2. Dogs in Cars: Should My Dog Hang His Head Out the Car Window? Dogs with astraphobia may or may not be afraid of other loud noises. “Dogs descended from wolves and were in dens, and so they still like den-like environments,” she says. Dog afraid of thunder, lightning or fireworks is common in dogs. Thunderstorm phobia or anxiety in dogs is a fairly common and very real problem for many dogs. I remember my own sense of horror when we were driving cross country from Los Angeles to Pennsylvania and my shepherd mix became extremely anxious during a thunderstorm in Arizona, to the point where my husband and I had to take turns staying in the car with him at night because we couldn’t keep him in the hotel due to his terrified barking. Published by. Studies have also found that breed, age, sex and acquisition of the dog can increase the likelihood a dog will suffer from this condition. Perhaps you adopted your dog from a rescue shelter, and you don't know much about his past, but he flips out anytime he hears loud noises, like books falling off shelves or doors slamming. Why Do Cats and Dogs Greet Us So Differently? In addition, puzzle toys, kongs filled with peanut butter or kibbles, or anxiety vests are helpful. It would be funny since she's a 90 pound dobe, except that when i find her, her entire body is shaking and she's clearly terrified. We never realized he, at six years of age, was thunder-phobic since he lived all his life in an area where there really are no storms. A theory that dogs suffer painful shocks of electricity caused by a build up of static before a storm hits. This may be due to pet guardians not being aware that there is help for this condition and/or lack of access to professionals. In press. While some dogs show mild signs of stress, like licking their paws, other dogs can get so worked up during storms they may get destructive. Often times, when your dog is afraid of thunder, itâs because of the lack of exposure, which can cause panic and fear. Your dog could also be responding to the pressure changes that accompany a thunderstorm. While thunderstorm phobia can be difficult to deal with, depending on the severity, there are still many things you can do to help your dog be more comfortable and modify his behavior over time.The first step is to consult with your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist, if there is one in your area. There are a variety of reasons why your dog might bark, or respond aggressively, toward thunder. “Thunder is a big part of it. For example, dogs that are afraid of thunder may later become afraid of the wind, dark clouds and flashes of light that often precede the sound of thunder. Summertime means sunshine, road trips, picnics, and boat rides. 2013 Fear responses to noises in domestic dogs: Prevalence, risk factors and co-occurrence with other fear related behavior. So, I can deeply sympathize with the trauma that other dog guardians can feel when they find their dog suffers from thunderstorm phobia.Dogs that suffer from thunderstorm phobia are often also sensitive to other loud noises such as fireworks and gun shots1. Essential info about dog health, training, sports and more. In some cases, owners are able to trace a dogâs fear to an identifiable trigger. Theyâre Loud. Guide to Essential oils for dogs scared of thunder, essential oils for dogs fear, essential oils for scared dogs, essential oils for dogs afraid of thunder, essential oils for fearful dogs, oil for fearful dogs, oil for fearful dogs skin, oil for fearful dogs ears, oil for fearful dogs anxiety While it can be easy to get angry at your dog for being destructive or whining during a storm, it’s important to take the time to understand why your dog is acting this way and learning how to help. In addition to providing a safe space that’s dark and covered, provide background noise to reduce stimulation. Like fireworks, thunder is loud, unpredictable and often brings unexpected flashes of light. Survey on predisposing factors to canine thunderstorm phobia. You may wish to consult with your local veterinarian and see if they are willing to prescribe some anti-anxiety medications. Here’s what we learned. It is usually marked by hiding, whining, barking, pawing or even urination. She suggests buying toys that help with chewing or licking like the Lickimat. it is possible that your dog is scared and trying to frighten the thunder away with noise. Discomfort may arise due to the barometric pressure changes, static electricity, high winds, and low-frequency rumbles. It is ok to allow them to do this. So, I think there could also be some unheard, unseen things that dogs can catch that we do not.”. It does seem to be more common in some breeds than others. Veterinaria. No one is exactly sure what makes dogs afraid of thunder. Owners who see their dogs experiencing this fear usually feel helpless and frustrated. “If your dog naturally tends to do those things when they’re upset, giving them positive outlets for that can be really helpful.”. Most dogs can be calmed towards thunder by applying some or all of the above suggestions. Noise trauma during storms may be stressful for both owners and dogs. In fact, 2016 research in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior said noise phobias or noise sensitivities are one of the top 3 common anxieties in dogs (poor pups!). Thinkstock. “You can play white noise — or classical music is especially calming to dogs,” Miller says. The most common behaviors associated with your dogâs fear of thunder include restlessness, destructiveness, hiding in small places, barking, whining, sitting or leaning close by the owner, trembling, pacing, panting, drooling dilated pupils, defecating, urinating and trying to escape by running away. While itâs a common fear amongst dogs â some breeds more frightened of it than others â there is no explanation for what makes them afraid of it. My dog is terrified of thunderstorms. Astraphobia is the technical term for this: the fear of thunder and lightning. Dogs who are scared of thunder or storms may show their anxieties in a variety of ways. Mychelle Blake, MSW, CDBC, Lifestyle Contributor and Pet Behavior Expert, Marjie Alonso, CDBC, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, Executive Director of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, Your guide to understanding parasitic diseases in dogs, Introducing Happy Paws, from our friends at Fear Free Happy Homes. Dog, including thunder wide variety of ways acute sense of hearing than humans, can... Noise phobia, finding qualified behavior help is highly recommended summertime means sunshine, road trips picnics... At communicating with their body language essential info about dog health, and having noise! Noise and perceive it as something threatening dog is fearful of thunder or storms may show anxieties... High winds, and thunderstorms are at the top of the strangest canine behaviors for... Neutered males are more likely to be more common in dogs go virtually undetected by us humans dark covered! 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