Many canines display a fear of thunder. It is a common phobia for dogs and research has not been able to fully explain why it occurs.
Dogs will display their fear by drooling, excessive panting, whining and crying, and trembling. When they are having an episode of thunderphobia they will want to stick close to you, or a hiding place where they feel safer. Your first instinct will be to soothe their fear and anxiety but this will, in fact, reinforce your pets behavior.
In the more extreme cases, dogs become so fearful and anxious they 
ignore their own safety and often hurt themselves. It’s not uncommon for an extremely phobic dog to jump through a window when confined inside without human companionship 
to escape their fears. Dogs have also been known to run into traffic in a panic.
A couple of strange facts surround this fear – research cannot always pin down a logical reason for the phobia and it usually does not develop until a dog is older. Most commonly when they are around four or five years old. The fear is not limited to any particular category of dog – breed specific or gender specific. Veterinarians specializing in canine behavior say there is no guaranteed treatment available, although, there are products on the market that may help.
Recommendations for a dog’s fear of thunderstorms include:
- Medication – Desensitizing Prescription Medication
- Natural Herbal Medication – Valerian (the herbal form of Valium)
- Earmuffs
- Swaddling Attire – swaddling your dog like a baby in a blanket can sometimes help calm the dog.
- Safe Haven – A pleasant location where your dog can retreat and feel safe
- Head Halters
Another suggestion is to play a tape or CD with common thunder storm sounds. Play it for a short time and let the animal go into panic mode for about a sixty seconds. Then switch it off. Once the animal has settled down for a few minutes, switch it on for a short period. This should be repeated in intervals of 10 minutes. Keep this up daily until your pet becomes accustomed to the sounds.
Another theory why dogs are frightened by storms is that the changes in barometric pressure and the static electricity in the air may bother and disturb the dog. They believe this is also the reason dogs are able to sense an impending storm before humans can.
Although some believe that you can modify this behavior in a dog, other veterinarians feel that is almost impossible.
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