Fireworks and Thunderstorm Phobia

What is a phobia?

A phobia occurs when a dog develops an extreme fear response to a normal stimulus (such as a thunderstorm or fireworks). A phobia can develop at any age and tends to get worse with time. Some breeds are more likely to develop phobias. The most common breed we see with any phobia or other anxiety problem is the Staffordshire bull terrier. Many dogs with thunderstorm and/or fireworks phobia also have other anxiety problems such as seperation anxiety.

Signs that my dog has a phobia

Dogs with fireworks phobia may display timid behaviour (such as trying to hide) or be anxious (panting, agitation, pacing). They generally do not respond normally to commands and seem distracted. Some dogs will try to escape or may show destructive behaviours and this can cause physical injuries to the dog such as cut paws. Some dogs may become aggressive and some will bark.

As humans our natural reaction to seeing an anxious dog is to pat the dog and using soothing words. Unfortunately the dog sees this as being rewarded for displaying anxious behaviour. Thus, it is often us that makes the dog develop anxiety or at least we make it worse.

What to do if your dog has a phobia

If your dog has a thunderstorm or fireworks phobia you should develop an advance plan prior to events such as new years eve. Many dogs require medication with drugs to decrease anxiety and this is best given prior to the onset of a stimulus such as a storm or fireworks. Do not be afraid to consult your vet and medicate your dogs for behavioural problems. Often medication can stop and even reverse the problem especially when used in conjunction with behavioural modification.

Apart from medication there are steps you can take to help the problem.

1. Minimise your dog's exposure to the stimulus- keep him/her in a dark, quiet place. Often you are not home when an event such as a thunderstorm occurs so your dog needs to have an area they have access to in which they feel safe. This is called denning. Your dog should sleep in the den at all times so it becomes an area they can escape to and feel safe. A darkended laundry, a dog kennel or an enclosed cage will do the trick. A cage works quite well. They can be purchased quite cheap now from shops like The Warehouse and you can then keep it in a dry area and cover it in blankets so it';s nice and cosy. Don't lock the dog into it until it is comfortable with the den.
2. Ignore anxious behaviour. Do not reinforce the anxious behaviour by talking soothingly or patting the dog. This is another reason why denning works well. It removes the dog from your site so you don't accidentally reward the wrong behaviour.
3. Consider embarking on a desensitisation program. This works much better if your dog is on anti-anxiety medication. It involves gradually introducing to the to the stimulus which causes the phobia in a relaxed atmosphere and rewarding the dog for calm behaviour. It will often improve the dog to a point where it can tolerate the stimulus without excessive anxiety. The earlier you do this the more likely you are to succeed.

Above all always make sure your pet is safe. If they are scared do not punish them, that will just exacerbate the problem. Make sure the environment they are in is safe and secure as they do not think rationally when they have a phobia and will damage themselves. If your dog has a phobia and you would like to discuss treatments or develop a desensitisation plan please make a consultation appointment with one of our vets.