How can I train my dog not to be afraid of rain and thunderstorms?

Question

My dog, Tiara, pants and gets very anxious when it rains or we have a storm. She follows me everywhere and gets so scared. What can I do to make her calm? Thanks for your replies.

Answer 1

You can try desensitizing Tiara by playing recordings of rain and storms when it isn't actually raining-- or aiming the sprinkler at the front window to simulate rain. Give her treats and lots of loving attention while the simulated sounds are going on. This would ideally make her like the sound of storms. The goal is to get her to associate rain with good food and loving attention. Soon she should start to love the rain.
Of course there are also vet prescribed 'doggy downers' that will calm Tiara right down. It doesn't sound quite that serious though.

Answer 2

There is a way. Basically you have to expose your dog to loud noises to desensitize her. During the course of regular day to day activity ,pop balloons or paper bags, get a blank or cap gun and out of the blue ,fire it. Turn music or T.V. up loud for a couple of seconds, etc. Not too often or too close together but randomly through out the day. During play, rest ,eating , really any time.**** The important thing is to act like **It's No Big Deal** Do Not Pet , Hold or Console your dog. The dog will mistake your comforting it as *** Being Praised for being scared**. Make noise and pretend you did not even hear it. After a while your dog will be far less sensitive to noise.

Answer 3

You may never be able to completely "train" her out of her fear, but desesitization is very possible. You can get CD's of thunder/storms, and play it in the house (at first quietly and gradually louder), giving lots of praise when she calms down even for a little bit, and try to get her more used to the sounds, and therefore less scared.
If this doesn't help, and she's really, really scared, you vet can prescribe a tranquilizer like acepromazine to give her until the storm passes, but desensitizing should be the first thing you try so you don't have to keep drugging your dog. I've got one just like her, so good luck with working with her!

Answer 4

You can try using recordings of rain/thunderstorms for training sessions. Greater exposure should help the dog grow accostomed to the noise. Be careful not to reinforce her anxiety by showing her too much positive attention when she reacts to the storms. There are many dog training manuals and dvds available at sites such as Amazon.com.

Answer 5

i don't think you should pet her and make a big fuss because what will happen if your not there when there is one and making a fuss of her will let her know there is something wrong you should sit her with you when its raining on the porch or looking out of the window to allow her to overcome her fear or take her out in the rain or play a tape of a thunderstorm and rain and slowly turn the volume up to get her used to it

Answer 6

stress is the symptom. lack of self belief is the basis reason. I observed it lots in my rescue canines. My technique is as follows: a million) do no longer foster that physique of suggestions. i.e. do no longer provide treats or console a canines who's worried. Do your maximum suitable to block the habit till now it escalates. as an occasion, he startes pacing- ask him to place down at your ft, and launch him while he loosen up's. interior the wild, a canines does no longer be authorized to do away with in his %./den section, nor could the different %. contributors tolerate insecure behaviour. 2) attempt to handle root reason. concentration on imposing his place on your %. relatives. he will grow to be a greater take care of canines. prepare obedience, self belief development events that he's bred to to, and in case you already know a hurricane is coming- provide him one greater long stroll earlier. 3) attempt to no longer anticipate him turning out to be irritating. canines have a humorous way of choosing up on their human's emotion. once you're irritating that he's going to get irritating- you adult adult males will feed off of another. the main serious ingredient (IMHO) is to concentration on the entire canines. provide him what he desires interior the easy so he can climate the rain.

Answer 7

Hi Gail,

I have a big Maine Coon Tom Cat that used to be terrified of thunder storms. When one came up, I would talk to martin and rub him on his nose, just below his eyes, and that is a pressure point for calming an animal. Plus when I talk to him, he sees that Daddy is not scared and he gets brave.

Try that and talking to her, and when she sees mommy is not scared, she will probably acclimate to it.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Darryl S.

Answer 8

pots and pans.
drop them. A LOT

do NOT reward scared behavior. I think that her just following you, not completely freaking out is good. after dropping the loud noises, and she calms, treat.
repeat

Answer 9

My dog Molly is the same way. She will even get to the point where she will jump on the table. It somehow comforts her. lol. But, all I can say is try to comfort her as much as you can. If your sitting on the couch, let her sit on your lap or near and just give her lots of attention.

Answer 10

I'm not big on drugs for animals, but our vet gave our dog tranquilizers for that and it really works. I don't know that you can train that kind of abject terror out of them- our dog would just become panic stricken, even in her kennel, and the medication really helps her.