She would get so panicked, that the house suffered destruction. She would try to go under a couch that she could not fit, or into a kitchen cabinet, or scratch the front door to get out. Anything to escape the storm even if it meant getting hurt.
Sadly many dog owners deal with this problem. But there are a few solutions to try, that helped my dog. Once I followed these steps, she was much easier to handle and each storm was less anxious.
DO NOT SHOW ANY ANXIETY YOURSELF!!
If you too are scared of storms this will not be easy, but your dog will pick up on your cues. If you suddenly run around the house closing windows and acting odd, they will react.
6 Steps - How to Calm a Dog During a Thunderstorm
Step 1. Walk Calmly around the house as per usual, even hum a tune as if nothing is wrong. Pay not attention to the storm or your dog. Dogs pick up on your cues and if you are stressing or freaking out, so will they.
Step 2. Ignore the fact there is a thunderstorm going on and act as if...
Step 3. DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT especially if you are freaking yourself, dogs are sensitive and pick up on your fears. If you can't hide your fear, do not look your dog in the eyes!!
Step 4. Find a safe small spot for them to hide ahead of time and guide them there. If they are crate trained, put them in their crate and place a blanket over the crate to make them feel like they are in a cave.
Dogs love to go to small dark spots when they are scared. So find a spot in your home they could hide. My dog eventually felt safer in the basement, as it was dark and you couldn't see the lightening, so in a storm I kept the basement door open and she hid behind the furnace. So I keep the route to that area open for her.
Once she found the basement, she stayed down there for hours. This at least saved the rest of my house, as a 65 pound dog in panic mode can be destructive as well as possible hurt themselves. I did not go and see her, she came upstairs when she was ready and I still pretended nothing was wrong.
Step 5. Be careful opening the door, as they may bolt, even if it is not their nature to run, they will when in a panic. Many animal shelters receive calls after big storms and fireworks etc for lost dogs.
Step 6. DO NOT OVER CUDDLE - This one is seriously important, this is where I failed miserably, because I do feel now when I look back that it was me that helped this fear grow every summer.
When she was a puppy she was not fearful of storms, but around 2 years old she showed a bit of apprehension and I would soothe her and cuddle her and look scared myself as I am not a fan of storms either. By doing this she realized this is something to be scared of, and it got worse.
This is an additional item you can add to your "dog calming storm watch kit". Backed by science, the idea behind this anxiety jacket, is that it creates gentle pressure in all the right spots that triggers a calming sensation for your dog.
For this to work, you will need to be thinking ahead of the storm. If there is a thunderstorm in the forecast, then get this jacket on your dog, and still follow the above steps. Many dogs, including mine could pick up on the storm before it appeared, so if your dog has serious issues with storms and you don't want to go down the drug road, this is a awesome investment.
Just click on the picture of the link to see this product online. It comes in different sizes, and has over 5700 reviews at this writing.
For under 50 bucks, this would be worth trying especially if your dog is super anxious about thunderstorms or fireworks or simply moving and any other stressful events. I saw a dog wearing this jacket at the Veterinarians office. Smart Idea!
Check the current price
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