10/05/2024
Spring storm season is here & the 4th of July is right around the corner!
As dogs age they can develop sound sensitivities they previously didn’t have.
Along with training (counter conditioning & desensitization; see tips below), these are by far, our favorite medicinal aids.
* Herbal Calming Chews (sold over the counter)
— takes the “edge off” for most mild to moderate cases of noise sensitivity
* Sileo (vet prescription only)
— for moderate to severe cases of noise sensitivity
— unlike other sedatives that can impair motor skills and therefore actually increase a dog’s anxiety, Sileo does not make dogs drowsy or unsteady
— if your dog is so anxious that they won’t eat treats like normal, Sileo would be appropriate
— Note; Sileo is for noise related anxiety, not generalized anxiety or reactivity related to other triggers
Training Tips:
* Check Your Own Emotional State! *
If you are anxious, frustrated or even annoyed by your dog’s fearful state or the inconvenience of storms or fireworks, your dog *will* pick up on it!!
This just creates a cycle of negative associations for your dog.
* Ensure Your Dog’s Safety & Minimize the Intrusiveness of Storm or Firework Stimuli *
You may need to potty your dog on leash, even in a fenced backyard.
Provide white noise to muffle negatively associated noises & percussion by turning on the tv or music.
Close blinds or curtains to minimize visual triggers of lightning or fireworks.
* Counter Condition & Build Positive Associations *
Have high value treats readily available to treat & praise your dog after every boom or flash.
Pay attention! As your dog’s anxiety decreases, don’t overlook or stop rewarding. It’s so easy for us humans to not reward the “absence” of negative behaviors.
* Pacing, Drooling, Panting, Not Taking Treats *
If you’ve employed all the above tips but your dog is pacing, drooling, panting & not taking treats like usual, it probably means the dog is “over their threshold”. At that point biochemical hormonal releases in the dog have taken over. Counter conditioning training is pretty much impossible.
Take advantage of the good crate training you’ve done in the past & put them in the safe security of their den. Keep the crate in the same room with you for the comfort of your presence & to allow you to supervise.
Despite our best intentions, sometimes direct contact with us & our efforts to soothe them only reinforces & validates their anxious state & behavior.
Allowing a dog to pace nervously can actually build on their anxiety, not release it.
Putting a breathable, lightweight bed sheet over the top, sides & back of their crate can often add to the cozy, secure, den feeling.
Problems tackling your dog’s storm phobia on your own? Contact me & we can do a private lesson via FaceTime during the next storm!