How to Train Your Dog to Stop Being Afraid of Thunder
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Introduction
It’s 2am you’ve got an important day at work tomorrow--it’s that big meeting that could mean the difference between getting that promotion you’ve always wanted or staying in the same miserable position you’ve been in for years. You’ve never needed a good night’s sleep so desperately, but then it happens the dog starts howling... and then you hear the thunder. Do you love your four-legged friend desperately, but are sick of being woken up in the middle of the night or having to clean up the carnage left behind by their fear-of-thunder-fuelled rampage? Then it’s time to take matters into your own hands and train your pooch to stop being afraid of thunder, for both of your sakes.
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Defining Tasks
Although not a command as such, it is important to train your pupper to stop being afraid of thunder, as very anxious dogs often do damage to themselves and their surroundings during a thunder-fuelled panic attack. They can destroy furniture and injure themselves in the process, for example, which puts your pooch in danger and could make for some very expensive vet bills and concern over your pooch's wellbeing. Although you want to train your dog to stop being afraid of thunder as soon as the initial problem develops, as you are more likely to have success this way before it becomes a permanent and learned behavior, you can try with older dogs also. However, if the problem is very severe you may need to enlist the help of a veterinarian, medicating your pet accordingly, if they are a risk to themselves. This will be a difficult task to achieve, as it is difficult for pooches to overcome fear and the time it will take is very much dependent on the particular pooch.
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Getting Started
There are a few different ways to try and stop your pupper being afraid, and the equipment you’ll need depends on the approach you’re going to take. Toys and treats can work as a pleasant distraction from the scariness of a storm; it can also be a good idea to have items that you don’t mind being destroyed, such as an old toy or rawhide bones, which your pooch can focus his energy on. Over the counter medications from the vets may also be worth a try, such as pheromone diffusers or anti-anxiety tablets. Create a comfy place for your pooch to hide in; if you’re going to manage his environment, it could be a good idea to have a little sound proof den for him. Most of all, remember to be patient and not to reprimand him as this will only increase his sense of fear, instead be reassuring, calm and patient.
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The Fun And Distractions Method
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Play!
When the storm starts, pick up your dog's favorite toy and start playing in the rain and distracting them.
Gauge the response
If he seems less fearful when you’re doing this, give him a treat and tell them what a good boy he's been.
Try walking in the rain
Try and get rid of those bad habits by walking your dog in the rain during the thunderstorm and playing with him. If they respond well, give them a treat. If they’re very fearful, take them back in--it’s not worth risking your pooch's safety, as the last thing you want is him running off.
Give him a chew toy
Give your dog an item which you don’t mind being chewed up or one that is designed for chewing. Rawhide bones are a good choice.
Be gently reassuring
By all means, console your dog and let him know that you’re there for him, but don’t do this overly so or spend all your time reassuring him, as this will just reinforce his fear that there is something he needs to be protected from.
The Adapt the Environment Method
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Safe spaces
Give your pooch a safe place to hide away in, such as putting his bed in a quieter part of the house, out of the way of the noise.
Make everything quiet
Close the curtains or the blinds and try to drown out as much noise as you possibly can.
Distraction noises
You could play some soothing music or turn up the TV in order to mask the sound of thunder.
Stimulate other senses
There are various remedies available at pet stores, such as calming wraps, that might be worth a try on your pooch.
Reward calm behavior
If the above steps are working and he’s settled down, give him a tasty treat and some praise to let him know that there’s nothing to be afraid of and this is the way he should behave.
The Aids and Medications Method
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Over the counter tablets and liquids
There are many preparations you can buy, such as anti-anxiety tablets made from natural ingredients. However, these often have to be used well before the event of a storm, so make sure you use them far enough in advance.
Plug in a diffuser
Pheromone diffusers remind your pooch of when he was with his mother and so often have a lovely, calming effect. You could try plugging one in and seeing if that makes a difference.
Give it a spray
Although likely not as effective as a diffuser, pheromone sprays can be bought and sprayed on your pet's bedding to make them feel calmer.
Visit a vet
If none of the above steps are working, it may well be time to call on the help of a vet and get some stronger medications for your pet, particularly in the instance where your pet is so fearful that they are injuring themselves and destroying the home.
Visit a behaviorist
Again, if none of the above steps work, it may be time to also enlist the help of a professional behaviorist if living with your pupper is becoming hard work and particularly if they are also developing other fears. They may be able to give you some more pointers of where you’re going wrong with your pooch.
Written by Catherine Lee-Smith
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 11/01/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
More articles by Catherine Lee-Smith
Training Questions and Answers
Ginger
German shepherd lab mix
Three Years
Question
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Hello! Right now, it is nighttime and windy outside and my dog is blocked in the kitchen with a dog gate that has been broken recently and a big red toolbox with wheels in front of it right now. Classical music is being played, but it isn't doing any good. Ginger can move the red toolbox and knock down the dog gate and will go upstairs to ease her anxiety. My parents don't want her upstairs however but also don't want to deal with this chaos. Any suggestions please?
Sept. 23, 2022
Ginger's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, Often a fear phobia is something best addressed with both a behaviorist and your vet together. For the gate destruction, a remote training collar can be used on working level to deter her from breaking through the gate. Personally I would crate train though and have her sleep in a crate during stormy nights, since once crate trained, some dogs actually feel safer in the crate than out in the open. The crate could help to keep her in the kitchen while also giving her more security. Check out the surprise method from the article I have linked below. Surprise method - for crate introduction - the crate needs to be introduced way ahead of time before needing it during storms, so she feels safer in the crate and not even more anxious because the crate was new too. This method mentions small dog but it should work equally well for a larger dog like yours also. https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate I would also work on addressing her fear as well. Recordings of thunder can be purchased online and played at super low volumes while doing something really fun with pup - a favorite game, something where she is working for lots of treats - like trick practice. Choose something she loves that she will be so focused on and excited about she won't notice the storm noise in the background. Practice daily. As she improves and this has become a favorite time, gradually increase the storm noise volume, so long as she still seems unbothered by it. Practice at the current volume until her body language looks happy and relaxed before increasing the volume again. Overtime, work up to a storm-like, more realistic volume on the recording, being sure not to show the recording to her. Expect this to take at least a couple of months, not a week. If you go too fast, (she looks nervous and fearful instead of happy while practicing) you can stall progress or make things worse. For severe cases, in addition to doing the above training, thunder shirts and sometimes medication can help - speak with your vet about whether medication is needed in this case, it isn't always, and I am not a vet. Sometimes CBD oil is also recommended for some dogs to help with anxiety - consult your vet before giving that though. I am not a vet. When medication is needed, with previous clients it tends to work best when still combined with desensitization and other training at the same time, rather than just on its own. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Oct. 3, 2022
Isaac
English Setter
9 Years
Question
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Severe fear of storms - Isaac is a rescue and has been with us for 7 years - his fear of storms and fireworks has increased and he has anxiety attacks when it rains or he anticipates storms - he wakes up at night panting, running trying to hide and digs on carpets and floors. He seems to have gotten worse. I give him spaces to hide, close blinds, use a thunder vest, put music or tv on, remain calm comforting without too much doting, he gets himself so worked up nothing seems to calm him. Looking into Bach stress relief or cbd oil.
June 18, 2022
Isaac's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Cindy, First, know that I am not a vet, so I can't advise on supplements or medications. I can say as a fellow pet owner, I have seen CBD oil help anxiety in dogs. I haven't tried Bach yet. I would also find a trainer with a lot of experience counter conditioning - most trainers probably aren't going to have the experience to deal with this level of fear, but if you can find one who has worked successfully with dog's with trauma and understands anxiety and counter conditioning and desensitizing, combining that with the thunder shirt and a supplement that helps anxiety internally, might be something worth trying next. The main goal in these situations is to desensitize so there is less fear associated with the storms and to get pup in a working and calmer mindset and out of fight or flight during the storm. This is often done by conditioning pup using small experiences of storms (like recordings set on low volume at first), and gradually working up to the real thing as you practice training and playing with pup to engage their mind, while including a lot of rewards for pup's good attitude while the recording plays. As pup improves, the background sound is increased and the training to engage that thinking part of pup's brain (to keep pup out of fight or flight) and rewards to help pup associate the experience of the noise with pleasure, is continued, and the sound gradually increased as pup progresses. I find that medication or supplementation combined with behavior modification training tends to works best for more extreme cases when combined together. I am not a vet though, so work with a vet experienced with those supplements for their recommendation on that end too. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 20, 2022