Dogs and Thunder - A Bad Mix?
Ranked #2,765 in Pets & Animals, #70,351 overall
If your dog is afraid of thunder, try a Thundershirt
Do you have a scared dog? When dogs hear thunder, many dogs become nervous. Some dogs fear thunder so much they become anxious and hyper, barking and running around. Others have become so stressed that they've been known to crash through plate glass windows and tear down doors. Others resort to clinging and whining.
The first sign of thunder makes Teddy, my Shih Tsu, so nervous he cries, barks, and struggles to climb into my lap. I can see the fear in his eyes. Freddie, my Maltese goes into hyper-drive and runs around like a wild man barking at every thunder roll. Riley, my Cocker Spaniel, slinks off to the nearest corner to hide. Even my Great Pyrenees fears thunder and becomes anxious. I need ast solutions for these escalating dog anxiety problems.
Fearful dogs are not happy dogs. Anxious dogs, nervous dogs can pass on their anxiety to other dogs. When a dog becomes upset, fearful, nervous and tense, owners suddenly find themselves behaving in similar manners. It almost becomes a matter of self-survival to find something that will make things better. Happily I now have several solutions for the nervous dog thunder anxiety.
Image All material and photographs in this article are copyrighted 2011 Vikk Simmons with all rights reserved.except for product images of Thundershirt and the pheromone sprays.
The first sign of thunder makes Teddy, my Shih Tsu, so nervous he cries, barks, and struggles to climb into my lap. I can see the fear in his eyes. Freddie, my Maltese goes into hyper-drive and runs around like a wild man barking at every thunder roll. Riley, my Cocker Spaniel, slinks off to the nearest corner to hide. Even my Great Pyrenees fears thunder and becomes anxious. I need ast solutions for these escalating dog anxiety problems.
Fearful dogs are not happy dogs. Anxious dogs, nervous dogs can pass on their anxiety to other dogs. When a dog becomes upset, fearful, nervous and tense, owners suddenly find themselves behaving in similar manners. It almost becomes a matter of self-survival to find something that will make things better. Happily I now have several solutions for the nervous dog thunder anxiety.
Does Your Dog Fear Thunder?
Is your dog afraid of fireworks, loud noises or thunder?
Tell me about your dog. Is your dog afraid of thunder? Does he fear fireworks? What drives him nuts, makes him nervous or fearful?
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elynmac
Apr 30, 2012 @ 4:39 am | delete
- Yes - our dogs like to hide under the covers or under the bed.
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Ruthi
Nov 15, 2011 @ 10:17 am | delete
- Yes! And, Tidbit kept me up into the wee hours just last night due to thunderstorms, high winds, and tornado warnings. She whines and paces herself into a frenzy during storms.
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jwncoexists
Oct 22, 2011 @ 11:09 pm | delete
- I have one that shakes and tries to hide from thunder and lightening. Her fear makes my second one anxious now (he didn't used to be).
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bames24
May 17, 2011 @ 9:12 am | delete
- I have two dogs... a Pomeranian who is terrified of thunder, firecrackers, or any sudden loud noise... even a marching band scares him and he will demand that we hide him in the cupboards under the kitchen counter... and a Labrador who does not let anythings scare him... truth be told, the only time he ever barks is when he is woken up by a loud noise.
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Jerrad28
May 16, 2011 @ 4:43 pm | delete
- I had an Alaskan Malamute growing up and he was terrified of thunder! It may have been that someone had shot at him before when he got loose out in the country (west Texas), but that's just a guess
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My Search for Treatments
Help for fearful and nervous dogs
Vet Suggests Pheromone Spray to Calm Cat
D.A.P. Pheromone Spray for dogs is available, too
D.A.P. Dog Appeasing Pheromone Spray (60ml)
I first learned of the pheromone sprays for dogs and cats when I took my mom's angry and ticked off cat to the vet for her annual. Before he even touched the cat, he sprayed around the entrance of the crate and inside with the pheromone spray. It was amazing. Minutes later she was limp in his hands. This, the cat who refuses to have anyone come near her, allowed the vet and his assistant to stroke her, needle her, and take her temperature. I left the office with my newly bought bottle of spray.
Later I learned of the same type of spray for dogs and wondered whether it would help Freddie with his increasing fear of thunder and storms. I bought a bottle and gave it a try. It definitely helped. I added the spray to my shopping cart and now keep bottles for the cats and for the dogs on hand.
For dogs:D.A.P. Dog Appeasing Pheromone Spray (60ml)
For cats:Feliway ORMD-D Behavior Modifier, 75 ml Spray
Another Safe Dog Anxiety Treatment
Reduce your dog's anxiety with the Thundershirt
Freddie's fear of thunder increased rather than decreased over time until it became a real problem. The incessant, high-pitched barking and the constant running back and forth made it impossible for me to do anything other than try and hold him to keep him still and quiet. In desperation I began searched the Internet and asked friends if they had any solutions. That's when I found the Thundershirt.By then I had a whacked out Maltese, a Nervous Nelly Shih Tsu, a skulking Spaniel and a panting, drooling Great Pyrenees on my hands whenever the first roll of thunder hit the air. It was not comforting to be told by my vet that a dog's hearing is so acute that he can hear thunder miles and miles from our house. Now wonder Freddie was our storm alert system. Apparently little Freddie has the capacity to hear thunder as far as 50 miles away or more. I ordered the Thundershirts for the four odogs. I was determined peace would reign once more in the house.
Riley relaxes in his Thundershirt
The Dogs Achieve Anxiety Relief
Natural anxiety treatments are always preferred
The Thundershirts arrived and proved to be a great addition. It took a few times to learn how to wrap them and apply the correct amount of pressure but even with my first effort I could sense a difference in the dogs. Over time I learned that the earlier I sprayed the better. So now, at the first sign of a storm, I apply the spray to the mats and rugs where the dogs like to stay. I also do a spray onto the Thundershirt where the two flaps are Velcroed together at the chest. That way the scent is directly under their noses no matter where they go.Today I'm able to help the dogs reduce their stress and calm them during thunderstorms and other anxiety-producing events. I've used the pheromone spray and the Thundershirt during the annual holidays that always produce the predictable loud cracks of fireworks. New Year's Eve and 4th of July holidays always stress out the dogs. When the city sends out the annual tree trimmers--a laughable term given the annual decimation of my backyard--who crank up the chain saws and swing through the trees, the dynamic duo of shirt and spray is at work again.
Why the Thundershirt Works
How does contact pressure help anxious dogs?
It's rare to see Freddie at rest but it does happen and now it occurs during thunderstorms. It's a wonderful sight. It's nice that Waco is no longer drooling and panting more and more during a storm. Riley's nervousness is gone and he's usually napping during a storm. And it's good to see the fear leave Teddy's eyes, although I confess he still wants to climb up onto my lap and snuggle into my arms. He may be the eldest but there are time when he still acts like the little 8-week old puppy I held so many years ago.There's a reason why Teddy wants to be held during a storm or why Riley pads over to the corner of the room and pushes up against the walls. It's because they want that feeling of safety. The walls and my arms provide pressure, a soothing comfort, that calms them. The application of pressure to calm animals and people has been documented for years. Mothers, dog trainers and veterinarians continue to use pressure techniques. I bet you even recall times when you've cradled a child or held an animal to calm them.
Thundershirts are a wrap that provides "gentle" pressure around the dog's main body. The material is a lightweight fabric that breathes. None of my dogs have shown any discomfort when wearing the wraps. In fact, the opposite has occurred.
When to Use Thundershirts and Other Calming Treatments
The anxious dog, nervous dog and over-excited dog need help
Like people, animals can get upset and become nervous. The causes are many. Over time I've noticed a number of things that create stress in my dogs and in my mom's cats. Maybe you don't see any of these behaviors or problems in your dog right now. But, like Teddy, as your dog ages, sometimes these problems develop. Teddy never feared thunder until the last year or so.
- Rolling thunder, thunderstorms, and heavy rain induces immediate stress in several of my dogs.
- During a fireworks display or when neighbors are shooting fireworks, Freddie, in particular, has a problem. HoneyBunn, my tiny Mi-Ki, doesn't like sharp or sudden loud noises.
- There are times when dogs suffer from motion sickness or become nervous when traveling in a car.
- Some dogs seem to hate being left alone. They suffer from separation anxiety. Freddie has shown some signs of this recently. If you work or have to leave the house, they whine, cry, and bark. Some of them exhibit more destructive behavior.0
- Many dogs, especially little ones like Freddie, have a tendency to run around in an increasing hyper way. They get over-excited. Sometimes they even spin.
- Barking. Some dogs bark a lot. While I don't mind barking for a specific reason like when Riley is trying to tell me he's ready to go to bed and wants in his crate, I'm not so fond of non-stop barking just to be heard. Some dogs bark constantly. Others bark when they're excited.
- There are dogs that just seem to be fearful. They cower and shiver. Riley was like that when he first came to live with me. He'd been abused as a puppy and it took quite a while for him to lose his fears. These dogs need help to remain calm and feel safe.
How to Use the Pressure Wrap to Reduce Anxiety
Thundershirts are easy to use
I'll admit the first couple of times I used the Thundershirts it was a bit dicey to get them on and fitted correctly. The directions help.. It's more a matter of getting the hang of putting the wrap around the dog. Not only does it fit around the chest ending in front but it wraps all around the belly. At first you feel like you have 4 flaps with Velcro flying around and sticking to each other but that passes quickly.I also found it took a few times to get the correct amount of pressure that seemed to work for each dog. But I could see the dogs become more calm with each use.
My first Tip: Make sure the Thundershirt logo is on the correct side of the dog. It's shown on the directions. That's how I learned to get them on correctly.
My 2nd Tip Watch those Velcro flaps, especially if you have long-haired dogs. Make sure you tuck the hair or fur in place.
What do you do for your dog's anxiety symptoms?
Does your dog fear loud noises, thunder, fireworks?
I'd like to learn more methods to calm my dogs and my mom's cats, so please add your own solutions that have worked to the list. If you don't own a dog but know of something that has worked for cats, please add it to the list.
This list allows you to rank these suggestions in the order you think work best. Please take part so we can find the #1 solution for ourselves and future readers of this article.
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Want to Try a Thundershirt for Your Dog?
Try the contact pressure wrap on your dog
When I decided to buy a Thundershirt I did what most people do and ordered all four from Amazon. I was comfortable ordering all four at once because there is a money back guarantee. If they worked, I wanted all the dogs to be comfortable during the next storm. They have all the sizes covered from XXS to XXL.
I've provided the link below so you can find out more about the Thundershirt. You can also click through any of the pictures of my dogs. :)
Click here to buy the Thundershirt Dog Anxiety Treatment - All Sizes
I've provided the link below so you can find out more about the Thundershirt. You can also click through any of the pictures of my dogs. :)
Click here to buy the Thundershirt Dog Anxiety Treatment - All Sizes
What Have You Used to Help Reduce Your Pet's Anxiety?
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Charlie the Pug hides in Waco's Shadow
What's the story? Learn more about my dogs
Read about each dog and how they came into my life
Read Waco's story of his rescue from an animal hoarder. Learn how an unruly Pug came to train and stayed forever. Discover what the Easter Bunny left on our doorstep. Who was the flea-ridden, skin-on-bones-no-fat fellow captured by Animal Control on my street? These stories and more are found in the links below. Image All material and photographs in this article are copyrighted 2011 Vikk Simmons with all rights reserved.except for product images of Thundershirt and the pheromone sprays.
Pop Quiz: Which dog is it?
Waco, Riley, Teddy, Freddie, Charlie and Honeybunn
See how well you know my dogs. Good luck! The dogs can't wait.
What others are saying about dogs and thunder
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What do you think? Let me know your thoughts and concerns or just say hello
Love to hear from my readers.
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elynmac
Apr 30, 2012 @ 4:49 am | delete
- Its nice to meet your puppies. They look like real characters and good friends.
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hamshi5433
Oct 27, 2011 @ 4:01 pm | delete
- awww love the cute doggy pictures here..one of our family dog died from something related to thunder/rain..poor little things need so much care like all of us do..
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bames24
May 17, 2011 @ 9:13 am | delete
- great lens... love those cute doggies :)
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AZBCGUY
May 16, 2011 @ 8:12 am | delete
- Good information. We all need lots of help when dealing with our pets, especially during difficult times.
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dannygator7790
May 14, 2011 @ 7:09 pm | delete
- Fortunately my dogs are pretty calm when it thunders, although I may have to pick up a thundershirt for myself!
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