A dog is afraid of thunderstorms because it cannot assess the situation. He even panics when he sees no way out of this situation for himself. In this article, you can read how you can understand your dog better and how you can help during thunderstorms.
Signs of anxiety in dogs
Dogs are sensitive creatures and loud noises can frighten and panic them. If a dog is afraid of thunderstorms, then it is due to the loud thunder and bright flashing lightning in the sky. From one second to the next, a happy and carefree fur nose becomes an anxious or even extremely panicky dog.
These are signs of fear and panic in the dog, which, by the way, can be shown not only during thunderstorms, but also in other situations with the same stressor for the dog:
- The body stiffens and trembles at the same time
- The ears are pinned
- The eyes are wide open, the whites of the eyes are visible and the pupils are large
- Strong panting and corners of the mouth pulled far back
- The tail is tucked between the hind legs or even under the belly
- The dog flees in panic
The worst case that can then occur is when an off-leash dog flees in panic and is no longer available. The dog can also run in front of a car, motorcycle, or bicycle, injure itself seriously, or even be killed. Even supposedly soundproof or bulletproof dogs are not immune to panicking and running away from a sudden loud bang or bright light.
Hence our tip: act with foresight! If you notice that a thunderstorm with lightning and thunder is coming, put your dog on a leash immediately if it isn’t. This also applies if there may be another loud bang or flash during the walk, such as before, on, and after New Year’s Eve, a starting gun from a sports competition, or on a construction site that you are walking by with your dog. Leashed, he cannot flee in his panic and injure himself or even others.
Are all dogs afraid of thunderstorms?
When a puppy learns to deal with loud noises, thunder and lightning calmly in good time, there is a greater chance that it will also be able to cope well as an adult dog.
Consequences of a thunderstorm felt by a dog
Most animals, whether wild or domesticated, have a sixth weather sense. Robins, sheep, cats, and even spiders sense it when a thunderstorm or a change in the weather is approaching. Animals are much more sensitive than us humans and our dogs also notice the changing air pressure or air humidity content much earlier than we do.
One reason for this in animals with fur is that the hair becomes electrostatically charged. In high-pressure weather, the humidity is usually low, so the fur can become electrically charged. If the dog is then petted by us, for example, the fur discharges, and both dog and human get the notorious little hit. If the dog licks itself very often, the conductivity of the fur increases and it becomes less charged. This allows the electrostatic charge, which is unpleasant for the dog, to flow off better. Dogs with a lot of undercoats usually notice this change in their coat more intensely than dogs with little or no undercoats. In the case of high humidity, on the other hand, there is almost no electrostatic charging.
Should you comfort an anxious dog during a thunderstorm?
Yes, you give the dog security and trust in an excessive state of anxiety.
Why are dogs afraid of thunderstorms?
Due to the changing air pressure or humidity level, which is already noticeable in the coat due to electrostatics, there is also an emerging change in the familiar environment. The sky is getting dark, the wind is picking up and the background noise around the dog is increasing as the wind is getting stronger and stronger. Leafy trees rustle loudly, the covering of scaffolding flaps menacingly or objects fall over. We humans then behave differently. When we are outside, we hurry to get home, in the garden the laundry is quickly taken off the line or frantically collected, which should not be damaged.
A dog naturally perceives all this around him. Add to this the rumble of thunder and lightning from a thunderstorm approaching and some dogs become frightened or even panicked. Such dogs then want to escape from this feeling, but realize that they are at the mercy of it, which in turn can lead to panicked, skipping actions that can become dangerous for them.
Socialization, upbringing, relationship
Unfortunately, many of these fears of not being able to deal with it, or of being overwhelmed by it, are often created very early on in puppyhood. If a puppy inherits these fears of thunderstorms, lightning, and thunder from its mother, there’s a good chance that the puppy will inherit this behavior into its life. Therefore, every puppy owner is well advised to train sensitive and careful noise sensitization when they receive their puppy at the age of eight or nine weeks. With reputable and responsible breeders, this usually happens from the first day of life, so that the puppy can live as fearlessly as possible. Later, strengthening nerves is just as much a part of dog training as having a trusting relationship with him, which gives him a feeling of security even in frightening situations.
Why are dogs afraid of thunderstorms?
This often has to do with dogs’ sensitivity to noise. But the flashes in front of the eyes also scare dogs.
10 tips on how you can help your dog with an acute fear of thunderstorms
- Stay calm yourself, convey sovereignty, and don’t get hectic.
- Never respond loudly or aggressively to the dog’s fear.
- Close the front door, balcony door, patio door, and window.
- Close windows and doors with opaque curtains/blinds or, if available, lower roller shutters.
- Turn on soothing music. Classical music by Haydn and Bach is said to have the best calming effect on dogs.
- Accept the retreat or shelter the dog chooses. Be it the toilet, under the bed, or with you very tightly on the sofa.
- Never leave your dog alone when it is in a state of anxiety.
- If the dog is able, try to distract him by playing or eating.
- In case of extreme anxiety, administer half a teaspoon, maximum of one teaspoon of eggnog.
- Administer medication only after consultation with the veterinarian.
Important NOTE!
Never give your dog medication with the active ingredient acepromazine, even if it has been prescribed by the veterinarian. The associated fear of the dog is not restricted by the active ingredient acepromazine, this has been scientifically proven. The dog is just as scared and panicked as usual, it’s just that it’s no longer physically able to show its fear response. Inwardly, the dog is even more panicked because it no longer knows what is going on with it.
How do you get rid of a dog’s fear of thunderstorms?
You won’t be able to get rid of the fear completely. But with sensitive and long-term training, the dog can learn to deal better with fear.
