Braving The Storm With Your Scaredy Dog

Help, my dog is afraid of thunderstorms!

Dogs being afraid of a thunderstorm is a common owner complaint. Thunder can be loud even to human ears, and dog ears are much more sensitive than ours. Nearby thunder may actually cause pain and discomfort to sensitize dog ears, not to mention the ground shaking with each crash of thunder. If your dog is afraid of thunder, it’s best to stay home to comfort your dog. Whether you go out or stay at home, please make sure your dog cannot get out of the house! Make sure your dog is wearing his tags, and this is a good time to update your microchip information if chipped. If you are unsure of anything in this guide, have trouble recognizing your dog’s signs of stress, or your dog fear-bites or lashes out, make sure to consult with your vet and/or a professional trainer or behaviorist.

Preparing for the Storm:

Desensitizing your dog to the sound of thunder beforehand can help your dog considerably. If you Google or Youtube “Thunderstorm”, you can play the noises of a storm at a low volume while giving your dog something fun to do or yummy to eat, like a stuffed Kong. Do this often and increase the volume gradually at a level your dog is comfortable at. By the time a real storm comes along, your dog will hopefully become so used to the noise he won’t even notice it.

Tips to braving a storm with your scaredy dog:

• Distract him: Play a game with your dog, give him a stuffed Kong or another toy to keep him entertained, hang out with him in a small quiet room (like a bathroom, pantry, or closet), preferably in the middle of the house to muffle the sound.
• Tether or leash your dog to prevent pacing: If he panics on a leash, drop the leash immediately, and do not leave your dog unattended while tethered.
• Muffle the noise: Play calming music or turn on the TV.
• Sit and talk to him: Pet your dog slowly, giving long soothing strokes down the chest and back. Talk to him in soothing tones.
• Make use of natural anti anxieties: Give your dog turkey for dinner, put a drop of lavender oil on his ear tips, raid the calming aisle of your pet store for calming treats, pheromone sprays, diffusers, or collars, or do all of the above. If your dog has a severe fear issue, ask your vet and/or consult a professional trainer or behaviorist.
• Wear him out: Take your dog for a long walk or an extra-long play session before the thunderstorm starts. He’ll sleep right through it.
• Invest in a harness: A snug wrap-around harness or sweater sometimes has a calming effect on dogs, similar to swaddling a baby. A harness also saves your dog’s neck from injury if he panics while on a leash.
• Ear plugs and ear muffs: Believe it or not, they do make ear plugs and ear muffs for dogs! These are usually used for working dogs, such as hunting dogs and military dogs, because they’re exposed to so much gunfire noise. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t buy some and train your dog to accept it. This is the same gradual desensitization process that is used with any kind of equipment – see my guide to muzzle training for more information.

Going out for the night? Try these:

• Consider boarding your dog for the night: Boarding your dog at a vet or boarding facility ensures your dog’s safety, and the music and barking dogs will drown out the noise of the thunderstorm. If your vet has overnight staff, they may even give your dog an anti-anxiety to keep him calm. Note that boarding can also be stressful for scaredy dogs, so make sure you weigh the benefits of this method.
• Confine your dog securely: Put your dog in their kennel with a blanket draped over it to muffle the noise. Make sure to leave a side open so that he can breathe. If he is not crate trained or anxious inside the kennel, put him in a small quiet room [like a bathroom, pantry, or closet] preferably in the middle of the house to muffle the noise. Just make sure the room has been dog-proofed; anxious dogs chew on things!
• Distract him: Give him a stuffed Kong or another toy to keep him entertained while kenneled.
• Muffle the noise: Play calming music or turn on the TV.
• Make use of natural anti anxieties: Give your dog turkey for dinner, put a drop of lavender oil on his ear tips, raid the calming aisle of your pet store for calming pheromone sprays, diffusers, or collars, or do all of the above. If your dog has a severe fear issue, ask your vet and/or consult a professional trainer or behaviorist.
• Wear him out: Take your dog for a long walk or an extra-long play session before the thunderstorm starts. He’ll sleep right through it.

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For more helpful tips on handling your scaredy dog, please take a look at our Training Guides. We also have our FAQ page and you can also find Scaredy Dog on Facebook.