Mother Nature Can Get Pretty Loud

By Dr. Ruben Castro

We are officially in hurricane season until November 30, 2023, which means that the RGV will likely be hit with moderate-to-heavy bouts of rain. Hopefully, we won’t get hit with a hurricane, but we should always be prepared to deal with the fury of mother nature. Being prepared also means taking all measures to ensure that our dogs are safe and comfortable during a thunderstorm, especially when there is loud thunder. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when we are about to be hit with a thunderstorm to ensure your dog is safe and comfortable:

1. Play some music or have the television on a moderate volume level to drown out the cracking of thunder and the sound of rain hitting your windows. The normal noise level of your home, coupled with a constant sound from a television or music speaker, will help hide some or all of the sounds that come with a thunderstorm.

2. Dogs are pack-oriented. Just like you might feel better in the presence of a loved one when you are distressed, your calm, balanced, assertive energy will help your dog overcome a powerful thunderstorm. Let your energy influence your dog.

3. If your dog gets very anxious, you can give it a massage or a good brushing. This activity will help distract your dog from what is going on outside. If you have a garment that is designed to reduce anxiety, like a ThunderShirt, put it on your dog before the thunderstorm arrives. The snug fit of the shirt does help reduce anxiety, but only if it is on your dog before it gets anxious. Putting a ThunderShirt on a dog when it already has anxiety will only cause more distress for your dog.

4. Mentally stimulate your dog with toys that are fun for your dog. A good game of fetch also helps your dog ignore the thunderstorm, so it is helpful to have multiple dog toys on hand so that you can switch toys and your dog won’t get bored.

5. Before the storm arrives, you can take your dog out for a brisk walk. This will reduce any excess energy your dog may have and, more importantly, get your dog tired so that it can sleep through the thunderstorm.

Just like we should have an emergency bag prepared for us if we need to evacuate our home, we should also have an emergency doggy bag prepared. This doggy bag should have everything your dog needs in case you need to leave home for a few days. Even if the area you live in may not flood, the chance of the power going out is high during a powerful thunderstorm. Your doggy bag should have enough resources to last at least five days. Keeping these tips in mind and being prepared will help you and your dog navigate any thunderstorm that comes your way!

Dr. Castro is a proud Catholic who is a husband, father, and educator born and raised in the RGV. He is a graduate of Northcentral University with a doctorate in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership. He also holds a Master of Science in Sociology from the University of Texas-Pan American and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with a minor in Psychology from the University of Texas-Pan American. Dr. Castro’s current research focuses on Education, Crime and Deviance, and Race and Ethnicity. He is also the owner of the K&B Dog Learning Cener, Inc. www.kbdoglearningcenter.com