How to Help Your Dog Deal with Fear of Thunderstorms

Do you have a dog that is afraid of thunderstorms and other loud noises such as firecrackers? If so, I feel your pain! I grew up with dogs, but until our family adopted a 13-month-old Rat Terrier, I had never experienced a dog who became fearful during storms. Consequently, I initially made mistakes in how I handled my dog's fears. He is what I have learned since then.

Don't ever punish a dog for being afraid during a thunderstorm, even if the dog does something you are not happy with such as urinating on your new carpet. The dog cannot help that he is afraid, and punishing him will only make the situation worse. (Thankfully, I never have and never will punish my dog for something like this, but some people do think that the best way to get a dog to stop the behavior is to punish him. Although that may be true for some behavioral issues, it is definitely not helpful in this type of situation. )

Don't try to calm your dog during the storm through petting, soft talking, etc. This was the mistake I made with my dog, as I attempted to help him cope with his fear. Unfortunately, such treatment simply reinforces the behavior as it is seen as a reward for the fear. The last thing you want to do is show your dog that you think it is good he is afraid!

Do try to condition your dog to be used to particular noises during calm times. For instance, if you have a recording of thunderstorms, play it softly, and while playing it, do something special for your dog such as give him a treat. Overtime, gradually increase the volume of the recordings, while doing good things for the dog. This may lead to the dog associating the sound of thunder with pleasant times, rather than something to fear.

Provide a place that will feel safe for your dog to retreat to during storms. I found that my dog likes to hid in between tight places during storms. One of his favorite places is the small laundry room, right between the washer and dryer. Since he likes that place, I've put down some nice, soft blankets so he can make himself as comfortable as possible whenever he is afraid. He also likes to hide between the toilet and the wall, and while there is nothing I can do to make him more comfortable there, I can and do make a point of making sure the bathroom door is open during storms.

Although my natural tendency is to nurture my dog when he is afraid, I now force myself to pay very little attention to him during such times. When left alone, he generally retreats to a place that feels safe such as under the bed, between the washer and dryer, behind the toilet, or under a desk. When he's ready to come back out and join the rest of the family, I engage him in some type of enjoyable activity.

My dog is still afraid during storms, but following these guidelines help to minimize his fear.