How to Help Your Dog Overcome the Fear of Thunderstorms

It's not uncommon for dogs to have a fear of thunderstorms. Most of them have some fear of thunder. The stress and anxiety caused by fear of thunderstorms can lead to a lot of property damage and the painful injuries that result. Dogs have been known to chew apart enclosures, crates, walls, and doors when thunder strikes. Some dogs have jumped through windows or glass doors when thunderstorms hit. Our dogs' fear of thunderstorms can overwhelm their senses so they need our help to conquer their fears.

The first step is to recognize the signs that your dog is fearful. Watch your dog for some of the common signs of fearfulness. You may notice his ears go back. His hackles may go up. He may get a worried look on his face. He may get antsy and nervous. He might start pacing quickly from room to room for no apparent reason. He may go hide in a corner, under the bed, or in the bathtub.

When you see that your dog is afraid, whatever you do, don't comfort your dog by petting her and saying, "It's alright. It's ok." And don't go to your dog and pick her up while she's fretting. In dog language, that means, "Your behavior is alright with me. Your fearful reaction is ok with me. I approve of your behavior and I want you to continue doing it." When you do this, you are imprinting that behavior into your dog's mind. You are telling your dog that this is the way you want her to behave. Consoling your dog when she's fearful is a hard habit to break. It's our natural instinct to want to comfort our dogs when they're afraid. But, you have to stop yourself from doing it. Dogs don't connect our consoling them with making the situation better. They connect our positive attention with the behavior that they're displaying at that moment, thereby reinforcing that behavior.

Once you recognize the signs that your dog is afraid of thunderstorms, use a distraction method. Distract your dog when you see the first signs that fear is creeping up. When you hear or see the thunderstorm starting, your dog has probably already sensed it coming. Dogs and other animals have a sixth sense about impending storms. Some think they sense the pressure in the air dropping. We're not really sure, but it's safe to say they will probably know the storm is coming long before we humans do. So, if you see the signs that your dog is getting nervous for no apparent reason, it may be that a storm is headed your way.

One method to distract him from the thunder is to bring out his favorite toys and play with your dog. Play a game of fetch (indoors, of course), tug of war, keep away, or any other game your dog likes to play. Engage yourself and your dog in the game. If you just throw a toy once and go about your business, your dog won't be distracted enough to keep his mind off of the storm.

Another effective approach to help your dog overcome the fear of thunderstorms is to change your dog's perception of the event. What worked for me was making it a happy event. Whenever a storm would approach, I would cheer or sing or dance around like it was something to celebrate. I used a cheerful tone of voice and used words that are associated with good things. I would say, "Yaay! Thunderstorm! We love thunderstorms! Thunderstorms are good!" (Yes, I know it sounds silly, but it works.) Keep your voice at a low or conversational level. If you get too loud or excited, it won't help calm your dog. It could make your dog even more anxious. Adjust your level of enthusiasm to how your dog is reacting to you. If he's getting too excited and anxious, tone it down a bit. If he's not paying any attention to you and he's still focused on the thunder, turn it up a notch.

You could also try putting on some music. Turn on some music that's soothing. Classical music works well. You can listen to whatever music you like, within reason. (If the only kind of music you like is head-banging music, try something else.) The music should be calming to your dog, not something that raises her anxiety level. Hum or sing along to the songs. Or get up and dance. My dog loves it when I sing. She's probably the only one. To be quite honest, I have a terrible singing voice. I can only sing in one key--off-key. But, my dog loves to hear me sing. Or maybe she's laughing at me. Either way, she's grinning from ear to ear. So I sing. She's entertained. And she forgets all about the thunderstorm. You may feel like a fool dancing or singing for your dog, but it's worth it if it helps your dog overcome the fear of thunderstorms.

If play or music distraction doesn't work, as a last resort, try food treats. The caveat being, if you get a lot of thunderstorms in your area and you use treats every time, you could end up with an overweight dog, which may lead to other health problems. But, if nothing else works, use the treats to distract your dog and get her focused on something other than the thunderstorm. The thing to remember when using treats is you have to make sure to only treat her if she shows no signs of fear. If you treat your dog while she's fearful, you're rewarding the very thing that you're trying to extinguish. Only use treats to reward calm behavior after a thunderclap. Once your dog has become more relaxed with the storms, you should wean her off of the treats and use another distraction technique intermittently with the treats until she is no longer afraid.

If left untreated, dogs with ongoing fear issues can develop more serious problems. Fear aggression, self-mutilation, OCD, and other behavioral disorders are just some of the problems that can develop. Therefore, it is in your best interest to help your dogs get over their fears. Not just to save your home and belongings from damage, but to save your dog's mental health. Gone untreated, fears usually get worse. Once the fear of thunderstorms has been conquered, your dog's confidence will be bolstered and she will be better equipped mentally to face other challenges. And you'll strengthen the bond between you and your four-legged friend.

Source: McConnell, Patricia B. For the Love of a Dog. New York: Ballantine. 2006