​​​​​​​It’s summertime and for my dog Chloe, her arch-nemesis is here…loud noises from fireworks and thunderstorms! I know many other dog owners are in the same position as I am and I thought I would share some tips to try to help your furry friends.


Helping to control the noise our dogs encounter is the first step. This means keeping your dog inside and closing the windows when the loud noises are occurring. There is an entire collection of music that has been shown to reduce stress behaviors in dogs (more so than other music types or even background television noise) called Through a Dog’s Ear.

I have seen dogs hurt themselves or cause destruction in the home when scared, so keeping your dog safe while indoors is another important step. Some dogs will panic when they hear loud noises. Crating them or placing them in a safe space in the house is a good way to keep them safe.


Physically, some dogs find comfort hiding under a bed, in a closet, or under covers. Other dogs may benefit from a Thundershirt. It is a compression jacket that provides gentle pressure on the chest of the dog, similar to the comfort of a weighted blanket or swaddling of a baby.


There is an old notion that comforting your dog while they are anxious will reinforce the anxiety. We know this is not the case. According to Veterinary Behaviorist Melissa Bain, "You can’t reinforce anxiety by comforting a dog. You won’t make the fear worse. Do what you need to do to help your dog.” If your dog comes to you for comfort, comfort them. If they chose to find safety away from you, do not force them to sit with you.


There are many pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical options to try to provide anxiety-relief for our dogs. If you would like to discuss some of these options with one of our doctors, call us!

We are here to help you and your pet have a happy and safe summer!


Dr. Katie Huter (and Chloe!)