Managing Fear of Storms and Fireworks in Dogs

Adapted from work by Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB & Gary Landsberg, DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM

There’s a lot to celebrate in summertime, but the loud noises that sometimes come with them can be scary for our furry friends. While our pets may never get fully comfortable with the crash-bang of thunder, fireworks and other loud noises, there are a few things we can do to help them be less afraid, including teaching them to “relax” in a safe space.

How Does it Work?
Like with people, we can help our pets overcome their fears by slowly exposing them to small events while they are in a relaxed environment, and rewarding them with treats, love, toys and anything else that makes them happy to turn the event into a positive one. It takes a bit of time to overcome fear and learn new behavior, so it’s best to get started before we expect thunderstorm and/or fireworks season to start.

Choose your best reward!
Start by identifying the reward you think your pet will respond to the most – their favorite treat or a special toy, for example – and set that item aside to be used only during your training sessions, so your pet has something really special to look forward to.

Pick a safe space
Pick a spot in your home you would like your pet to go to “relax.” Through rewarded training, you will help turn this into a safe space for your pet to go when they are fearful – this can be a mat, their bed or any other place that makes sense, given your pet’s environment. (Pro tip: Using a mat can help you take this new behavior with you – check out this video for more!) Make sure your pet knows how to “sit,” and “lie down” on command. Use your special reward to have your pet sit, and then lie down in their safe space – this will start to help them create a positive association with relaxing in their safe space.

“Relax”
When your pet lies down in their safe space, introduce the term “relax,” and reward your pet for staying in place for increasing lengths of time (start small, with just a few seconds, and slowly increase). Once you feel like they have this down, try removing their special reward and using praise, instead. Praise is ultimately the reward you want your pet to seek.

Introduce a distraction
Once your pet knows where their safe space is and is comfortable going there on “relax,” try introducing a small distraction. A good first step is to have a family member or friend enter the room (they shouldn’t call to your pet, as that will be confusing). Once your pet can comfortably stay in their safe space with someone else coming and going, you’re ready to move to the next step.

Introduce a sound
Working with a partner, have your pet “relax.” One of you should stay with your pet and give it praise and reassurance for staying calm. The other should play an audio recording of the event you want to work on (thunder, fireworks, etc.) – at a volume low enough that it does not distress your pet. Praise your pet for staying “relaxed,” and reintroduce the sound at a slightly higher level. If your dog reacts, ignore the reaction until they “relax” again, and then give a treat. Once they have re-settled, try again at a slightly lower volume.

Keep it short
None of us likes feeling fearful – neither do our pets. To help your pet be successful in overcoming their fear, keep the sessions short. Introduce the sound just a couple of times, give lots of praise for a job well done, and end the session until next time. If your dog seems to be having a tough time, end the session early, and go back to the previous step on your next session. It’s important you always end a session on a high note with a good response, even if that means turning the volume right down again. This will help keep things positive for both of you.

How do I plan the next session?
The best time between sessions depends very much on your individual dog. Sessions might be as short as an hour apart if your dog is comfortable and progressing quickly, or as long as the next day if their nervousness is making for slower going. It is important not to leave too long a gap between sessions, but you also need to ensure your dog is calm and well-settled before another session is begun.

Start the new session with the same level of noise as you ended the last, but increased slightly – the goal is to gradually increase the volume with your dog in “relax” mode, but not so much that they become startled and react. If this happens, go back a few steps and start with the noise at a much lower volume.

Managing Expectations
Helping your dog become fully comfortable with “relax” mode in their safe space during fearful events is a process that will take time. It’s important to stay attuned to your dog’s comfort level, and plan training sessions at a pace that will help them be successful. Be sure to pace yourself – even if your dog seems to be doing really well, it’s best not to do more than three or four sessions in a block. You want to keep the process fun, rewarding and positive for you both.

Even once you feel like your dog has “relax” mode down, it’s a good idea to do reinforcement sessions periodically, particularly if you know that a storm, fireworks event or other potential disturbance is on the horizon.

What should I do if we don’t appear to be making any progress?
If you and your dog are having a hard time with any aspect of this training, your veterinarian is the best resource for you both. Sometimes sound sensitivity can be associated with medical issues or more general psychological problems, so you’ll want to work together to rule out any of those factors before resuming any training.

Is there anything I can give my dog to help them feel more comfortable?
If a noise event arises before your dog has fully grasped “relax” mode, there are some aids that may be helpful. Calming supplements, pheromones and even medications may be an option. Your veterinarian can provide the best recommendation as to what might be most successful for your dog.