Saturday, December 3, 2011

My Dog is Scared of Thunder - Help!

By Dirk Gruenberg


Few things are worse than being scared. That does not only apply to humans, it is the same for dogs. Dogs may fear certain things due to past experiences or for other reasons. If they are scared of something, they will need you to help them work through it.

Many dogs manage to eventually overcome their fears, if there owners are there for them. This is particularly important in the event of dogs being scared of thunderstorms. Since there is nothing you can do about the storm, it is important that you support your dog.

If you are dealing with a dog that has this kind of fear, here are a few tips that you can do to help them overcome it.

First: treats. Giving your pet some treats during thunderstorms will help plant an idea in their mind. They will slowly realize that during this fearful time you are there to keep them safe and happy. They will be able to overcome the fear with your help.

Dogs are very smart animal, and your dog will come to understand that he gets to have treats during thunderstorms. So, chances are he will begin associating thunder with something positive: treats and your attention.

Also make them feel comfortable. You are the best answer to your dog's fear of thunderstorms. When they start showing anxiety due to the storm, talk to them calmly.

Simply be around your dog, have him lay by your foot or sit next to you and talk to them. It will take their attention off the storm, if they are busy with you.

And here is another idea: on a normal day, you can play sounds that are similar to thunder. Just play a tape or something like that.

You just have to make sure that you are there to comfort them. This type of training will help your dog get accustomed with the sound that they hear during a thunderstorm.




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