Thunderstorm Phobia

by Frank Stone Web Designer

Noise phobia is a fairly common problem for dog owners. Many dogs don't even develop this phobia until they are at least 5 years old! A phobia is defined as a persistent, abnormal, and irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid it, despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous. Now, your dog may not be aware that the noise is not dangerous, but his response is certainly inconsistent with the amount of danger the sound poses to him. The most frustrating thing about phobias is that they often get worse over time instead of better! Even after 100 thunderstorms where nothing happened to your dog, he is still afraid! This can be an extremely frustrating problem, and is one that many pet owners suffer through.

Many dogs are afraid of thunderstorms. One of the reasons that dogs are so afraid of thunder is how loud it can sound. Hearing is probably the most sensitive sense in the dog. They can hear sounds in a much greater range of frequencies than humans, and their ears are also more sensitive. A sound that is barely noticeable to you may be unbelievably loud to your dog. Another reason your dog is so afraid is that he is hearing these loud sounds and has absolutely no idea why they are occurring! I think it would be pretty terrifying to hear these explosions and not know why! Dogs are also more sensitive to the atmospheric changes that occur before and during a storm. You may notice your dog beginning to get agitated before the storm is anywhere close. This agitation may include panting, whining, and wanting to stay as close to you as possible.

So what do many dogs do when they hear these sounds? How do they react? Many become destructive. They may try to dig, chew, urinate or defecate. Some dogs will shake, freeze, or just cower and hide. When you find yourself in the situation where your dog is terrified by these sounds, there are some ways in which you can try to reduce his anxiety.

Many dogs may feel comforted by "white noise," which will help block out the sounds of the storm. Examples include turning on the TV, radio, dishwasher, or a loud fan. You can also try distracting your dog. As soon as the thunder starts, begin running around the house and throwing all of his favorite toys and treats around. This may provide enough of a distraction to make him forget his fear. If you don't want to distract him, just ignore him. Do not give into the temptation to soothe and pet your dog while he is afraid. This will only reinforce the idea that he should be afraid of the storm.

Some dogs like to be enclosed in a safe, den-like environment. If your dog has a crate or a kennel, he may feel better if you put him in there with a blanket, and maybe even put a blanket over the crate. However, do not lock your dog in his crate because he may panic and hurt himself trying to get out. Other ideas for dens include under a desk or table, or in the back of a closet (just be sure there are no valuable clothes hanging there). To get your dog to the point where he goes to this "den" environment whenever a storm is coming, praise him enthusiastically whenever he goes there. If he will go there regularly, this can be considered a victory. He will probably not do much damage in this environment and may find it calming, which may reduce his overall fear of the storms.

Some dogs become so panicked during storms that they are extremely destructive. If your dog is really out of control and you fear that he may hurt himself, talk to your veterinarian about the possibility of prescribing tranquilizers for you to give your dog during the storm. However, your dog will be very sleepy and "downed out" for the next few hours after you have administered the medication. Never give human tranquilizers to your dog; they can be harmful and will probably have no effect.

If your dog suffers from consistent noise phobias, consult your veterinarian for advice. This is a fairly common problem and there are ways to treat it.

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