Posts Tagged ‘fireworks fear’

With storm season upon us and Fourth of July right around the corner, I’m sitting here looking at our dog, Sammie, a German Shepherd and Collie mix, wondering what to try next. She is absolutely terrified of storms and fireworks. I’ve noticed that since adding Jake (our mini-schnauzer and cairn terrier mix) a few years ago and Gizmo (our shih tzu) that Sammie’s fears have gotten a little better. She went from constantly panting and pacing to occasionally lying down either in her crate or on her bed in the living room. The discomfort in her is still very clear, though, as she still has the wide-mouthed pant.

I read something new to me on this subject that I found interesting. When dogs are showing stress during storms and fireworks (or probably any other time), there is a 207% spike in their cortisol levels. Cortisol is a chemical also produced in humans during high levels of stress. The same study also showed that dogs that live with other dogs have a lower level of cortisol in the event of high stress, but there’s a catch. They also found that dogs who already live with other dogs have a higher level of cortisol just from living with another dog. Not really too sure about how that works, but I don’t recommend running out and getting another dog just yet!

There are a lot of different opinions out there about what to do about your pup’s fears. One thing that I have learned is that consoling and petting Sammie while she’s freaking out doesn’t help anything. Infact, it seems to have reinforced her fears. Leaving her be and providing her with plenty of “safe places,” like her crate with a big, soft blanket in it (her favorite hiding spot) and several other dog beds throughout the house has seemed to keep her a little more calm.

If you know that there is a storm coming in the next few hours, give your fearful dog some good, vigorous exercise. Take them for a nice, long walk or jog, or (if your dog has been trained to) put your pup on the treadmill for a nice workout. An exercised body can sometimes wear the mind out, so then they’re too tired to be afraid.

Some people swear by putting a snuggly fitting t-shirt on your dog. I’ve heard that this works from several different people. NEVER leave your dog unattended in any sort of clothing. If he starts to rip at the shirt, remove it. A piece of shirt in the intestines can hurt or kill your dog. Also, I’ve heard that rubbing a dog down with a fabric softner sheet is supposed to help block the static and won’t allow the change in the atmosphere to affect them as much. I don’t recommend this because if your dog licks the chemical, it IS toxic and can cause harm.

There are a lot of different homeopathic remedies to try. I’ve used Rescue Remedy on several dogs in kennels that I’ve worked in. I’ve seen it work on some dogs and have no affect on others. It’s definitely worth looking into. http://www.bachflower.com

I also found a book that I’m going to pick up soon to read. It’s called The Big Bang: How you can help your dog cope with thunderstorms and fireworks and was written by Claudeen E. McAuliffe. If anyone has read this book, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The best thing for Sammie that I have found so far in the event of fireworks and thunderstorms is to be available for her, show leadership and use calm assertive energy, but not to pet her, talk to her in a baby voice, or show her attention while she is in an anxious state.

Remember to take your dog to the vet if the anxiety or fear becomes destructive.

Do you have any tips or opinions on this subject to share? Our cats aren’t affected by storms at all, but I’d like to hear tips on fear of noises in cats as well.

My dog is usually pleased with what I do, because she is not infected with the concept of what I “should” be doing.
- Lonzo Idolswine