Going out for the night?

Deciding to go out for the night, or even away for the weekend, isn’t an easy decision to make when you have a scaredy dog at home. With your patience, consistency and advanced planning, going out doesn’t have to be a scary situation for you or your pet. Let’s dive into some helpful tips to use when planning a night out.Please keep in mind, the suggestions outlined below are survival tips, not training. These tips will not help your dog be less afraid.

Consider boarding your dog for the night:

Boarding your dog at a vet or boarding facility ensures your dog’s safety and the safety of everyone else if your dog is a fear-biter. Note that boarding can also be stressful for scaredy dogs, so make sure you weigh the benefits of this method.

Confine your dog securely:

Put your dog in their kennel with a blanket draped over it to muffle the noise. Make sure to leave a side open so that he can breathe. If he is not crate trained or anxious inside the kennel, put him in a small quiet room [like a bathroom, pantry, or closet] preferably in the middle of the house to muffle the noise. Just make sure the room has been dog-proofed; anxious dogs chew on things!

Muffle the noise:

Play white noise, such as running the washing machine; play classical music or calming music designed for dogs; or turn on the TV. You can further muffle the sound by padding your dog’s hideout with pillows and stuffing clothes under the door.

Distract him:

Give your dog a stuffed Kong or another toy or long-lasting treat to keep him entertained.

Invest in a harness:

A snug wrap-around harness or sweater sometimes has a calming effect on dogs, similar to swaddling a baby. A harness also saves your dog’s neck from injury if he panics while on a leash. You can also use a Thundershirt or other similar product.

Other reasons to plan ahead

While planning for your dog in advance for an evening out is important, there are other reasons you may want to use these suggestions. Holidays such as New Years, 4th of July and Halloween can be very scary for all pets, especially a scaredy dog. One good thing about all of these major holidays is we know when they’re coming and planning in advance can be easy! Thunderstorms are another especially stressful experience for dogs, and if you live in an area with a thunderstorm season, you will want to have a plan.

Do you want to keep up with our training guides?

For more helpful tips on handling your scaredy dog, please take a look at our Training Guides. We also have our FAQ page and you can also find Scaredy Dog on Facebook.