Text: Rhiannon Cecil
With the summer months come not only thunderstorms but also the festive season. For some dogs, this is akin to Armageddon, and their terror tends to put a damper on proceedings for the whole family. Every time the sky clouds over, panic mode sets in for dogs and humans alike, and we won’t even mention the new year’s fireworks… If your dog is one of those panicky pooches, what can you do to make the next few months bearable for everyone (especially your dog!)?
Why are some dogs afraid of thunder and fireworks?
The first thing to remember is that it’s natural for dogs to be wary of loud noises, as, in nature, they’re an unmistakable signal of impending danger. If your dog cannot identify the noise source, the fear response will simply compound. The question is, why do some dogs have such an extreme reaction, and others seem completely unphased?
The answer comes down to a number of different factors, including sound sensitivity, temperament, separation anxiety, and past experiences. The loud noises and flashes of light in both storms and fireworks can put your dog immediately into fight or flight mode, and since they cannot possibly identify the source of the threat, their best chance is to run and hide. They can’t grasp that no matter where they go, they won’t be any further away from the noises than before.
Thunderstorms, as opposed to other loud noises, add an extra level of stress to a dog’s mental processing system. If you have a dog who displays astrophobia (fear of storms), you may have noticed he seems to have an almost supernatural sense of when a storm is on its way. Dogs are much more sensitive to changes in air pressure than we are, and as their hearing is so much more acute, they can hear the low rumbling sounds of distant thunder much earlier than humans can. This is both a blessing and a curse for dogs and humans alike; on the one hand, it gives us more time to prepare, and on the other, it means more hours of stress. Some vets postulate that as storms grow closer, our canine companions may also be experiencing small static shocks thanks to the build-up of electricity in the air; this is yet another element to make the whole process even more unpleasant.
Is noise phobia contagious?
It has been observed that dogs who previously showed no aversion to thunder and firework noises began to show definite signs of panic after being exposed to dogs already exhibiting the fear. In a medical sense, there is no way fear can be contagious, but dogs are social animals who survive thanks to advanced communication within the hierarchy. If one dog is scared, the others will assume there is a good reason for this and may well start to become scared too. While some dogs seem unaffected by the fear of their counterparts, others will take on their fear as if it was their own.
Can you prevent fear of thunderstorms or fireworks?
Desensitising your dog can be effective in reducing fear, especially if you do so as a preventative measure when they are puppies. Pairing a loud, unpleasant sound with a positive experience can yield excellent results in the long term. When your puppy is eating or playing with a Kong or similar, play some storm and firework noises very quietly until he shows no response. Slowly, make the noises louder over time until he is completely comfortable. If you do this regularly, you have a good chance of keeping the panic at bay. When an actual storm or fireworks display comes along, make sure you reinforce the relaxed behaviour by feeding your dog or giving him his Kong. Over time he will hopefully come to associate the positive experience (his food) with the potentially negative one (the scary noise).
The desensitisation process is often successful, but it’s extremely difficult to simulate all the elements in an actual storm, and your dog may still have a fear response to pressure changes and increased moisture in the air. Similarly, if your dog is already scared, systematic desensitisation takes a great deal longer to be effective. So, what do you do in the meantime?
When the storm hits
Fear of storms and fireworks isn’t just unpleasant for dogs and owners, it can also be extremely dangerous. Year after year, we hear horror stories about terrified dogs being killed or injured trying to escape new year’s eve fireworks. As pet owners, we can’t always expect to be there when things go wrong, but there are things we can do to minimise the damage while you are in the process of desensitising.
- Make sure your dog has a safe space
When dogs are in a position they perceive to be threatening, they have three choices; fight, flight, or freeze. Giving your dog a safe space to flee when he feels threatened will calm his nerves. Generally, safe spaces will be kennels, under tables or blankets, or in cupboards, anywhere he feels sheltered. Encourage your dog to use his safe space in any stressful situation; he will eventually self-soothe this way. An absence of a safe space may cause him to run away in search of one, so make sure he can’t get outside during storms or fireworks. Finally, make sure your dog is microchipped just in case your dog does manage to escape.
- Don’t overreact
If your dog is already scared, he is going to be even more sensitive to your emotions. Keep calm and try and stay as “normal” as you can. Whatever you do, don’t make a big fuss of him when he’s in a panic state, as this will only reinforce the behaviour and make him think he really does have something to be scared of. If he makes a mess, don’t shout at him or punish him in any way, as this will only heighten his anxiety. Instead, act as though nothing out of the ordinary is happening at all.
- Be prepared
You can’t make special arrangements every time there’s a storm, but if you know there are going to be fireworks in your area, especially if you’re not going to be at home, find a pet sitter to stay with him or arrange for him to go to a pet hotel for this period. Make sure he isn’t left alone. Again, he is a social animal and will be even more terrified if he doesn’t have company.
- Shift the focus
Keep your dog distracted as much as you can during the noisy periods with music, white noise or the TV. Use whatever you have at your disposal to shift his focus away from the source of his fear and towards something positive. If he’s up for it, use toys or food to make the whole experience more positive and contribute to the desensitisation process at the same time.
- Think about compression
Compression blankets like the Thundershirt have been known to soothe frightened canines. The principle is similar to that of swaddling a baby and applies constant, gentle pressure to your dog. Studies show that this can be effective with some dogs and is definitely worth a try if your dog is really struggling.
- Consult the experts
Every dog is different, and no one knows your dog better than you and your vet. If your dog’s phobia is unmanageable or is becoming worse, make an appointment with your vet and behaviourist and examine the options likely to work best for your dog and your situation. Various calming supplements and medications are available and can assist with desensitisation if used with the correct guidance. Take videos of your dog during the next storm and show them to your vet so they can fully understand the nature and severity of the fear response and, hopefully, find a workable and long-lasting solution.
Keep thinking about desensitisation
The ideal outcome for you and your dog is for him to overcome the fear altogether without you having to plan your life around the issue and administer medication. However, the process of desensitising your dog can be a long and frustrating one, and it may well be worth getting a qualified behaviourist or trainer on board. If done correctly, the results of the desensitisation process are far superior to those achieved with other methods, so the investment is worth it. Don’t give up; stay calm, and you could find yourself with a much calmer dog.
