Is your dog frightened by thunder?

Question

Does anyone know of any solutions to help a dog get over this or just keep her calm during a thunderstorm?

Answer 1

I've had a couple of dogs who are afraid of thunder. You can take your dog to the vet for a prescription for sedatives. I did that but I don't like the way they make the dog really dopey - even on a half dose.

What I use, and it won't work on dogs who are extreme, is an all natural product called Bach's Flower Essences. There's quite a few varieties but the one to get is called Rescue Remedy. It calms the dog really well and there are no side effects.

One other thing, my dogs like to be downstairs - they're a little bit more secure there.

Answer 2

I had a friend who's chihuahua was terrified of thunderstorms and would follow her closely and shake tremendously- she had to crate-train him so by the time a thunderstorm came, he already felt the crate as his secure place, so he was alright sleeping in there while it thundered...
I've also heard of this plug-in type thing that emits some sort of scent, I think, that is supposed to calm the dog down- I read about it in a Drs Foster and Smith catalog, not quite sure if it works, but no matter what you try- always consult your vet first.

Answer 3

Here's an article that I found from http://www.spca.bc.ca/Animalbehaviour/fear.asp.
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Fear is a normal emotion that engages animals to respond to a threat. Fear prepares the animal for running away or fighting something they perceive as dangerous. Most dogs are accustomed to normal situations such as traffic, household noises, being approached by friendly strangers and many other every day events. Some dogs, however, experience fear over things that are not truly dangerous and that do not put them at risk of injury.
Dogs that are fearful have a difficult time adjusting to new situations and people. As dogs get more fearful they develop behaviours that could include aggression to cope with their fearful emotional state. There are techniques that will build your fearful dog's confidence, which are outlined below.

Reducing fear requires gradual exposure to the situation they fear and rewarding (using food, toys, praise etc.) any sign of relaxed behaviour or voluntary approach of the feared object or person.

Do not force a dog to accept the people, objects or situations he fears. While this may seem efficient because your dog obeys, it will cause him stress, which can lead to other behaviour problems, or stress-related disease.

Do not reinforce the fearful response. Do not sooth, pet or say things such as ”it’s ok” or “don’t be scared” in a soft, sympathetic voice during your dog’s rehabilitation. This will simply reward the fearful behaviour and make him think you are frightened too.
Always use a “happy,” “upbeat” and “high pitch” tone of voice or be very “matter of fact” when your dog is showing fear. Sometimes this is enough to change the emotional state of your dog. They take their cues from you.
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You can read the rest of the article at the site that I listed above. I hope that this helps you! :)

Answer 4

Animals are extremely susceptible to changes in the atmosphere. They become frightened because they do not understand what is happening. When my English Bulldog does his "Oh No! The big bad thunder and lightening is going to get me!!!!!" I hold him as close as possible and he calms down a lot.

Answer 5

I had a rescue dog, a lab X, that was terrified of loud noises, firecrackers, bangs and thunder..
(RIP lil' buddy)

what you MUST NOT do is coddle your dog when they are scared - because it then becomes a conditioned response and they will become "more scared" for the attention - you have to ingnore the noise and the dog - it sounds cruel but it's what you must do... just act like nothing's up..

Answer 6

My dog isn't but my grandmother's dog, Jayde, is. My grandmother sits by Jayde because she shakes & whines during thunderstorms. They really freak Jayde out. She'll hide in the corner of my grandmother's bedroom. When there is a thunderstorm at night, my grandmother lets Jayde sleep in her bed. So, I would say just pet & comfort your dog during thunderstorms. Don't leave it alone.

Answer 7

Have 3 dogs. One runs under the bed when he hears thunder. The second one shakes uncontrollably and I have to hold her. The third one barks at the sound.

We get lots of lightening strikes close by, so it's understandable the my animals react that way.

Answer 8

nope, oddly enough my dog loves storms. You could try playing an inside game with your dog when it thunders, something to keep their mind off of it. They do make a calming pill for pets and you can get it from petsmart or anyplace like that.

Answer 9

I had a 170lb German box doberman that was scared to death of thunder, and when it would thunder he became the worlds biggest lap dog. As long as he was sitting on top of one of us he did fine. I really miss that big lug. I don't know of any other solution for getting a dog over his/her fear. Good luck.

Answer 10

lol yes my dog is scared to death of thunder, she sleeps with my daughter and she will be all snug and comfy under the covers and if it starts storming she jumps out of the bed and goes underneath the bed! Go figure you would think she would feel more comfortable being with someone. She is 10 yrs old now, so I don't think there is a solution.