06/03/2025
Ways we can support our pups and keep them safe during Cyclone Alfred:
SAFETY & COMFORT TIPS:
🔹 Ensure you have enough food and water stored for your dog in preparation for loss of power and/or water
🔸 Keep your dog inside and create a safe and comfortable space for them away from windows and glass doors
🔹 Plan best times for toilet breaks where you can - take your dog out on a lead to help ensure their safety
🔸 Turn music or tv on where possible which can help drown out the sound of the cyclone
🔹 Cut the toes out of an old pair of socks and slide over your dog’s ears - this helps lower the sound of the cyclone. Remember our dog’s ears are much more sensitive than ours
🔸 Try your best to stay calm as our pups look to us for how they should be feeling. Comfort them when they need reassurance but try not to let them see you panic or look distressed
STIMULATION/ENRICHMENT TIPS:
🔹 Licki mats, snuffle mats and food puzzles are great calming mechanisms for our dogs as well as tiring their brains out
🔸 Scatter your dog’s food in the house as a scavenger hunt or put it in objects such as egg cartons or muffin tins at meal time rather than feed them out of a bowl - this will distract them and give them something to do and having to hunt for their food will tire them out
🔹 Play games indoors with your dog that they particularly enjoy - eg fetch, tug, chase, hide and seek. Our high energy dogs will need an outlet such as these games to work off their energy
🔸 Conduct multiple short training sessions with your dog indoors - they love having a job to do, working with us and trying to please us. You could practice ‘stay’, teach ‘place’ or practice recall up and down your hallway.
I’ll be thinking of all of my 4-legged and 2-legged clients over the coming days, particularly my much-loved pups who I know have big fears of storms 🥺
It feels like such a long wait for Alfred to pass over us but it’s on its way so please prepare as best you can, look after your pups and stay safe everyone! 🙏🏼
