Even though we are nearing the end of summer, we are still amid thunderstorm season. Whether it’s heavy rain or a light sprinkle mixed with light rumbles or heavy crashes of thunder, thunderstorms can shake up even the most poised pets. But why is this the case? Why do some dogs cower in fear; run, hide, and shake uncontrollably when a storm is coming through? Dogs across the nation are terrorized by thunderstorms. So much so that a specific company named its stress-reducing product after “thunder”. Stores like Petco will receive extra shipments of products like the “ThunderShirt” and other calming supplements specifically for thunderstorms and fireworks, specifically for this time of year because the demand for it is so high. But what about thunderstorms startles some of our pets to the point of cowering, stress, and anxiety? What shakes them so deeply, and how can we help them?
Let’s start by thinking of our dog’s perspective? Have you ever been startled by a strong crack of thunder? One that felt like it shook the very foundations of the building? While it might startle us at first; we might jump in fright, but we understand what this spectacle is. We understand that thunder is the sound of rapid displacement of heat. Our dogs do not understand that. To our dogs, there is a phenomenon occurring with loud, earth-shaking noises, and our dogs have either been conditioned to it or have not been.
If you have a young puppy, this is a perfect opportunity for you to combat this potential fear in your dogs. Around the age of 8-11 weeks, your dog reaches its first critical fear period. “During these periods, puppies may show fear of items, situations or people with whom they formerly felt safe. They may start barking at people entering a house or become fearful and startle at benign items like trash cans, drainpipes or even yard gnomes. They may crouch, shake and try to run away, submissively urinate or, tell the scary thing/person to go away by showing an aggressive display, which may include piloerection, snarling, lunging or other unruly behavior.” (Frensley). This means that our young puppies might feel safe at home, but when an unfamiliar event like a thunderstorm occurs, they are susceptible to an imprint of fear relating to the storm. The puppy might display a fearful behavior (whether it’s fleeing, barking, or panting) when they hear the thunder, and by doing the behavior, the puppy may think that behavior made the thunder stop. Thus, making the behavior more likely to occur again.
Dogs go through different fear periods where they are more susceptible to become afraid of certain people or animals or distressed in certain situations if a positive association is not shown. Dogs can also go through another impactful fear period between 10 months and 14 months of age. “Also called, “The fear of situations period”, usually corresponds to growths spurts. This critical age may depend on the size of the dog. Small dogs tend to experience these periods earlier than large dogs. Great care must be taken not to reinforce negative behavior. Force can frighten the dog, and soothing tones serve to encourage his fear. His fear should be handled with patience and kindness, and training during this period puts the dog in a position of success, while allowing him to work things out while building self-confidence.” (Critical Periods in Puppy Development).
So how do we combat this in our dogs? First, we want to make sure our dog stays safe. For young puppies and even older dogs, we want to make sure that something new and potentially scary is a pleasant experience. Like many other things in training, we want to be proactive. Set the moment up to be a training opportunity with lots of treats and fun activities. Run through familiar behaviors such as sit, down and touch, and make it fun. This is the best way to combat the fear; make it a game. This will help create a positive association to thunderstorms, at least until these fear periods are over. A good example of this is when Berkley and Hezekiah were younger, we were walking under a viaduct when a train was running over it. My dogs were startled and confused, but not quite anxious. Instead of hurrying through the situation, which would teach them to flee during these situations, I stopped and asked them to sit, lay down, and do other behaviors such as weave between my legs and spin in circles, then rewarded them generously. I know this was pivotal in helping them from being fearful of the loud sounds of trains. Expose your dog to the sound of thunder and make it a training opportunity. Search for Youtube videos that have the sounds of thunder and start with the volume low, then slowly increase the volume. Build from there. Keep training sessions short, between 3-5 minutes and adjust the time as needed.
Conditioning is key and likely the strongest culprit to your dog’s fear or nervousness of storms, but there are other things that can contribute as well. Dogs can sense a change in barometric pressure and static electricity in the air (Lowe), which means some dogs can sense a storm before any visible sign. Static electricity can put our dogs on edge, and they may act out due to their physical and emotional discomfort. There are a few “home remedies” that you can try to alleviate this. Dryer sheets are a common suggestion to battle static cling in our clothes, so this is an option for you if the product is pet-friendly. Be careful that the dryer sheet does not have any harmful chemicals that might damage our dog’s skin or create any reactions. “Static electricity is common when the air is dry and the humidity is low.. the solution is to add moisture back to your environment and/or your pet’s fur. A room humidifier will add needed moisture to the air, reducing static electricity. A light mist of water on your pet’s fur will make the fur incapable of holding a static charge” (Khoriaty). Unrelated to the issue of static electricity, but very relevant as a home remedy is the use of Lavender Oil. “The number one talked about essential oil for dogs’ anxiety is lavender (it also works well for human anxiety). Lavender oil is very safe and gentle for dogs. It can be used to calm and soothe your dog by gently rubbing it into your dog’s ear fur and skin while giving it a nice massage” (Alt).
All of this is not guaranteed though. Even with proper conditioning and exposure, some dogs will still develop a fear of thunderstorms just like some people still develop fears of spiders or snakes. Be proactive and patient with your dog. Make your dog as calm and comfortable as you can. There are many different techniques, from the Thundershirt, to calming supplements that contain melatonin, or other home remedies such as lavender oil. If your dog isn’t responding to training due to stress, and home remedies are not helping your dog during storms, you may strongly consider contacting your vet for advice and further options.
Works Cited
Alt, Kimberly. “Doggy Day Spa: Essential Oils For Dogs.” CanineJournal.com, CanineJournal.com, 8 Mar. 2018, www.caninejournal.com/essential-oils-for-dogs/.
“Critical Periods in Puppy Development.” National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) | Information Center for the Environment (ICE), ice.ucdavis.edu/~robyn/Korina/BCIdeas/Criticalperiodsinpuppydevelopment.html.
Frensley, Nancy. “Critical Fear Periods in Puppies.” Berkeleyhumane.org, berkeleyhumane.org/files/galleries/CriticalFear.pdf.
Khoriaty, Abby. “Reducing Static Electricity in Your Pet’s Fur.” PetMeds® Pet Health Blog, 17 Dec. 2015, blog.petmeds.com/1800petmeds/reducing-static-in-your-pets-fur/.
Lowe, Lyndsay. “PetMD.” PetMD, www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/5-surprising-things-your-dog-can-sense.
“Puppy Development Stages.” Puppy Stages | Wonder Puppy | Portland, OR, wonder-puppy.com/puppy-stages.
“What Causes the Sound of Thunder?” Apple Computers: This Month in Business History (Business Reference Services, Library of Congress), Victor, www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/thunder.html.