Building a Hurricane Routine for Your Dog
- May 14
- 3 min read
The impact of last year’s devastating storms—Hurricane Helen in September and Hurricane Milton in October—left deep scars across our communities. For families in St. Petersburg and surrounding areas, “going back to normal” has proven far more difficult than anticipated. And for many of our dogs, the emotional toll continues.
We’ve heard from countless families over the past eight months:
“My dog was so confident before… now she won’t even settle in the living room when it rains.”
“He barks at every noise now—he didn’t used to.”
“We can’t even go for walks past the recycling cans or bulk garbage without my dog panicking.”
The truth is, even dogs who weren’t directly displaced during the hurricanes felt the disruption. Noise, chaos, loss of routine, and human stress—all of these affect our dogs on a deep, emotional level. The good news? You can help your dog regain their confidence and emotional resilience—starting now.
Why Start a Hurricane Routine Now?
Dogs thrive on predictability and safety. The more familiar their routine and environment, the more confidently they respond to stress. By slowly introducing structure around storm season, you help your dog feel secure before the next weather event ever hits.
Here are 3 Awesome Tips to build your 2025 Hurricane Routine:
1. Practice Calm During Weather-Like Sounds
Noise sensitivity is one of the most common emotional setbacks post-hurricane. Start now by creating low-volume sound exposure routines using white noise machines, YouTube storm sounds, or even recordings of wind and thunder.
How to train it:
Play storm sounds softly while offering a favorite chew toy, snuffle mat, or lick mat. Use your dog’s mat or crate as a safe space. Keep sessions short (3–5 minutes) and always end on a positive note. Never force your dog to “tough it out”—this is about pairing the sound with safety and calm, not pushing through fear.
2. Create Weekly Confidence Field Trips
Get your dog back into a rhythm of novelty + security. Even if your neighborhood was affected by last year’s storms, exploring new safe spaces can help reset your dog’s comfort level in public.
Dog-Friendly Training Spots Around St. Pete:
Crescent Lake Park – shaded paved trail surrounding the peaceful lake.
Walter Fuller Park Trails – Peaceful paths with room for confidence walks.
St. Pete Pier – Visit on quiet mornings for desensitization to noises and people.
Use these trips as short 15–20 minute training outings. Practice your dog's favorite cues, mark and reward for relaxed behavior, and end with some decompression time on leash.
3. Microchip Info: Update It Now—Not Later
In 2024, many pets were separated from families during evacuations or emergency boarding. The number one reason pets were delayed in being reunited: outdated microchip information.
Take 10 minutes today to:
Look up your pet’s microchip registry (often found through your vet or original shelter paperwork).
Log in and verify that your phone number, address, and emergency contact are current.
Save a photo of your dog’s microchip number and vaccination record to your phone and email.
Don’t wait until storms are in the forecast—most registries allow real-time updates, but cell service can go down when you need it most.
Local Pet-Friendly Evacuation Shelters – Pinellas County
These shelters require advance planning—make sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccines and ready with a labeled crate, ID tags, and printed vet records. Not all shelters allow pets, so don’t assume—double-check before you go.
Looking Ahead with Confidence
We may not be able to stop the storms—but we can train for resilience. At Animal House Academy, we’re here to help your dog rebuild confidence one step at a time. Every dog deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported—especially after all they’ve been through.
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Ready to work on emotional resilience with your dog this summer? Reach out to schedule a private session and let’s start building a confident, storm-ready companion—together.
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