Calming Your Dog’s Thunderstorm Phobia

As doting pet parents, most of us try to make sure that our beloved dogs are always as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, there are some things outside of our control that cause our furry friends to become anxious and stressed – such as thunderstorms. As they’re unsure what is happening, the loud noises and sensation of static electricity during thunderstorms tend to scare a lot of dogs. However, with a little bit of time and effort it’s possible to help alleviate some of this stress experienced by our pups.      

Desensitize Your Dog

If you want to be proactive, you can attempt to desensitize your dog to the startling sounds of thunderstorms. Find some sound clips and play them for your dog to listen to even when it’s a nice day out. Make sure you start off by playing the clips quietly, and gradually increase the volume as your dog becomes more comfortable with the noise. While the clips are on, give your dog a treat and find their favourite toy to play with. Hopefully, this will help to ultimately ease your dog’s fear of thunderstorms.

Distraction

It may not be possible if your dog is extremely scared or anxious, but it never hurts to try to distract them while the storm rages on outside. Try enticing them to play with their favourite toy, put on a movie or television show, or create a playlist with some calming music to distract them from the loud noises outside.

Find a Safe Space

During a thunderstorm, most dogs appear more comfortable when they are in a smaller room. Try moving your dog’s bed into the bathroom to create a hideout for the time being, making sure you close the blinds. Alternatively, if your dog is willing, keeping them in their crate can provide an enhanced sense of comfort and security while you wait out the storm.  

Calming Products

Luckily, there are products available that are specially designed to help calm dogs during stressful situations like thunderstorms.

• Thundershirts

By producing a gentle, constant pressure when worn, Thundershirts offer a dramatic calming effect which helps to relieve anxiety in most dogs. If you’re putting a Thundershirt on your dog for the first time, try offering a small amount of dry food using the Thundershirt as a "plate". This will hopefully create a positive association with the Thundershirt and your dog, as dogs generally become more trusting and comfortable of something that brings them or is associated with food.

• Diffusers and Balms

In stressful or anxiety-inducing situations our dog’s nerves get over-stimulated which results in the many different signs of distress that we see, something that diffusers can help with. Working alongside the brain’s neurotransmitters, the special blend of essential oils released by the Pet Remedy Calming Diffuser helps calm the nerves of anxious or stressed dogs. Simply just plug in the diffuser and let the destressing properties slowly release into the surrounding area.

Pet balms, such as the Espree Lavender Calming Balm, can also be used to reduce the stress and anxiety your dog experiences during thunderstorms. With the light scent of lavender, this balm helps calm anxiety and is formulated with renewable and sustainable botanical, vegetable and mineral resources.