Dog Behavior: How to Cure Your Dog's Fear of Thunderstorms

When my first dog got to be somewhat on in years, she developed a terror of thunderstorms. For some reason, when she was young, this dog never paid much attention to thunderstorms, but age seemed to change all that. At the first crack of thunder, my normally rambunctious, outgoing, fearless, alpha dog would flee the room, find a convenient piece of furniture to hide under, and tremble. No amount of soft talk and gentle touches seemed to reassure her. Sometimes she would even pee uncontrollably, she was so terrified.

Then one day in the vet’s office, we came across some literature with a solution to this particular dog behavior problem. It involved using sound-effect tapes to desensitize the dog to the sound over a period of time. I committed this to memory, figuring I would try it.

Well, before I got started on my dog’s desensitization program, we all went camping and got caught in the loudest, flashiest, most spectacular thunderstorm any of us had ever experienced. There we were in the midst of continuous flashes and deafening thunder, with a dog who wanted to run back to the city. With the dog between us, we both held her down lovingly but firmly, fearing that otherwise she would uproot the tent. When it was all over, she went to sleep there, breathing peacefully in our ears until morning.

The surprising thing about this was that this dog was never afraid of thunder again! I think, in her mind, she had survived the big daddy of all thunderstorms and everything after that was a cakewalk. In other words, the dog had had a crash (no pun intended) desensitization course.

However, I do not recommend going that route with your terrified dog. Here is what the article recommended:

• Get a tape or CD of thunderstorm sounds. There are lots of natural sound-effects recordings around.

• With the dog in the room, play the tape at a very low volume – low enough that the dog doesn’t seem to notice it.

• Repeat this for a few days, gradually increasing the length of time you play the tape until you reach about 5 minutes.

• Continue the exercise, but now increase the volume slightly.

• Increase the volume every day until it is quite loud. If the dog becomes agitated, turn it back down to its previous level – you have gone too far too fast.

• Continue this activity for a few weeks until the dog accepts loud thunder sounds as unremarkable.

• Repeat the exercise a couple of times a week, then once a week, once a month, etc. – just to make sure the dog remains unperturbed by thunderclaps.

Obviously, it’s important to stay with the dog while you perform this exercise so you can monitor his responses, and also so you don’t give the dog additional anxiety by leaving him alone in a scary situation.

This gradual desensitization of the dog is the kind, gentle way to do it – not like the ordeal by fire that my dog got, but the basic idea is the same. The dog comes to accept these sounds as normal and nothing to worry about. In very little time, your fearful dog will be a brave dog.

Dogs: The Dog-Human Bond

The Dog in Modern Society

Did you know that the dog is the oldest domesticated animal? That’s right—before the cat, the horse, the ox, the cow, the sheep, or any of the other myriad domesticated animals we now have, the dog was first in line.

The human-dog connection goes back at least 12,000 years—many thousands before any other animal—and that’s full domestication. The relationship goes back much farther than that, to when humans and wolves first realized that, by co-operating and combining talents, they could all increase their hunting profits. So dogs became our partners in evolution, and here we are today—still bonded and still evolving together.

Do dogs still have a place in our modern, technologically driven society? I believe they not only have a place; they are essential. Dogs provide unique companionship rarely available from our fellow humans. They share every aspect of our lives; they give unquestioning loyalty; they give unconditional affection; they provide fun. In short, they constantly remind us that we are not the only species on the planet and that our way is not the only way.

Let us not forget that dogs perform many jobs in our society that require their unique talents. They do police work, therapy work, security work, farming work, hunting work, and guide-dog work. They are a source of joy and recreation for millions of young people, old people, single people, and families. How many human relationships have been cemented because of a dog? As an added bonus, the health benefits of owning a dog are huge because they are not only a source of fun but also of activity. After all, going for a walk every day is one of the best things you can do for your health--and the dog insists on it!

I know my dogs have seen me through a lot of ups and downs and my life would have been much diminished without them. What has been your experience with the dog-human bond? Let’s share! Tell us how your dog has enriched your life.

Dogs: Every Dog A Wonderdog

Welcome to Everyday Wonderdogs. This site is devoted to the dogs who share our lives and make every day a wondrous adventure. It provides tips and techniques for dog care and dog training and information about dog behavior and dog activities. Let's share!