8 Tips to Keep your Pup Calm and Comfortable!
Don't be caught dealing with a stressed out dog last minute. Preparing your pup ahead of time for 'the boomies in the sky' can make a world of difference
Tags, Chips and ID's Does your pup normally go 'nudie' when on a walk? Not during a storm. All pups and kitties should have their ID tags on both indoors and of course, outside. ID tags should be on a collar that you do not clip your lead to. This way, should they break away from you, their identification remains on them.
Exercise! If you have enough notice, get your peanut nice and tired out with extra exercise and play. A tired out pup will be more calm. If it's a rainy day with intermittent thunder, maybe a wicked game of indoor fetch or some zoomies between the booms!
Feeding and Water Be sure that fresh water and food are available. Might sound obvious but with the pressure lowering before a big storm, some pups might choose not to eat. If your pup is not a 'grazing' eater, a stormy day might be a day where you leave food down for them.
Prepare a Playlist - is your dog unfazed when you jack up the base on a normal day? If so, get a play list ready for your pup. If funk and metal are not up your dogs alley, perhaps a loud movie on a loop. Again, only if your dog is okay with this type of noise. If your pup runs and hides when you go on an Avengers binge, this won't work for them. There are plenty of 'calming music for dogs' playlists out there. They aren't as good at covering up the noise but might bring a bit of soothing to them.
Get their 'Thunder Fort' ready - Find a nice spot in your home to create a comfy den. This should be a place free of visual stimulation. Bathrooms work great or large closets. Get fido's fort decked out and ready with their bed or a nice comfy blanket, their favorite toy or snuggle object and a bowl of water. Leave the door or the area accessible to them throughout the day. Use treats to condition them positively to the space. If you'r pup needs to be put on lock down in a crate, for their own safety, place a blanket over the top of the crate and include comfort items in there as well.
Dog Anxiety Vest/Wrap- Compression wraps work great for some pets and not at all for others. These vests work by applying gentle pressure around your pets torso which should bring them some relief. If you haven't tried this before, it's a fantastic option and it's drug free. Our favorite is the Thundershirt.
Be calm As you're setting up their little den and when you're preparing to leave, act as if nothing special is going on. It's not the time to give extra hugs and linger at the door telling them they'll be ok. Maintaining a calm energy and showing that you're not concerned will go a long way. Remember, your dog is like an antenna, they'll pick up whatever you're putting out there!
Leave your pup at home - A thundery day is a day for quick potty breaks. Let them stay at home in their safe space, draw the shades, close the curtains and let them just veg out if possible!
Bonus Doggie Zen Tips to Discuss with your Vet
IMPORTANT: You must talk to your vet BEFORE administering anything or sedating your pet!
CBD has shown tremendous success in treating anxiety in pups. Again, we recommend a quick chat with your vet who might be a good source of a high quality product and will certainly be able to help you calculate an approximately does. Be sure you have a high quality, organic CBD. Our own our Chief Barketing Officer, Murphy, uses hemp oil from https://petreleaf.com/ with fantastic success the last two years. Side note, Murphy uses it for thunderstorms as well! There are other great brands out there, but do your research and talk to your vet.
Benadryl makes pups as sleepy as it makes us. Some schools of thought are, if you're sleepy, you're not stressed!Your vet or your pharmacist can help you with calculations if you are unsure of your math. Be sure you give pure Benadryl, not mixed with caffeine or any other additives. Again, always discuss with your vet before administering.