missing than any other time of the year is the weekend nearest July 4th. While humans love an understand fireworks, the right light, and loud sounds, dogs do not and they are afraid of them. Remember that their hearing is much more sensitive than yours
We have talked mostly about dogs with storm phobia. However, you should recall that the treatment for dogs afraid of fireworks is basically the same. Here is an abbreviated version of my tips for reducing your anxiety or fear of fireworks and how to calm your frightened dog.
- Do not leave your dog alone when the fireworks are taking place. If you cannot be with them, find a friend or family member to dog sit. This gives your dog a greater sense of security.
- Place a cotton ball in our dog’s ears right before the fireworks begin but do not forget to remove them when they are over.
- Turn on a television radio of CD to compete with the noise of the fireworks and to create a calming atmosphere.
- Try to take them on a leash for a potty break before the fireworks begin. Try to avoid taking them out once they have started.
- Either play a rousing round of Frisbee or give them other heavy exercise before the event begins.
- Be prepared to use your counter-conditioning tools as discussed above.
- Keep them away from the fireworks event. Do not take them to the even and then leave them alone in the car. A dog fearful of loud sounds would be traumatized by this treatment.
- One good thing about the 4th of July Fireworks is that you know when to expect it and can be prepared to help your dog get through it with as little trauma as possible.
If your dog has a tendency to be anxious, you may want to read this article as well. https://happymutt.org/separation-anxiety-knowing-the-symptoms/?fbclid=IwAR1eSexWyDxgrX9q6NyxiR8oZcyCnAeSEtyfysEVhVRiyi1JFQy17ID3EwY