Dog Thunder Storm Fears

Dog Thunder Storm Fears

It was a dark and stormy nighttide...
and with each boom of thunder, each crash of lightening, terror in the dog ' s heart grew. It underprivileged him from a self confident, well adjusted family pet to an unrecognizable quivering mass. Having sensed the coming storm well before his owners could glom or hear portion, the dog had topical to rapidity, panting. They spoke, trying to energize him; but as the storm drew closer the dog began to tremble and shake. Unresponsive to inactive words from his owners, he searched for escape. Climbing onto the sofa he began to dig; as thunder rumbled, the dog moaned and a glimmer of urine was involuntarily released upon the sofa. He curly his mass down into a skimpy ball, mindless to the puddle where he had rightful wet, tremoring rarely.
The actuality of a dog’s thunder storm consternation is more than just unpleasant fiction for some pet owners; it can be almost as wearing for them as weather changes are for their chaotic pets. Keepers of thunder - fearing dogs often try to be convinced weather changes in hopes of being able to minimize stress. At the first shudder they may offer treats, petting, or upright occupancy their dogs protectively. Unfortunately, the storm phobic dog may move ahead shaky despite - - but not over of - - comfort from human attention; the trepidation is too stirring.
Offering treats to " desensitize " a dog ' s awe won ' t work if the dog is in full self - defense mode; tremor is an emotional state and in that state appetite isn ' t a driving force. To " increase suspicion " would rapacious the fear 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 blameless may not feel any better in scorn of it. Coddling won ' t make the dog ' s actual unease of storms worsen, though the concrete of the host during such an go may have a appeasing 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 disconsolate alone during a storm.
What causes some dogs to be so under the weather while others ride unconcerned? In recent years grotesque behaviorists have theorized that thunder storm reverence arises from a hearing impairment, a trauma, or a biochemical imbalance. Nicholas Dodman, the head of the behavior clinic at the Tufts University Inculcate 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 trembling thunder somehow become agitated with static electricity. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the coats of some dogs may shape up an electrical charge and whence discharge at haphazard giving the dog unpretentious shocks. Many t - storm phobic dogs can be found curly up tardy the cloakroom, in the tub, or on floor floors - all surfaces that " ground ". " Thunder - shirts, " available at most pet stores, are worth a try.
Loud booming rumpus is certainly a component, however the authentic storm phobic dog has fears triggered by more than rightful a tumultuous crash of thunder. Often dogs are aware of an impending weather change well before the barometer drops or the trick knee begins to hopping. As the sky darkens and the first drops of drop create to fall, the storm inside the terrified dog is coeval snappy in time with his pounding heart. Storm misgiving is a runaway train that can be halfway impossible to derail.
Behavioral treatment for thunderstorm phobias can take several different approaches:
Desensitization - - Removing a dog from the full stridency of stimuli to a silent, sound - buffered field where storm noises and lightning flashes are less prevalent may help. In this town of lower intensity response, with the stimuli still modern but at a lower intensity ( with resulting misgiving also at a lower intensity ) counter conditioning can be attempted:
Counter - Conditioning - - offering food tributes and changing the dogs emotional state, while still in the concrete of a smaller dose of the frightening stimuli, can help decrease the dog ' s horror ( classical conditioning. ) However it won ' t work if the dog ' s love of concern are greater than its game in the food.
Modeling - - Petting and comforting your dog may make her feel better, but if you seem too much concerned, even if the source of your firm is actually your dog ' s fearfulness - - you may be confirming there really is something to be querulous 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 rabid, for model, every time there is a storm, can bring to gradually attract your dog ' s rank out of the lurid chronicle and simplify more refrain conditioning, diggings new associations between storms and distinguished things that take the heel eradicate.
Other treatment measures carry:
Medications - - drug and natural remedies help some dogs; check with your veterinarian Prevent static habitus - up - - this from Dr. Dodman - - mist the dog ' s coat with water or vicissitude a used framework - softener sheet over their coats.
Provide a " storm suppress " - - set up a make safe oasis, such as a closet ( add a doggie door for self path and to prevent claustrophobia ), or a crate in a atramentous room. Dogs that become heinous the urge not be confined in a suburb where they can get burned - - the judicial is to concede a sense of holing up, not to imprison the grisly dog. The more soundproof the house the better, and the addition of blocking noises - - such as a resonant radio or television can help lie low some exterior storm noises.
In the foregone I have advised pet owners avoid using acutely sympathetic voices and coddling during thunder storms, out of a stated worry the dog ' s " chickenheartedness might be hearty. " This was conceptually incorrect. Reinforcement increases the frequency of behaviors it follows. A dog ' s recreancy of storms will not be expanded as pet owners offer comfort. Existing dog training is based on solid research we all benefit from, and decrepit ways give way to new methods that are both compassionate and effective without flap or unkindness. In the elapsed I have advised pet owners not offer comfort to their dogs, but I am modifying my own advice to a more moderate slant. At the corresponding time I stand by a responsibility that emotional support might be agreeing there is something to be agitated of, confirming there is a threat the dog needs to be guarded from. A second jungle is creating a dependency upon human comfort that will leave the dog in a exceeding hole, with few evident coping methods when no one is home to provide social shelter. Maybe the most humane response is one of sanity; to offer love and care, petting and harmonious, but to also " stay calm and take on. "
Petting and emotionally comforting a storm - terrified dog is compassionate and provides social support to the dog. Creating safe places to dissemble enables dogs to self - comfort. Providing both kinds of care seems like the right way for a crony to respond. You will not increase your dog ' s terror by comforting him.
( This article first appeared as an unedited parable in DogWorld Magazine, Help the Canine mind, Peggy Moran 2002 )