How To Help Your Dog's Storm Phobias
Many dogs that fear storm activity also fear other sharp percussive noises, such
as gunfire, exploding balloons, or low frequency sounds from a sound system
capable of rattling the windows. Because storm noises originate outdoors, any
attempts to simulate storm noises or other loud sounds should originate there.
These can be tested and used with a routine which involves a single hand clap,
followed immediately by praise and introduction of some toy or other stimulus the
dog associated with happiness.
These staged performances should be repeated until the dog acts happy in
response to loud noises, without use of the above routine. After this stage, it is
still advisable to follow the same steps required for dogs that do not respond to
staged percussion. If gunfire is to be used in these sessions, the shells used
must be hand-loaded, low-powder blanks. The gun should be fired outdoors into
thick, soft material, such as an old pillow.
Only adults experienced with firearms should be involved. Also, neighbors should be forewarned of training sessions. If the dog does not respond to attempts at recreating storm sounds, the solution becomes more difficult, as one cannot conjure up storms at will. However, one
can watch the weather forecasts carefully and make preparations at least 3-4
hours before a storm is due.
This long lead time is necessary because many phobic dogs begin to show anxiety as falling barometric pressure indicates impending storms. In these situations, the training routine must be applied at the first sign of anxiety in the dog, and then reapplied until the dog shows upbeat
behavior instead of the former anxiety, without any need for the routine.
Sedatives: If the owner cannot be present to apply these procedures before and during storms, sedatives and tranquilizers may be used to reduce the dog's
anxiety. However, without behavioral therapy, such drugs have not been
effective over the long term.
Desensitizing With Sound and Light:
Though several authorities have recommended playing low-level thunder recordings and gradually increasing the volume as the dog accommodates to it, others in this field have not been
successful with this technique. For years trainers have tried using recordings of
thunder, coupled with flashing strobe lights, without success. This is probably
because of 2 factors unique to storms. First is the lack of barometric pressure
changes. Second is lack of the intense (to the dog) percussive effects of low-volume
thunder recordings.
Thunder and Lightning - How To Help Your Dog's Storm Phobias
How To Remain Safe around an aggressive dog
How To Remain Safe & Calm Around Strange Or Aggressive Dogs
A knowledge of canine body language can protect you and your children around
strange or threatening dogs. If you understand how the animal will interpret your
body movements and facial expressions, you will know how to act in a
nonthreatening way and avoid a possible aggressive attack. Here are a few
rules to follow:
1. Never approach an unknown dog without first asking its owner if it's all right. If
the owner is not around, don't approach the dog.
2. Never run up to a dog, or make quick, jerky gestures toward it that might be
interpreted as a threat. Move slowly and deliberately.
3. Many people immediately squat down to be at a dog's eye level. Don't do this.
Staring into a strange dog's eyes may be considered a challenge by the dog; an
invitation to fight. If you get down low, you're telling the dog, "Look, I'm
submissive to you."
4. When you meet a dog for the first time, make your hand into a loosely closed
fist, fingers down, and extend it slowly to allow the dog to sniff your knuckles.
Never put your open hand over the dog's head as if to pat it, because this is
interpreted as a threat by many dogs. If the dog is calm and friendly, you can
then turn your hand over, palm up, but continue to keep your fingers curled in
lightly; then you can gradually uncurl your fingers and let the animal nuzzle your
hand if it wants to.
5. If a strange dog approaches you, stay still. If you're standing, put your arms at
your sides. Don't raise your arms as the dog may think that you are threatening
it. If you're on the ground, lie face-down. Let the animal sniff at you - soon it will
lose interest and go away.
6. Adults should never snatch a small child away or up from a dog, because the
animal may then perceive the child as a toy; a stuffed animal to run and grab. If an adult calmly places herself between the child and the dog, the dog will
understand that she's being protective, and that's pack-related behavior.
7. Running away is interpreted by a dog as flight behavior and almost always
triggers an instinctive chase reaction in a dog, in which it sees you, the runner, as
potential prey. To sum up, stay calm and use common sense around any dog. It
will understand by your reactions and body language that you are not a threat
and will leave you alone.
