Use music to help soothe your dog. Dogs find music soothing, this is why they are commonly used with assistance dogs to calm the puppies during training with the soothing sounds of jazz. One of the ways you can increase the ability for your dog to settle down during a time where their wind phobia may be heightened is to play soothing music during positive moments in your dog’s day. It hurts nothing to put on some jazz or classical during the following moments: When your dog goes to sleep at night, During nap times, When receiving a treat ball or peanut Kong, When happily crated, During soothing pat sessions.
Experiment with using scents, Dogs are highly driven by their nose, that’s why scents can really help your dog when they are feeling certain tricky emotions. Lavender oil calms human and dog alike, you can dab a little on the collar or use a diffuser. Another specific product you can use is Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP), DAP is a synthetic version of the pheromone secreted by a nursing dog when feeding and tending to her pups.
Change the focus, Enrichment toys are a big part of helping you conquer wind phobias in dogs, by using a Kong, a favorite puzzle or an interactive dog toy, you can distract your dog from those feelings of fear while giving them a happier association. Break out the doggy massage, Dogs love pats and massage, that’s why it’s a powerful calmative when they are stressed. Consider a Thundershirt or similar garment, Think of the calm, comforting swaddling of a baby, now check out the dog equivalent, the Thundershirt. Thundershirts feel like a big warm full body hug, they reduce the anxiety and make your dog feel sheltered, held and protected.