Content
- Why are dogs so afraid of thunder?
- never punish your dog
- Find a safe place for your dog
- Make your dog lose his fear of thunder
Today it is undeniable that dogs can feel emotions that until recently we believed were exclusively human, for example, today we can say that dogs also feel jealous. However, although canine emotions are currently supported by multiple studies, any owner can easily observe the emotional world of their pet.
Dogs can also feel fear and can feel it in an excessive way, even having a phobia, which affects not only their psychological but also their organism, which can have, among other phenomena, an increase in frequency cardiac arrest.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will give you some tips for dogs afraid of thunder, if this is the case for your pet.
Why are dogs so afraid of thunder?
Some dogs are afraid of cars, others are afraid of going down stairs, on the other hand, others suffer from water phobia, but in a general way we can say that practically all dogs are very afraid when they hear thunder.
It is a scary experience for the animal and although an exact cause of this condition is not known, some hypotheses were considered:
- Genetic predisposition.
- Having been present when a person or an animal was frightened by a storm.
- Having suffered before a bad experience related to a storm.
The manifestation of this phobia can reach different degrees of gravity, sometimes dogs simply show moderate anxiety, but in the most extreme cases the dog trembles, gasps, may want to run away and may even jump out of a window or seriously injure itself because during a storm they are usually closed.
There is no specific treatment for this type of phobia, however there are many therapeutic resources that can be used effectively.
never punish your dog
Although your dog goes through the highest levels of anxiety, you should never scold this behavior during a storm, as it will only make the situation worse. Remember that your pet is going through a frightening experience and the last thing you need is to punish him or yell at him, this besides being cruel would increase your anxiety levels.
He must stay by your side, calm and if you are ready, you should try to start a game at home with him, this way you will begin to associate the noise of thunder with other better and fun moments. While accompanying your puppy, you can also turn on the television or use relaxing music for puppies, this way you will minimize external noise.
Find a safe place for your dog
If your house has a basement, attic or small room, you can use this space for your dog to have a safe place to turn to during the storm, but of course you need to be trained for that.
During the first few times, when you get scared, accompany him to this place until he can associate you with a safety zone in the context of a storm, without needing your intervention.
It is preferable that the windows in this room have the shutters down, although it is also important to include a warm light and a small house for puppies with a soft mattress inside.
The transport box, when associated with something positive, can be a place where the dog feels safe. Read our article on how to get used to the crate.
Make your dog lose his fear of thunder
How can you get a dog afraid of thunder to stop being afraid? With patience, dedication and music with a background of rain and thunder sounds. Next, we'll show you how to perform this technique:
- Next to your dog, start the storm music.
- When it starts to change, stop playing.
- Wait for your dog to calm down.
- Restart music playback.
This process should be repeated approximately 5 times, for 4 or 5 days, then allow 2 weeks to pass and perform the sessions again.
With time, you can see how your puppy seems calmer in the face of storms, in addition, if you apply the other tips we've shown you, you'll be able to see good results faster.
