With the Met Office predicting more thunderstorms to hit the UK this week, pet owners may be wondering how to keep their dogs calm during the loud bangs and flashes. Canine behaviourist and trainer Adem Fehmi, working with natural dog food brand Barking Heads, shares his top tips for making sure the nation's pets don't panic.
Adem advises owners to practice desensitisation training, which involves making loud noise, bright sight and even the smell of storms familiar. While you may think it would have the opposite effect, playing videos and sounds of thunderstorms can actually prepare your dog when the thunder rolls in.
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Adem told the Mirror : "It is teaching our dogs that a natural event is nothing to be worried about.
"This training should preferably happen before a thunderstorm takes place, although this of course might not always be possible, and the earlier you start this training the more effective it is likely to be."
Here are Adem's top tips to help you structure your thunderstorm desensitisation training:
Exercise your dog beforehand
Exercise your dog before embarking on any introduction to the sight or sound of a thunderstorm. This will help to reduce their energy that could otherwise be placed into worrying.
Think about how exercise can calm us as humans and help us to forget our worries and relax. This is the same for our dogs and a well-exercised dog is more likely to rest and settle than one with lots of energy.
Make your pet familiar with thunderstorms
Build up your dog's exposure to the noise and sight of thunderstorms slowly. Start to play the noise quietly and only increase the volume when your dog does not show any adverse reaction to the sound.
The same is true for the sight of a thunderstorm - allow your dog to observe it on a screen from a distance before making the sight more prominent.
If your dog displays an adverse reaction, don't be afraid to take a step backwards.
You should always work from the point that your dog is not reacting and build their confidence and exposure from this point.
Reward your dog's positive behaviour
Use something your dog enjoys to reward positive, non-reactive behaviour at the sight and sound of a thunderstorm. Think a favourite toy or super tasty treat.
Start by introducing and playing the noise or introducing the sight of a thunderstorm whilst your dog is happily focussed on another activity such as a light play game or food dispensing toy or chew.
Adem adds: "Patience and repetition are your friends! Take your time with your training, build up your dog's exposure and confidence little by little, keep training sessions short and sweet, and always end on a positive."
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