Helping Your Dog Get Past The Fear Of Thunderstorms

Dogs are pack animals that consists with a leader, and they come to understand the human family as a pack. As most owners may be aware every pack must have a leader, however a dog doesn't realize that because he lives in your house and eats food you pay for that you are that leader. Dogs look at our actions to determine who that leader is and if the dog doe not see a human take the role of leader they will naturally step up and take the ranks. What most owners do not realize is that it is extremely stressful for most dogs to be without a leader and taking the leadership role. Just think how you feel when you are put in charge of a project in our job or hold a leadership positions. There's a lot of weight on those shoulders.

That is why it is so important for you to step up and appear as strong, dependable, consistent and none confrontational leaders that know posturing and social rituals that make sense to the dog. This will help your dog to become more relaxed and confident because he will now have a leader that he can depend on to keep him safe. This will also create a greater bond with your dog.

Your duties as a leader are:
1. Establish the rules
2. Enforce the rules
3. Maintain social order (pack leaders choose who is in the pack and what authority each member does or doesn't have.)

Leadership exercises to follow:
1. Leaders eat first
2. Leaders go through doorways first
3. Leaders stay calm and in control
4. Leaders set the pace and the direction when walking
5. Leaders do not let their personal space be invaded (eg. being sat on)
6. Leaders say when play begins and when it ends
7. leaders do not beg for attention
8. Leaders do not offer free treats (also avoid free feeding)
9. Leaders assume the higher ground (ie. beds, couches, chairs ect.)
10. Leaders never change their direction or step over a dog (ask dog to move of give a GENTLE nudge)
11. Leaders assign resting spots for other pack members.

Be aware that as the dog's fear improves you can slowly return his privileges. It is rare that you will have to completely maintain this strict behavior. However return the privileges one at a time that way you can determine which privilege might contribute to the problem

Your dog needs a place that he can go and feel safe when during the thunderstorm. It would be to the dogs benefit to crate train your dog. Whenever my dog, Tanner loves his crate whenever he's scared because of the thunder or the vacuum he goes to his crate and sucks on his toy. Some dogs like to find other places to hide where they feel safe, it is not uncommon for dogs to seek out bathtubs, showers to hide behind. Wherever your dog likes to go for safety make sure that he has full access to that spot when a thunderstorm is predicted. It is also a good idea to place the dog's bedding sprayed with DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) and a favorite toy his hiding spot.

In all I do suggest that you provide a crate for your dog and crate train. This way he feels safe and any children are protected from getting injured as when dogs are frightened they could snap out of fear.
Refer to the references at the end of this lens for great sources on how to crate train your dog.

I find many owners do not realize the importance of exercising their dogs and doing simple obedience training. Not only is physical exercise to keep your dog physically healthy and fit it is also crucial for your dogs mental stability.

Also owners tend to underestimate the amount of exercise their dogs need, owners of small dogs tend to be guilty of this. Increase amount of exercise your dog has, take at least three 30min walks per day or two 40 to 50min walks per day. I don't care how small your dog is it needs its walks. It needs the exercise that walking provides as well as the mental stimulation that the dog gets from all the sights and smells it encounters on the walks.
Increasing mental stimulation through obedience and trick training is another way to tire the dog. This makes the dog think and learn and tires the mind, therefore when a thunderstorm does happen the dogs reaction will be less severe because the dog will be too mentally tired to react.

Another great way to physically and mentally stimulate your dog is by playing games. Playing games like Fetch or hide and go seek is a great way to train and bond with your dog. You may also use or interactive toys like buster cube, kong, or the boomer balls to stimulate your when you are away.

Remember a dog that is mentally and physically tired has a calmer state of mind this causes the dog to react less to thunderstorms. Not only will the dog be less reactive to thunderstorms but the bond and trust between you and your dog will grow which will help you in teaching the dog that thunder is not that bad after all.

As we dog trainers like to say: A Tired dog is a good dog. Which makes for a happy dog and owner.

Learn to recognize your dog's first signs of fear. Observe your dog's body language and behavior learn to recognize these signs before you even hear thunder. Dog's hearing is more acute then humans so they might already be aware that the storm is coming whether its from hearing it in the distance or sensing it from the change in air pressure.

Avoid trying to calm the dog by petting or talking to it in a high pitched tone trying to reassure that its OK. Unfortunately this has the opposite effect in reassuring the dog that he is right to be reacting so fearfully because you are rewarding him by petting and attention. This can intensify the dogs fearful reaction.

The best thing to do at the first sign of fear is to redirect your dogs attention by calling your dog to you in a calm manner and doing some simple exercises, like the touch, practice sits and downs while offering delicious treats or just play a fun game. This takes the dogs attention from the thunder to you. If the thunder gets too much for your dog and he runs to his safe place let him alone. Do not make a big deal of his fear act as you normally act when there is no thunder and use a normal tone of voice when do decide to talk to your dog. Just remember what ever you say he will not understand and its just better to leave him in his safe spot.

If your dogs fear reaction to thunder is anything from moderate to extreme you may also consider trying Melatonin. Melatonin is a natural hormone that regulates the human biological clock and that has been shown to facilitate sleep in young adults. It can leave your dog feeling more relaxed and less concerned about what's going on in the environment. Use 1 milligram for dogs up to 15lbs, 1.5 milligrams for dogs 15-30 lbs, 3 milligrams for 30-90lb dogs.

For best results administer the melatonin an hour before the storm is expected or before you leave for work. You will get better results if the hormone is in the dogs system before the storm hits. It can be found in supermarkets, drug stores and health food stores. Get the tablets and crush and sprinkle in to food for faster absorption.

Be sure to check with your veterinarian to confirm the proper dosage for your dog and that melatonin is safe for your particular dog especially if he has other health issues or is on other medications.

You can teach your dog not to fear thunder so much using a CD's of thunderstorms and following the few simple steps below. Be aware that this process could take weeks and even months there is no quick fix if you want to do this right.

Steps to follow (slowly never rush this process or it could get worse):

1.Start with your dog at a distance form the stereo with the stereo volume completely off, then turn on up the volume in tiny increments until you see a sign that your dog hears the sound. This could be very minuscule signs like a glance and ear flick.

2. You should keep the volume at that level and leave the player on endless replay for 24hrs.

3.The next day increase the volume a tiny bit leaving it playing again for the next 24hrs. Continue this until you reach the volume that approximates the actual thunder.

**Remember to always make sure your dog never startles when you increase the volume, if it does then go back to the lower level for another 24hrs.**
**It is best that the dog does not experience an actual thunderstorm, so check your forecasts and plan ahead.**

4. When your dog is comfortable with the volume that approximates actual thunder you should start creating a good association with the sound.

5. When you turn the CD on start playing a game of tug, give the dog its favorite treats, a relaxing massage or whatever the dog really loves. Stop the activity at the same time as you stop the CD.

6. Repeating this often, will eventually and over time result in the dog getting excited and happy when your dog hears the CD. Also do this during the actual thunder storm.

7. Practice this in different rooms of the house, place portable CD in a different room, in the attic, outside with the dog inside the house, or the CD player and dog both outside the house, get creative because actual thunderstorm will not be coming form your stereo speakers

You may get a recorded CD of thunderstorms in Resources at end of this lens.

During a thunderstorm there is an increase in static electricity in the air. The theory is that this change can cause painful shocks to dogs, especially those with long or thick coats. To see if this is also the source of your dog's anxiety you can:

-Rub the dog down with an anti-static laundry sheet before the storm hits.
-Mist the dog down with water form spray bottle
-Keep the dog on tile or linoleum floor during the floor.
-Take the dog for a ride in a car. According Dr. Dobman from the book: Dogs Behaving Badly: An A-Z Guide to Understanding & Curing Behavioral Problems in Dogs. "Many dogs are happy as a bug in a rug when put in a car and driven around during a storm."

***These steps of acclimating your dog to the sound of thunder, using melatonin and taking anti-static measures can/will help over time.***