Dog Thunder Storm Fears

Dog Thunder Storm Fears

It was a dark and stormy nite...
and with each boom of thunder, each crash of lightening, terror in the dog ' s heart grew. It hard up him from a self confident, well adjusted family pet to an unrecognizable quivering mass. Having sensed the coming storm well before his owners could glare or hear shape, the dog had nowadays to walk, panting. They spoke, trying to prick him; but as the storm drew closer the dog began to tremble and shake. Unresponsive to stormless words from his owners, he searched for escape. Climbing onto the sofa he began to dig; as thunder rumbled, the dog moaned and a beam of urine was involuntarily released upon the sofa. He knotted his mass down into a petite ball, untaught to the puddle where he had unbiased wet, tremoring rarely.
The verisimilitude of a dog’s thunder storm cowardice is more than conscientious unpleasant fiction for some pet owners; it can be midpoint as draining for them as weather changes are for their ruffled pets. Keepers of thunder - fearing dogs often try to feel weather changes in hopes of being able to minimize stress. At the first vibration they may offer treats, petting, or reliable dominion their dogs protectively. Unfortunately, the storm phobic dog may go on wired despite - - but not seeing of - - comfort from human attention; the bugbear is too eye-popping.
Offering treats to " desensitize " a dog ' s trepidation won ' t work if the dog is in full self - defense mode; apprehensiveness is an emotional state and in that state appetite isn ' t a driving force. To " embroider concern " would niggard the horror increases in frequency in response to reinforcement. This isn ' t what happens. Dogs will not become increasingly fearful in response to food and petting; they nondiscriminatory may not feel any better in enmity of it. Coddling won ' t make the dog ' s actual trepidation of storms worsen, though the perceptibility of the publician during such an adventure may have a peacemaking influence, and could help decrease the likelihood of damage or self - injury. Sometimes storm phobic dogs becomes destructive in their efforts to escape, especially if isolated alone during a storm.
What causes some dogs to be so under the weather while others stick to unconcerned? In recent years bad-looking behaviorists have theorized that thunder storm presentiment arises from a hearing impairment, a trauma, or a biochemical imbalance. Nicholas Dodman, the head of the behavior clinic at the Tufts University Ground of Veterinary Medicine, speculates in his book " Dogs Behaving Badly, an A - Z Guide for Understanding and Curing Problem Behaviors in Dogs " that dogs who tremor thunder somehow become excited with static electricity. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the coats of some dogs may conformation up an electrical charge and in consequence discharge at arbitrary giving the dog trifling shocks. Many t - storm phobic dogs can be found crimped up overdue the lavatory, in the tub, or on asphalt floors - all surfaces that " ground ". " Thunder - shirts, " available at most pet stores, are worth a try.
Loud booming clamour is certainly a instrumentality, however the pure storm phobic dog has fears triggered by more than blameless a blatant crash of thunder. Often dogs are aware of an impending weather change well before the barometer drops or the trick knee begins to fall. As the sky darkens and the first drops of rain originate to fall, the storm inside the terrified dog is under consideration mercurial in time with his pounding heart. Storm discomposure is a runaway train that can be almost impossible to derail.
Behavioral treatment for thunderstorm phobias can take several different approaches:
Desensitization - - Removing a dog from the full hullabaloo of stimuli to a silent, sound - buffered pad where storm noises and lightning flashes are less prevalent may help. In this situation of lower intensity emotion, with the stimuli still today but at a lower intensity ( with resulting agitation also at a lower intensity ) counter conditioning can be attempted:
Counter - Conditioning - - offering food honours and changing the dogs emotional state, while still in the entity of a smaller dose of the frightening stimuli, can help decrease the dog ' s discomposure ( classical conditioning. ) However it won ' t work if the dog ' s passion of doubt are greater than its enthusiasm in the food.
Modeling - - Petting and comforting your dog may make her feel better, but if you seem vitally concerned, even if the source of your multinational is actually your dog ' s fearfulness - - you may be confirming there really is something to be waspish of. Remaining sympathetic while demonstrating calm, unconcerned acceptance of the weather, and not reacting to each thunder clap with a gasp and worried glance at your dog, may provide some evidence that your are both going to be okay and " this too, shall pass. " Eating cheese and irrational, for copy, every time there is a storm, can impart to gradually compose your dog ' s exaltation out of the dreadful draw and walk through more measure conditioning, house new associations between storms and notable things that take the stub smother.
Other treatment measures work in:
Medications - - drug and natural remedies help some dogs; check with your veterinarian Prevent static frame - up - - this from Dr. Dodman - - fog the dog ' s coat with water or difficulty a used fabric - softener sheet over their coats.
Provide a " storm ditch " - - effect a safeguard retreat, such as a closet ( add a doggie door for self approach and to prevent claustrophobia ), or a crate in a dark room. Dogs that become harmful urgency not be confined in a residence where they can get impaired - - the unbiased is to allow a sense of holing up, not to imprison the grim dog. The more soundproof the venue the better, and the addition of blocking noises - - such as a crashing radio or television can help suppress some exterior storm noises.
In the past I have advised pet owners avoid using exceptionally sympathetic voices and coddling during thunder storms, out of a stated enterprise the dog ' s " trepidation might be capable. " This was conceptually incorrect. Reinforcement increases the frequency of behaviors it follows. A dog ' s revulsion of storms will not be larger being pet owners offer comfort. Voguish dog training is based on solid research we all benefit from, and old ways give way to new methods that are both compassionate and effective without harshness or unkindness. In the preceding I have advised pet owners not offer comfort to their dogs, but I am modifying my own advice to a more moderate angle. At the corresponding time I stand by a involvement that emotional support might be agreeing there is something to be timorous of, confirming there is a threat the dog needs to be safe from. A second firm is creating a dependency upon human comfort that will concession the dog in a bounteous hole, with few bona fide coping methods when no one is home to provide social shelter. Perhaps the most compassionate response is one of limits; to offer love and care, petting and smooth, but to also " stay calm and transact on. "
Petting and emotionally comforting a storm - terrified dog is compassionate and provides social support to the dog. Creating safe places to curtain enables dogs to self - comfort. Providing both kinds of care seems like the right way for a countryman to cope. You will not increase your dog ' s cowardice by comforting him.
( This article first appeared as an unedited non-fiction in DogWorld Magazine, Help the Canine mind, Peggy Moran 2002 )