Lightening Storms and your Dog

Does your dog act like it is the end of the world whenever a storm hits? Does he or she cower, run and hide at every clap of thunder? Fortunately, there are ways to minimize this behavior and cast away your dog's fear.


Steps

1 During a thunderstorm, do not console your frightened dog. Do not cuddle and be their protector. If you do this, how do you think the dog will cope when you are not there? If you hug your dog each time that he runs to you during the thunder, and say, "It's okay, it's okay...", your dog will assume that you are available to do this whenever the dog comes looking for protection. If you act like he needs protection, he's going to assume he needs it. Additionally, your dog might think that you are praising it for being afraid. If it learns that cowering in the corner during bad weather yields hugs and kisses, it will form the habit of doing that every storm.

2 Train your dog to chase away the thunder and lightning. During a thunderstorm, get your dog's attention by saying in an excited voice, "What is that?" a few times. Then command him/her to "Get it!". The "Get it" can be done by barking at the vile noise. This gives them power over their fear. Guess what? The lightning/thunder stops after a few seconds. Your dog has saved the day by making it stop! Verbally reward your dog, thanking them for stopping the thunder and lightning!

Limit the amount of time the dog spends chasing the thunder. After three laps, for example, the thunder will have subsided and you can say, "Good !! Okay, come on. It's all gone!" Lots of love and hugs for his astounding job of protecting both of us! If he tries to continue after three laps, though, gently but firmly, reprimand him, "That's enough. It is all gone. Come!". Don't replace one obsession with another.

Train the dog so she is able to do this inside, in case there is a concern about lightning striking, or if the dog is home alone when a storm comes.

3 Desensitize the dog. There are CDs that you can purchase which make the noises of a thunderstorm. Play them at various times of day, starting with the volume very low. Make it louder and louder until the dog is used to it. This will only partially desensitize the dog, since there are also electrical disturbances in a storm that can't be mimicked by a CD.


4 Use dryer sheets. It sounds weird, but many dogs dislike lightning because it causes static in their fur. Rubbing your dog down with a dryer sheet will help make the uncomfortable sensations go away, and maybe even send him back to sleep! (But see Warnings, below)

Tips

If the dog's anxiety level is so high that it destroys the house trying to find refuge from the storm, or it spreads anxiety to other dogs in the house, ask a veterinarian about having a sedative on hand to deal with this

If your dog is very young and is experiencing thunderstorms for the first time, you will have a much easier time to keep him from being frightened. Simply act around him like there's nothing going on. If the dog see's his/her owner acting like usual, the dog is going to assume everything is fine, and will act according to that. This also works for dogs that are afraid of fireworks.



Warnings

Do NOT let the dog chew dryer sheets as he/she can get VERY sick!

Be careful when playing rough games, especially indoors. If a loud clap of thunder booms, the dog may get scared and bump into something or try to bite.

Sedated dogs may have a difficult time traversing stairways, so be careful! Carry your dog if at all possible, or walk lower on the stairs relative to them, to stop them if they slip and fall.

Don't scold your dog for showing fear during a storm. That only gives your dog another reason to be afraid.

Our thanks to WikiHow

Second Service Dog Class

Several weeks ago we welcomed two new dogs into our *active* Service Dog training program. Jade is a Giant Schnauzer and Lexi is a Springer Spaniel. Jade is being trained as a Physical Assistant dog and Lexi is working to become an Emotional Assistant. Both are doing well for their prospective *jobs*.

Jade learns fast and is very eager to do her job. She is assisting her owner in a variety of ways already. She has learned to help her off with her clothes, open wheelchair access doors, retrieve a variety of items as instructed pick up things that her owner drops and hand them back to her, and to *go get______* when her owner needs help. She will go to that person, paw them and then lead them back to where ever her owner is at. She is in the process of learning to drop items into a basket or throw things into the trash.

Lexi has a little more trouble staying focused to her task, but she too is learning to open wheelchair access doors, *give hugs*, pick up items that have been dropped, and generally stay at her owners side, lending comfort and support when needed. She is working on bringing items back as directed (medicine bottles etc).

We have been working at various stores, Castleton Mall, and an ever changing array of eating establishments. Both Lexi and Lade are doing extremely well in the LEAVE IT department. Two weeks ago we were working at the food court in Castleton Mall where I pushed the envelope on their LEAVE IT training. To start with the owners were to go get in line (a line of their choosing), order food and or drink and pay for it. Their dogs needed to remain in a polite sit position at the owners side. When they received their orders they were to go sit down with their dogs under their tables out of the way. The dogs were not to bother any other patrons, nor disturb their owners in any way. The dogs all did really well with this so I *upped* the stakes again.

I bought a plain hot dog and had them cut it into pieces. I put them in the card board *boat* and placed it on the floor between the two tables/dogs. Neither bothered it or broke their position under the tables. Seeing this we upped it a little bit more. I took the hot dog pieces and scattered them in a line on the floor. I then had each owner/dog team practice the conscious decision leave it while walking their dogs past the food. Since they did well with this exercise we tested them further. I had the owner put their dog on a sit stay on one end of the line of food and then they moved down to the other end. We stationed helpers along the line just in case one of the dogs made a break for the food. After leaving them to sit/stay for 30 seconds or so, the owners then called their dogs to COME. Jade went first in this exercise and never bothered with the food or tried to run beyond her owner. EXCELLANT JOB JADE!

Next was Lexi's turn, she too did well though she made one try for the food with the second hot dog piece she went past. Our helper grabbed the food back from her as her owner corrected her. We then tried again, each dog/team running through this exercise several times. Each time after Lexi's first mistake was a good run for her as well. GOOD JOB LEXI!

All in all both of these teams are doing very well and have progressed nicely in their training. We have three more classes to go through before we test off for their first level. In tonight's class we will be at the local hospital working our dogs in the elevators, hallways and the lobby. I have high hopes for them both! After this class completes we will be welcoming one or two more into our program. Keep looking for us!

And please remember, the dogs are in training and are not to be petted while working! We all thank you for your co operation.

Kristi
Service Dog Trainer