Tips from a behaviorist on soothing your dog during windy and stormy conditions
Helping Your Dog Cope with Stormy Weather
Winter is in full swing across the country, bringing with it cold temperatures, storms, and potential hazards for our four-legged friends. In such cases, it's essential to take extra precautions to ensure our dogs stay safe and comfortable.
According to dog behaviorist Emma Scales-Theobal, walking a dog during a storm depends on the storm's strength and conditions, as well as the dog and owner's comfort. If there's thunder, lightning, and exceptionally strong winds, it's best to avoid walking a dog for safety reasons. Instead, letting the dog out in the garden to do their business might be a safer alternative.
Emma suggests sticking to more built-up and sheltered areas during walks in extreme weather. If you must go out with your dog, keep walks brief and consider using a raincoat, such as the Frisco Rainy Days Personalized Dog Raincoat, which is water-resistant, has reflective strips for safety, and features a rain-blocking hole to clip the leash through.
In addition to physical protection, calming aids can help reduce a dog's anxiety during bad weather and strong winds. Calming aids, such as collars, plug-in diffusers, and wet wipes, can help reduce a dog's anxiety by distributing dog appeasing pheromones, which are chemical signals that animals use to communicate. The bSerene Dog Calming Pheromone Diffuser Kit, for example, releases pheromones that make a dog feel safe, similar to the pheromones a mother produces to keep her pups calm.
Playing with a dog during a storm can help keep their mind off the storm and provide mental stimulation. Some suggested indoor games include fetch, puzzle feeders, and giving them a chew to play with. Classical music can also help relax dogs in stressful situations, according to a study published in the Journal of Animals. The Sound Oasis Pet Bluetooth Sound Machine offers 20 pre-designed soothing tracks for pets, and allows adding personal sounds and downloading new ones for free via the Sound Oasis app.
It's important to be aware of signs of dog body language that indicate fear, such as hiding, trembling, lowered ears and tail. If a dog's anxiety is severe, a vet might be able to prescribe calming medication.
In summary, taking care of your dog during stormy weather requires a combination of physical protection, calming aids, and mental stimulation. By following these tips, you can help your dog stay safe and comfortable during the winter months.
