Stop Saying "It's Okay" to Your Dog During Storms

A dog trainer told me something years ago that I still think about every time the sky gets dark.

When the thunder hits, don't comfort your dog. React with excitement.

"Yay! A storm! This is so exciting!"

I know. You'll feel ridiculous. Do it anyway.

Dogs read our energy constantly. When we rush over with "oh no, it's okay baby," we're not calming them. We're confirming that yes, this thing is terrifying.

That's not the only piece of the puzzle, though.

• Safe spaces matter. (My dog, DeSoto, picked my closet. I just put his bed in there. Done.)

• Gut health matters more than people realize.

• And getting ahead of the season with calming support, background noise, and a real plan matters most of all.

Your dog doesn't need you to be scared with them.

They need you to show them there's nothing to be scared of.

Read more on my Substack here.

For smart, engaging conversations about pet wellness, listen to the Toni Unleashed podcast on Apple and Spotify.