Building a Hurricane Routine for Your Dog

THIS HURRICANE SEASON

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

3. Microchip Info: Update It Now—Not Later

Local Pet-Friendly Evacuation Shelters – Pinellas County

Find your pet-friendly emergency shelter here

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.