Dog Scared of Thunder in Cooper City, FL: How Can I Help?

Many dogs in Cooper City are scared of thunderstorms, and how could you blame them? Thunder can be extremely loud, especially if a storm has rolled in right over your house. Thankfully, there are some things that you can do to help your pet out during this scary time.

Making sure that your dog is safe and secure, drowning out the noise of the thunder, and comforting and distracting them are key when it comes to helping them get through a thunderstorm. Doing these things may even make them forget that a storm is even going on.

Tips for Helping Your Pet Remain Calm if Your Dog is Scared of Thunder in Cooper City, FL

In this article we will be giving you some tips for what to do to help your dog remain calm if they are scared of thunder. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

8 tips on how to keep your dog calm if they’re scared of thunder include:

Put Your Dog in a Safe and Comfortable Space

The first thing that you should do for your pet is get them into a safe and comfortable space when you know a storm is about to roll in. This will both make your dog feel safer and make the following tips that we are about to give you later on in this article easier.

Wherever your dog is the most comfortable is the best option. This could be a living room, bedroom, or anywhere else that is indoors, safe, and dry. It also helps if you have a comfortable space that your dog is familiar with such as their dog bed or crate.

We recommend that you set this up before the storm actually occurs. This way you are not scrambling when your dog is already frightened.

Play Some Background Noise

The next thing that we suggest that you do for your dog who is scared of thunder is to play some loud background noise. After all, it is the thunder that your dog is scared of right? This background noise could really be anything like the sound of the TV, relaxing music, or even some white noise.

The important things to keep in mind here are that the background noise shouldn’t scare your dog further and that it should actually drown out the sound of the thunder. As a result, you should choose a background noise that is soothing and familiar to your dog.

Get Your Dog Some Mutt Muffs

It is important to remember that dogs have hearing that is way better than ours, so they may still hear the thunder even if we have some background noise on. Although most dogs in Cooper City react positively to having just background noise to drown out the sound of thunder, some dogs with a particularly extreme fear may still react.

Luckily, there are some noise canceling earmuffs that have been designed specifically for dogs and cats called Mutt Muffs. These were originally designed to protect your pet’s ears from potentially damaging sounds such as airplane engines or fireworks, but they are also great for this purpose as well.

For dogs that are particularly scared of thunder, you may want to get them some mutt muffs and have background noise on at the same time just to be extra safe.

Soothe Your Pet

In addition to staying in a comfortable space and playing some background noise to drown out the sound of the thunder, it is always a good idea to soothe your pet as well.

Talking to your dog in a soothing tone, cuddling with them, and praising them are all great ways to try and calm your pet down during stressful situations. They will feel better by having you at their side.

Distract Your Dog by Playing Games

Once your dog has calmed down a bit, you can try to distract him by playing some fun games together. Tug of war, fetch with soft toys, and find it games are all great activities to play indoors on rainy days. Plus, your dog may even forget that something scary is going on and start having some fun!

In addition to playing some fun games, distracting your dog with some treats or food is a great tool as well. This is especially true for dogs who are extremely food motivated or are still a little too distracted to focus on a game.

Put on a Thundershirt

A thundershirt is a shirt that you put onto your dog or cat as a way to soothe them, particularly if your dog is scared of thunder. This works so well because the snug fit of the thundershirt is soothing to pets, similar to a baby being soothed by being wrapped in a swaddled blanket. Many people swear by the thundershirt and have gotten some extremely positive results from it.

Give Your Dog a Puzzle Toy or Chew

Puzzle toys and chew toys are also great soothing outlets for dogs who are scared of thunder to do during a thunderstorm.

Puzzle toys get your dog’s mind moving and can keep their focus for a long period of time, especially when it contains their favorite treats. As a result, puzzle games with treats are another great way to distract food motivated dogs.

In addition, chew toys such as bones and hard or soft chew toys provide a great distraction for dogs during a storm as well. Chewing is an extremely calming and stimulating activity for dogs, so this can be a great outlet for your dog to keep himself busy and soothe himself at the same time.

Work on Desensitizing Your Dog to the Sound of Thunder

You can work on desensitizing your dog to their fear of thunder by playing the sound and rewarding them. Of course, you should only do this when it is not storming out in the beginning.

Start by playing the sound of thunder at a very low volume and give your dog a treat every time the sound plays. Then, slowly turn the volume up. This should be done very slowly and carefully so that you do not overwhelm your pet. After some practice, your dog shouldn’t respond to the sound of actual thunder as severely.

Contact Our Team if Your Dog’s Scared of Thunder in Cooper City, FL

The tips we mentioned above are a great starting point in helping your dog who becomes frightened when a storm rolls through. However, it’s always a good idea to consult with your veterinarian in Cooper City, FL to get their opinion as well.

At Embassy Lakes Animal Hospital, nothing is more important to us than the wellbeing of your pet. If your dog’s scared of thunder and you’re looking for additional advice on how to help them, don’t hesitate to contact our team by calling us at (954) 432-5811 or scheduling an appointment online. We’ll work with you on developing the best plan to keep your dog as calm as possible during these times.