January Pet Sitting & Dog Walking News – Storm Season Tips

January Pet Sitting & Dog Walking News – Storm Season Tips

Storm season tips

 

While thankfully, we haven’t had any massive storms like we did during last year’s storm season, it always pays to think ahead especially when you have pets.

 

There’s often an influx of dogs to the pound and RSPCA after a big thunderstorm, but here are some tips to keep your pets safe in a storm, or when there are fireworks within earshot too:

 

• Stay calm. Dogs can pick up on your energy levels, so if you’re acting calm despite the scary noises outside, they’ll see that it’s not something to be scared of.
• Be kind. Never punish your dog for any scared behavior. You’re meant to be the leader and caregiver, so make sure you’re being nice and talking calmly and soothingly. However, be sure to not reinforce their anxious behavior with praise, because then they’ll learn it’s acceptable. The idea is to show them that it’s nothing to be worried about.
• Give them shelter. Even outside dogs can benefit from being inside during a thunderstorm. At the very least, ensure they have a dry, safe and secure place to go if they want. Ensure your yard is secure, incase they try and escape and for dogs which are naturally more scared, it can pay to have a nice comfortable space inside, such as a crate or bed, for them to go to. If you’re not going to be at home, sometimes the best option is to have them in the laundry or somewhere confined but safe, so they minimize any damage to the house or themselves. For cats, inside is always the best option. Having lost loved kitties to the road; we know that more often than not, the cats that live the longest are always inside cats.
• Practice makes perfect. To really train your dog to be comfortable during storms and fireworks, sometimes it takes an extra lot of effort. One option is to buy a CD with these sounds on it, and play them when you’re there so you can help calm your dog and teach them to relax.
• Speak to a vet. If your pet is really anxious in storms and when there are fireworks, and you’ve tried all the training and calming methods, then the next best step is to talk to your local vet, who can prescribe medication if they feel it’s required.