Your email address will not be published. Don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian or an animal behavior specialist.. This is why the severity of the signs of your dog’s fear and anxiety about a storm will often increase throughout the summer and year over year. Why some dogs are afraid of storms is difficult to say. How are fireworks or thunderstorm fears and phobias treated? Do not wait to address the phobia until it is very severe—it will be that much harder to reverse. 774 Maleta Lane Dr. Dodman, along with Nicole Cottam and James C. Ha, tested the effectiveness of this product with dogs who experience a thunderstorm phobia. Fear of Thunderstorms: Further Reading Recommendations Dodman, Dr. Nicholas. Try playing music or white noise to drown out the noise. Nonetheless, setting aside everything you’re doing and focusing on training your dog when a thunderstorm is approaching can make a huge difference over time. Animals on the ranch, Border collies, dogs, Dogs fear of storms April 2, 2017 Comments: 2 We experienced a tornado watch with lightning, thunder, and almost two inches of rain. There are three likely culprits that answer the question: why are dogs afraid of thunderstorms? Find out what causes thunderstorm phobia in dogs and learn how to manag… Essential Oil Safety For Dogs. Storm Music for Dogs! with storm phobias, it can be a change in barometric pressure, or gusts of leaves being blown around as the storm approaches, or small rain showers. Why Do Dogs Hate Thunderstorms? If your dog is experiencing behavior problems or showing signs of thunderstorm or noise phobia, it’s best to consult your veterinarian. In addition, using Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) in the "safe place" might also help. Animal behaviorists call this reaction “storm anxiety” or “noise phobia.” And while it’s pretty common in … Many dogs are terrified of thunderstorms. Many dogs suffer from noise phobia, and the thunder is just one of several frightening noises (others include fireworks, gunshots, etc). Thunderstorm phobia or anxiety in dogs is a fairly common and very real problem for many dogs. While I am always pleased when rain falls on the ranch, Buddy, our senior Border collie, doesn’t see it quite the same way. Luckily there are ways to keep your scared dog relaxed. Why are dogs afraid of storms, though? Their fear of thunder and lightning cannot be considered a fully developed phobia unless it persists for more than six months. Astraphobia is the technical term for this: the fear of thunder and lightning. If your dog has a static build up in its coat, he or she might get a mildly uncomfortable shock to their sensitive nose if they touch it against metal. Behavioral modification techniques can be very powerful tools when it comes to dealing with your dog’s anxieties and fears. Changes in barometric pressure and humidity can affect your dog's senses and possibly even cause discomfort in the ears. Nicholas Dodman, a veterinary behaviorist at Tufts University and chief scientific officer at the Center for Canine Behavior Studies, explains that this could lead to a full-on phobia. So, is your dog’s fear of storms simply the noise phobia that our pets are already known for, or are there other reasons why our dogs freak out during stormy weather? Stop your dog from being frightened during a storm with these 5 steps. Dogs with noise phobias appear to chain events together and, over time, start to show signs of fear even before a storm. But now, we have scientific proof that L-Theanine works! One of the ways that you can help your dog learn to not be so anxious during … Because thunderstorm phobia is likely to become worse over time, it is important to take action when you first notice the signs. Posted Jun 24, 2016 Fear of thunderstorms and other noise sensitivities are becoming quite prevalent in dogs and the fact that it is so common is not surprising. Unfortunately, the fear of storms and other causes of loud noises can worsen with regular exposure. Act now for the sake of your dog. This is why the severity of the signs of your dog’s fear and anxiety about a storm will often increase throughout the summer and year over year. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. Arthritic dogs or those with orthopedic disorders may experience more pain than usual. it is good to fear snakes). We become a team to help your dog find the calm in the storm. Many dogs have noise sensitivities, and storms aren’t the only triggers. I always thought it was the noise and it may be part of the reasons Rodrigo hates storms. • First, do not ignore your dog during storms. When your dog realizes that storms mean a little extra TLC, his anxiety may be less during the next storm. The signs are usually quite obvious, so you probably already know your dog is phobic of storms. Unfortunately, the fear of storms and other causes of loud noises can worsen with regular exposure. That's why we see dogs behaving restlessly, trying to hide from the storm – they're trying to get away from the static electricity caused by thunderstorms. Noise sensitivity is quite often a symptom of rabies vaccinosis (see May issue of Dogs Naturally for how the Rabies vaccine can affect your dog’s behavior). “Fear-conditioned startle” is a laboratory test used … If your dog is afraid of thunderstorms, I highly recommend taking a look at this research study. If you have a dog with thunder anxiety or phobia, you should prepare ahead of time. There is no way to know for certain what causes a dog to become afraid of thunderstorms. Unfortunately, depending on what factors cause your dog’s fear of thunderstorms, it can be difficult to provide controlled exposure. Your dog is probably the best weather forecaster you can find. Dogs develop fear responses for a number of reasons. But to treat the problem, you must first understand the causes of dog anxiety. Consider distracting your dog from the remainder of the storm by practicing basic commands or playing a game of tug-of-war. However, the cause of fear may not be limited to noise. Many dog parents believe that it’s the sheer volume of thunder that upsets dogs … A noise phobia can be the primary reason that your dog is afraid of storms, or it could just be one of several factors that add up to your furry friend having a phobia. First of all, never leave your dog outside during storms. Jenna Stregowski, RVT, has more than 20 years of experience working in veterinary medicine and has been writing about pet care for the last decade. A recent study on Hungarian Vizslas for example showed that castrated dogs were significantly more likely to develop a fear of storms. Though limited, there are a few options for addressing fear of thunderstorms behaviorally. Many dogs are afraid of thunderstorms because they don’t understand what it is or what’s going on. Resolving the fear of storms in dogs. If you own a border collie or Australian shepherd, it’s possible they — along with a few other breeds — have a genetic predisposition to develop noise phobias. There are some dogs who have an extreme fear of storms. The loud unfamiliar noise, however, isn’t the only reason why dogs can become so … If left unaddressed, a dog’s fear of storms can lead to other worrisome behaviors, such as scratching, digging, destroying furniture, or having accidents in the house. If left unaddressed, a dog’s fear of storms can lead to other worrisome behaviors, such as scratching, digging, destroying furniture, or having accidents in the house. It is one of the most common fears that affect dogs. The reality is that thunderstorms literally charge the air with electricity, making it easier for static buildup to occur in the coat of your furry friend. The fear can soon become a phobia, which is defined as a persistent, excessive, and irrational fear response. It is unknown why some pets become afraid of noises; it is a common problem in dogs, but less so in cats. After the storm passed, Wrigley quaked for hours. A fear of fireworks is also common in dogs that are afraid of thunder. It should be noted that these dogs were behaviorally quite normal, other than their very specific fear of storms. By Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB & Gary Landsberg, DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM. 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