Fear of Thunderstorms and Fireworks
It’s stressful for you and your dog when he has a fear of thunder, fireworks, or other loud and sudden noises. Dogs often exhibit their fear in destructive behavior, barking, and cowering. Two mistakes we often make, which only make the situation worse, are reprimanding the dog for being afraid or comfort the dog when he is acting fearful. A reprimand in this situation will only result in making the dog more fearful. As you pet or cuddle your dog while saying things like, ‘Poor puppy, it’s OK, there’s nothing to be afraid of,’ the dog doesn’t comprehend your words, but he does interpret your soothing tone as a reward for his nervous behavior. The dog usually concludes it is doing the right thing by acting nervous because you approve of it.
Distraction
Attempt to distract him by brushing up his tricks. He will naturally relax if he is enjoying a game of fetch. It is difficult to think about the thunderstorm outside when the dog concentrates on a short series of Come, Sit, Shake, Down, Roll Over, etc. The idea is to distract the dog from the noise. Then praise the dog with lots of affection and attention for obeying a simple command of sit or shake instead of acting fearful.
Do not wait until the night before the thunderstorm or the third of July (fear of fireworks) to begin teaching your dog a few tricks. Be sure he knows them well beforehand. He will probably have trouble concentrating at first, so the better he knows the games and tricks, the easier it will be to perform them under pressure. During high stress is not a good time to attempt to learn new tricks.
A Safe Place to Ride it Out
Until the dog is over his fears, it is best to confine him to a place where he can’t hurt himself or destroy your property. A crate is ideal. Ideally, the dog will be accustom to his crate so that he feels comfortable and secure there. Don’t wait until the storm has arrived to introduce your dog to his ‘safe haven.’ A blanket to darken and make the crate more “cave-like” will help. Have the TV or stereo softly playing for “white noise.”