How to Calm Your Stressful Dog During Severe Thunderstorms

Late spring and summer bring some of the most severe thunderstorms of the year. The heat and humidity together create flashes of lightening and extremely loud crackling noises. These explosive sounds can scare almost anyone-small children, adults, seniors, and your pet dog. You can talk to the humans in the family and assure them it’s ok. But with your pet dog, what do you do?

Our Maltese pet dog, recently rescued from a puppy mill, is petrified when thunderstorms develop. Whenever the weather calls for a thunderstorm watch, I worry that our dog will be horribly upset. If the storm happens during the day, we can deal with her fears but when it happens in the middle of the night, the family’s quality of life is threatened. Normally, she will stay happily in her little dog bed by our bed, but all rules are broken when a thunderstorm hits. She won’t sit still, she wants to come up, she doesn’t really want to snuggle, she walks on my head when I am trying to sleep, and she wakes my husband up. I have learned that there are methods to controlling this behavior.

Here are some ways to calm a stressful dog in thunderstorm season.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a crate or a bed, natural remedies or drugs, dog behavioral specialist. consistent human behavior

1. 
    
   Make sure she has her space or bed

   Do not emphasize the frightening thunderstorms. Turn up the radio or television to mask the noises and try to ignore the dog’s behavior. Make sure the lights are on and her space or bed is available to her.

2. 
    
   Give her lots of attention

   Get the dog used to loud noises from the start. This can be difficult if you adopt or buy an adult dog. If you have a puppy, you can easily train the puppy to ignore the noises.
   
   Make sure your dog gets a good diet, daily exercise, lots of attention and consistency. If you are consistent in your reaction to thunderstorms, eventually your dog will, too.

3. Hire a behavioral trainer or go to a behavioral veterinarian. They might be able to help train the dog to ignore the noises. This can be a very expensive option.

4. 
    
   Happy Traveler and Calming Treats

   Use homeopathic or natural substances to help your stressful pet dog. There are several different ones on the market and each one has a different mix of ingredients.
   
   There is Pet Calm (FDA approved), Bach Rescue Remedy, Calming Treats, and Happy Traveler to name a few. The first two are liquid and can be given by mouth, diluted with water and rubbed into the skin, paws, or ears (if not by mouth). These methods can work immediately, take a few applications, or take up to 6 weeks to be effective. I have not tried these methods yet.
   
   Calming Treats are chicken liver treats. My dog did not like them and I had to wrap them in cheese for her to eat them. One was not enough for her—I have to give her three to take the edge off her fear.
   
   Happy Traveler is a pill. It contains Valerian (a natural sedative sometimes used by humans) so I am hopeful and will try this one the next time my pet dog needs help.

5. Try a different kind of natural aid. It is called Pet Phero Soothe for Dogs. Pheromones are the smells that humans and canines have for clues for behavior, for clues for identification, and for any other life clues. This spray emits a pheromone that is very calming to dogs. Several friends told me it is wonderful. To use it, you spray it in the area where your pet dog will be about 5 minutes before they enter that area. Its effects last for about 8-10 hours.

6. Get a doggie anxiety wrap. It is a piece of clothing that puts pressure on certain parts of the body to reduce stress. I have never tried this but people testify that it works!

7. 
    
   I don't want to knock my pet dog out for two days!

   Procure a prescription for an anti-anxiety drug, if all else fails. There are doggie versions available. You must be careful when giving this type of substance to your dog. One half of the dose prescribed knocked my poor Maltese out for two days! It is definitely not a long-term solution.

Tips & Warnings

• Be consistent with whatever method you use to calm your stressful dog.
• Use a dog crate, if your dog feels safe there during thunderstorms. Try spraying Pet Phero Soothe in it.
• Try all the different methods of stress relief to see which one fits your budget, lifestyle, and your dog. Every dog is different.
• Be assured that with the homeopathic remedies, there are no side effects associated with them. And they are available at many pet stores or on the internet.
• With anti-anxiety medications, however, there are lots of side effects. Read the labels before administering it to human or canine!
• Be prepared. Fireworks season is coming and your dog could have the same reaction to that as they did to thunderstorms!

Resources

• Pet Naturals Of Vermont Calming Formula Soft Chews for Large and Medium Dogs
• Anxiety Wrap for Medium Dogs – Medium
• How to Care for a Rescued Puppy Mill Dog
• How to Adopt a Dog Rescued from a Puppy Mill
• How to Care for Maltese Dogs

[onejo2go]

on 10/16/2009 Our golden retriever is petrified of storms. Didn't know there were some remedies. Thanks! 5*

[delawaregeek]

on 8/16/2009 So helpful for dogs who are scared during thunderstorms. 5!

[violet4me]

on 7/26/2009 Excellent tips worth trying, as one of my dog hides as soon as a thunderstorm starts! 5*

[art2cee2]

on 7/23/2009 thanks for the suggestions. My dog knows before a thunderstorm even happens that its coming and hides. Havne't tried the calming treats...thanks 5*

[michellen]

on 7/18/2009 Great tips, I have one dog that absolutely panics during storms and its so frustrating! Bookmarking it!