Helping Your Dog Deal with Storms and Fireworks

July can be a month of warm-weather fun and fireworks for people, but it can be a month of fear for dogs. A fear of fireworks and thunderstorms is a common problem for dogs. While treating the behavior can be difficult, there are some things that owners can do. The first step in treating a storm or firework phobia is to diagnose the trigger of the behavior. For some dogs, the trigger is the loud sounds. In many cases, sound therapy can desensitize dogs with this type of phobia. Tape record a storm, or buy a CD of a thunderstorm, and replay it at a very low level while you feed or play with your dog. If he does not react fearfully, praise him. Once your dog is comfortable with the sound, raise the volume a little and try again. Repeat this procedure over time until your dog shows no fear of the tape at a high level. Other dogs react to multiple triggers, such as a change in barometer, winds, rain, static, and ionic changes. Dogs that react to these triggers are very difficult to treat, as the conditions are nearly impossible to replicate for training purposes. In cases such as this, or in cases in which sound therapy is ineffective, the goal of the pet owner should be to make the pet as comfortable as possible during a storm. Creating a safe place for the dog to hide during a storm or fireworks will make him feel more secure. Many dogs feel safer in the center of the house, in the basement, in a closet, or in the bathtub. Feeding the dog treats in this place when it is not storming will help him develop positive associations with the location. Although it is an owner's first instinct to cuddle and reassure a dog who is experiencing distress due to storms, this is not always the best thing to do. Simple reassurance may help some dogs, but if it doesn't seem to be helping, stop. The dog may view the attention as reinforcement that they are acting appropriately to the storm. Instead, try to act happy and upbeat. You may also try to distract your dog by encouraging him to play with a toy or practice tricks. If your dog is afraid of storms or fireworks to the extent that they are causing danger to themselves or being destructive, and the therapies mentioned above do not help, medication may be necessary. Medication, which you can get from your veterinarian, will help your dog to relax, and prevent the behavior from worsening. A dog should never be given human sedatives or anti-anxiety drugs, as they are often poisonous to them. When helping our dogs with a fear of storms or fireworks, the most important thing is to be kind, but firm. We can't control weather or fireworks, but as responsible pet owners we can help our best friends cope with these fearful situations.