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If so, this is known as thunderstorm phobia. Every spring, I get an increase in phone calls from dog owners whose dogs have extreme thunderstorm phobia. The phobia is manifested in pacing, panting, whining, mild to severe destruction, and trying to escape. Dogs who have sound phobias, or who startle easily, can develop this phobia very quickly. Most dogs are conditioned to the approaching storm by the electrified, shocking feeling they may get in their undercoat from the rise in static electricity in the air. Eventually, they learn that when they hear rain or expect thunder, they will be ‘shocked’, which is why these dogs try and find a cool, damp place to hide.

Five years ago, my dog, Kenai, became storm phobic when I left the bedroom window open, left and came home to find the bedroom door was shut and him caught inside. Apparently, the wind blew the door shut, made a terrifyingly loud noise, and he started to associate the sound of wind to the storm, and (from what I have ascertained), a loud noise such as a door slamming. Every time the wind blows harshly, he begins pacing, crying, and panting, and it is very hard for him to calm down.

The good news is that thunderstorm phobia, and the behaviors manifested from it, can be decreased, and in many cases, completely extinguished. In my private practice, I try several things. First, it is important to determine whether or not the dog has any underlying anxiety that can lead to any phobia. If so, a program of leadership training is a must to start with. For the actual phobia itself, I recommend desensitization and counter-conditioning.

Treating Dogs with Thunderstorm Phobia
Desensitization occurs when the sound of thunder is presented at low intensity so it does not produce a fearful response. Gradually, the intensity (volume) is increased, while taking great care to keep it below the fear-producing limit. Counter conditioning, in this case, is the process of pairing an undesirable stimulus (thunder) with a ‘reward’ (food) to decrease the fearful response (panic), and actually teaching the dog to expect good things when they are presented with thunder.

The best way to do this is to purchase an actual thunderstorm CD, and play it while your dogs eats at a very low volume for two minutes. You can also play it during training sessions, again at very low volume, while the dog is getting treats and praise for doing his commands. Then gradually increase the volume and length you play the CD over several weeks until you dog learns that the sound of thunder means good things – treats! Remember to give your dogs treats during a storm.

If an actual storm approaches during the training phase it is important that you do not try and calm or soothe your dog during the storm, since you may be inadvertently increasing the fearful behavior. Try and re-direct your dog to ‘working’ for you, and put him through his obedience commands and down stays for several minutes, with treats of course. You may need to up the anny with the treats by getting the really good stuff – small pieces of hot dog and cheese are great attention getters.

In addition to systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning, I recommend a calming wrap or wet towel. You can also dampen your dog with a wet washcloth so he is less likely to feel the static electricity during an actual thunderstorm. If your dog wants to lay in the bathroom, or behind the toilet, it is because it is usually damp and cool in there. Moistening your dog ahead of time could help cut down on the static, too. On a side note, if your dog has a thick coat (Shepard’s, Collies, etc.) you may try getting their coats blown to help lessen the static in their coats caused by thunderstorms. This is a simple and inexpensive grooming process where a groomer blows out a large portion of their undercoats. (Also helps lessen the shedding in you home!)

Many vets prescribe medication, such as tranquilizers, for thunderstorm phobia, which are to be given in the event of a storm. However, it is often much too late for the drug to take effect before the actual storm. And, some of the mainstream tranquilizers actually increase brain activity while decreasing motor function, so the dog is actually more fearful but can not respond. Yikes!!

An alternative to tranquilizers is flower essences, such as Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy among others. They do not pack as much punch but can often take the ‘edge’ off before the storm so you can help you dog focus on calming down.

In some cases, the treatment for thunderstorm phobia needs to be much more intense and requires professional intervention. However, the suggestions outlined above are an excellent place to start.