By Maria Azzurra VolpeShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberIn a heartwarming Instagram video, a dog owner from Pensacola, Florida, revealed what his retired bomb sniffing dogs do every time there’s a thunderstorm outside, and internet users can’t cope with it.
The clip, shared in October under the user @dorka_bel, shows the poster lying on the couch on a stormy day, when out of nowhere his two German shepherds jump on him for shelter and cuddles.
“When it’s thunderstorming outside and your retired bomb sniffing dogs are scared so they look to you for comfort,” the caption reads.
The poster, 30-year-old Monte from Pensacola, told Newsweek: "My dog is a retired bomb sniffing dog that worked in Afghanistan. Thunderstorms make her anxious as it does to many dogs but she seems to find comfort in my arms, it’s her way of feeling safe and I’m glad I’m able to be her safe space.”
...According to Monte, while this could be general anxiety, he also believes they have a heightened fear of loud noises due to their job overseas, with alarms going off when there was an emergency, explosions nearby, and rockets landing in the area creating loud noises.
“I’m always there for them and I am glad I am able to be a safe space where they find comfort,” he said.
According to animal charity Blue Cross, it is not at all unusual for dogs to fear thunderstorms. In fact, with their sudden loud noises, pressure changes and flashes, thunderstorms often cause severe anxiety in some dogs.
Fear can be due to noise phobia or sensitivity to shifts in weather conditions. During storms, dogs can show clear signs of distress such as panting, shaking, drooling, yawning, pinned-back ears, a tucked tail, toileting indoors, pacing, hiding, whining or destructive chewing.
To help your dog before a storm hits, check the weather so you can stay home with them, avoid walks if a storm’s due, and make sure your dog is microchipped in case they escape.
You should also create a safe indoor “den” with their bed, toys, blankets or a piece of your clothing for comfort, and play calming background noise—like music, TV or radio—to mask thunder.
During the storm, remain calm yourself, never shout at your dog, and give them space if they need it. If the stress is mild, try distracting them with toys, treats or gentle play. For severe or persistent anxiety, consult a qualified behaviorist.
View contenthttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DQcnOOTjsz6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
The video quickly went viral on social media, and it has so far received over 74,000 likes on the platform.
One user, Laurajsky, commented: “They are so loved and I’m so happy for them.”
Odin_the_gecko said: “Listen, he’s trained to find the boom booms before they make loud noises.”
Oprountzopoulos added: “The first one looked scared, the 2nd one went there for the vibes 100 percent.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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