Why is dog scared of thunderstorms

Dog crates used for transporting dogs , under a bed or a chair are common choices of a hiding place for a dog. Your dog chooses these locations because they make him feel protected and the noise that frightens him is muffled. If your dog has not already picked out a place, provide one. You may want to leave a couple treats in it to encourage him to go there during a storm.

Providing a safe spot for your dog to go during a storm helps with some of the signs of anxiety but does not get to the root cause of the problem. This is a more difficult task and one for which you probably want the help of your veterinarian or a behavior specialist. The key is to desensitize your dog to the sound of thunder or the other stimuli associated with thunder.

The earlier you begin treatment, the quicker you will see positive results. Desensitization needs to be done gradually. Basically you want to get your dog used to the sound of thunder and see it as normal. This is usually done by playing recorded thunder at low volume and in short intervals.

The thunder sound should come irregularly to simulate real thunder. While you're doing this monitor your dog's behavior.

Try and distract him while the noise is present by playing fetch or engaging in some sort of enjoyable activity. If your dog is too frightened to participate then you need to turn down the intensity of your thunder stimulus and try again later.

This may be a long process requiring a lot of patience but in the end your dog will be much more comfortable during a storm. Select Your Region. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Youtube. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement.

About our Ads. Cookie Consent Tool. Belgium - Belgique. Brazil - Brasil. Kelly Ballyntyne , clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, says that it's difficult to test whether static buildup causes anxiety in dogs. Our canines' incredible noses may "just be smelling changes in the environment that predict a storm is coming," she says.

In addition, "there's a little bit of evidence that there can be some genetic predispositions for animals to develop noise phobia," such as border collies and Australian shepherds. While treating storm-phobic dogs, Dodman noticed that many canines seek out hiding places grounded against electric shocks, such as bathtubs, jacuzzis, or behind the toilet tank.

Curious about this odd behavior, he started informally asking owners where their dogs hide, and half of them said the bathroom. One pound German shepherd even jumps into the sink, he says. Curtis and Dodman both recommend owners buy a anti-static jacket to keep the dog calm, and Dodman adds that rubbing them down with an anti-static dryer sheet also helps. Snug-fitting wraps can also be comforting.

Ballyntyne suggests dog owners videotape their dog while away to look for signs such as pacing, panting, and restlessness. These behaviors could reveal mild separation anxiety that's exacerbated by storms. She also advises letting the animal decide where it feels safe, and then making that area more comfortable by adding white-noise machines—to buffer the noise of thunder—or acoustic tiling for soundproofing.

Here's how we know dogs have feelings. Have a question about the weird and wild world? Tweet me or find me on Facebook. Weird Animal Question of the Week answers your questions every Saturday.

All rights reserved. Electrified Dropping barometric pressure—which dogs can sense—coupled with darkening skies, wind, and the sheer noise of thunder can cause fearful reactions in dogs.

A Basset hound. Share Tweet Email. Read This Next Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London Love them or hate them, there's no denying their growing numbers have added an explosion of color to the city's streets. A: Many dogs are afraid of thunder simply because they do not understand what it is. Dogs hear this loud noise and perceive it as something threatening.

Some dogs try to go under tables, in bathtubs, or in any other place that makes them feel secure. It is ok to allow them to do this. It is important, however, not to try to soothe your pet too much. Doing so can actually encourage his fear if he senses any insecurity in your voice. During a thunderstorm, try to provide background noise for your dogs, such as TV or radio.