The
November
5th may be a fun time for us, but many of our dogs have a different
point
of view. While we're outside exclaiming over the beautiful
fireworks,
our dogs are often cowering and shaking in a corner, terrified of all
the
loud noises (remember, your dog's hearing is far more acute than
yours!!). Many caring owners have asked what they can do to help
their dog ease
his/her fear of loud noises. The following tips can go a long way
towards helping your canine friend during fireworks displays,
thunderstorms,
or any situation where there is excessive noise going on.
Reasure your dog. Talk in a soothing voice and give him plenty of
love and petting. But don't go overboard, or he'll start thinking
that acting scared gets attention, and he'll continue that
behavior. A gentle massage, along with a soft voice, can work
wonders in easing noise fears.
Let your dog hide out. I have two dogs that are very noise
fearful. One of them is soothed by a little extra attention, and
the other just wants to get into a little corner and hide. One
time
he even crawled into my closet and hid amongst my shoes! If your
dog does this, don't try to grab him out of his hiding spot. Many
dogs are comforted just by being in a special "den" where they feel
safe.
If there's a spot where your dog continually hides, try to make the
spot
more comfortable for him. When the noise is over, he'll come out
on his own.
Use a crate to soothe him. This method is related to the
technique mentioned previously. Dogs have a need to "den" that is
carried
over from the days before they were domesticated. A crate is much
like a den and should be a place of comfort for your dog. When
you
know loud noises are coming, make sure your dog has access to a
crate. Leave the door open so your dog can curl up inside.
Don't shut the
door on him though, or he'll feel trapped and become even more
frightened. You can also put a blanket on top of the crate so it
creates a more cozy
feeling, and muffles the noise a bit.
Play some calming sounds. There are CD's in any record store or
discount store that are used for relaxation. These can help calm
our dogs too! You can play ocean sounds, babbling brook sounds,
or even soft symphony music to drown out a little of the bad
noises. Don't play it too loud though, you don't want to scare
your dog even more.
Consider a pet-sitter. If you plan on leaving home for some
festivities on the Fourth, consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with
your dog. Explain the dogs fears and ask that they try to comfort
the dog
while you're gone. Even a regular babysitter can do this (and
they'll
probably like it even better than "real" babysitting!). Just make
sure that your dog gets along well with the sitter.
Don't be scared too. Make sure you keep calm when your dog
is upset. Dogs can sense when their owners are frightened or
nervous, and it will rub off on them. Don't make a big deal of
storms or loud noises. Talk and act normally.
Don't leave a frightened dog outside. My large St. Bernard
will get so scared of lightning that he'll crash gates in our house to
come upstairs to be with us when a storm occurs at night when we're
asleep. I shudder to think what would happen if he was
outdoors. I know he would try to break through the glass doors or
crash through the gate in the
fence. If your dog gets loose when he's terrified, he will wander
aimlessly and end up lost and alone. Even a dog that isn't
bothered by loud noises should not be left outside on the Fourth when
fireworks are being shot off close by. He could get hit by
a stray bottle rocket
or he could get burned by a young child with a sparkler. Be safe
and
bring him inside.
Try an animal behaviorist. A good behaviorist can slowly
condition your dog to loud noises. The usual method is to start
with small noises and condition the dog to accept them. Then the
noise is increased by a small amount. This method is called
desensitization.
You can also try this yourself, but get the advice of someone who has
had success with the method before you try it on your own.
Get medication for your dog. If all else fails, Vets commonly
prescribe various drugs to get a terrified dog through the
ruckus. Drugs like Clomicalm, prescribed to ease separation
anxiety, can also be used to calm a dog during a storm or a noisy event
like the Fourth.
We hope that one of these methods can help your dog to get through the
Fourth of July or a loud thunderstorm. Remember, your dog is a
member of your family, and should be treated with love and caring like
any human member of your "pack" who is scared or upset.
reprinted
with kind permission from Jennie L Foster
Director of Operations Stray Rescue of St. Louis
www.strayrescue.org rgrim@sprynet.com
p 314.771.6121 f 314.865.1517
