Many dogs suffer from noise phobia, and the thunder is just one of several frightening noises (others include fireworks, gunshots, etc). I always thought it was the noise and it may be part of the reasons Rodrigo hates storms. Dog thunderstorm anxiety is a disorder characterized by a persistent and exaggerated fear of storms, or the stimuli that are associated with storms. For example, dogs are very sensitive to the emotions of their people. Occasionally exposing your GSD to the sounds of thunderstorms may help to combat fear and anxiety experienced during real storms. In fact, your dog might even start associating that fear with other, parallel noises — such as the sound of rain. Dogs develop fear responses for a number of reasons. Give your dog a "sacrifice" item during the storm. Five years ago, one got more afraid of storms, the other didn’t. Dogs who are extremely afraid of storms can sense the storm coming and even before the first sound of thunder begin to panic. Noise sensitivity is quite often a symptom of rabies vaccinosis (see May issue of Dogs Naturally for how the Rabies vaccine can affect your dog’s behavior). It is one of the most common fears that affect dogs. What we do know is that this fear can develop in canines of all ages. Other dogs will hide, frozen with fear. Dr. Smith is a small animal veterinarian with 11 years practicing veterinary medicine. However, I do not recommend that people with storm-phobic dogs run out and obtain another dog, thinking that will make their dog’s problem go away. Many dogs have noise sensitivities, and storms aren’t the only triggers. It should be noted that these dogs were behaviorally quite normal, other than their very specific fear of storms. It can begin in puppies or develop later in adult dogs. The fear can soon become a phobia, which is defined as a persistent, excessive, and irrational fear response. But to treat the problem, you must first understand the causes of dog anxiety. Storm Music for Dogs! They can cause some dogs to pant, pace, whine, tremble, hide, or become clingy. L-Theanine Calms Dogs During Thunderstorms. A noise phobia can be the primary reason that your dog is afraid of storms, or it could just be one of several factors that add up to your furry friend having a phobia. There are some dogs who have an extreme fear of storms. In most cases, prescription medication is very successful in conjunction with desensitization or conditioning. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. In the winter, desensitize your dog to the sounds of a storm. Storms; Fireworks; Block parties or street fairs; More people out and about; Kids in the park ; Strangers at your house for a barbecue … it’s not surprising some dogs get a little stressed! WebMD explores the topic with expert Victoria Stilwell. That said, dogs over a year old are more likely to suffer from it. This could mean sitting and getting a treat when thunder crashes instead of scampering off somewhere to hide. Don't Make Your Dog “Wait it Out” While Rodrigo is sleeping now, the Ewegurt doesn't last 24 hours, … One of the ways that you can help your dog learn to not be so anxious during … This could include adding white-noise to drown out the thunder, or acoustic tiling for soundproofing. While I am always pleased when rain falls on the ranch, Buddy, our senior Border collie, doesn’t see it quite the same way. Likewise, dogs may have once been caught in a storm that frightened them, or they may have learned from another dog to be anxious during storms, or both. Try playing music or white noise to drown out the noise. Next, examine your own behavior and that of other people in the home. Thunderstorm phobia can become a very serious problem that will adversely affect your dog's health and quality of life. If your dog has a static build up in its coat, he or she might get a mildly uncomfortable shock to their sensitive nose if they touch it against metal. How are fireworks or thunderstorm fears and phobias treated? • It may be helpful with puppies and young dogs to try to do pleasant things with them during storms in an effort to prevent fear from developing. But then some have a sudden exacerbation of their fear a few years later for no apparent reason. Kristen Collins, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, explains, “Some dogs simply seem more sensitive and susceptible to developing a fear of noises, and this susceptibility may indicate a genetic predisposition toward the problem.”. They develop from fears, which might have a potential survival benefit (e.g. First of all, never leave your dog outside during storms. Changes in barometric pressure and humidity can affect your dog's senses and possibly even cause discomfort in the ears. 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