Introduction

If you have a beloved dog, then you’ve probably noticed that they can be scared of loud noises, especially thunderstorms. This fear is common in dogs, who are much more sensitive to sound than humans are. They may whine, pace back and forth, urinate or defecate in your home when they’re anxious about storms.

How can we help them?

The answer is tricky because every pet is different – but there are some tricks that work for most dogs:

Recognize your dog’s symptoms.

If your dog is showing signs of distress, do not ignore them. If you hear growling or barking, your pet likely feels threatened by something. If you see panting, pacing and whining, then your dog is anxious or stressed out.

One thing to consider when taking care of a dog with anxiety during thunderstorms is their safety. You want to make sure that they’re secure in their crate (if they have one) so that they don’t injure themselves when trying to escape their anxiety-induced state.

Stay calm and positive.

• Stay calm and positive. When thunderstorms come, it’s important to keep your voice calm and reassure your dog that everything is okay. Avoid scolding, punishing or threatening your pet if he doesn’t follow directions.
• If you are worried about the storm, try not to express it verbally or through body language in order to avoid making the situation worse for your pet.
• Remember that dogs can pick up on their owner’s anxiety levels—so if you’re nervous about bad weather coming in any way (even if it seems silly), keep yourself as calm as possible so you don’t communicate those feelings to your dog!

Create a storm-safe room ahead of time.

It is possible to create a room in your home that will be safe and comfortable for your dog during a thunderstorm. Just like humans, dogs can get scared of loud noises and lightning flashes. If this is something you’re worried about, here are some tips:

• Make sure the room will be quiet and dark. You don’t want lights or music on when the storm hits. Also make sure that it’s not too cold or hot in there (you’ll want it to be somewhere between 68-74 degrees Fahrenheit). If you can, put in an air conditioning unit if there is no AC already installed in the house or apartment building where you live.
• Give your dog a bed or crate—and make sure it’s comfortable! A crate gives them someplace secure where they can hide from any noises outside their comfort zone (like heavy rain) until they feel better again; one with soft blankets inside may help even more since those could muffle any noises coming through as well as provide warmth against drafts if needed (if these exist within living areas). It also helps prevent destructive behavior like chewing furniture pieces when nothing else around seems appealing enough for entertainment purposes due “boredom” reasons.”

Keep your dog busy with a chew toy or puzzle that has treats inside.

If your dog is afraid of thunderstorms, one way to help them is to keep them busy. You can do this by giving them a chew toy or puzzle that has treats inside. This will keep them distracted and calmer. If you don’t have one, you can make one! Just be sure it’s safe for your dog to chew.

Ask your vet about medication, or consider getting CBD or pheromones for your pet.

If your dog has severe anxiety, talk to your vet about medication.

There are many different types of medications that can help with anxiety, and your vet will be able to recommend the best one for your dog. Medication should always be used in conjunction with other methods (like desensitization or pheromones) for best results.

Keep the TV or radio on for background noise.

If your dog is a little nervous, you can try to keep the TV or radio on for background noise to distract them from the thunder. Just make sure it’s not so loud as to drown out other noises like creaking doors or windows. If you have a smart speaker like an Amazon Echo or Google Home, ask it to play music or a podcast if it has those options available. You could also use white noise apps on your phone, such as Rainy Mood or Noisli (both free).

Here are some pro tips for helping you help your dog through storms and stressful nights.

• Recognize your dog’s symptoms: Thunderstorms can be stressful for any dog, but some dogs show more signs of anxiety than others. Some dogs will hide under the bed or couch and refuse to come out. Other dogs may pant excessively and pace around their room. If you notice these signs, it’s important to figure out what’s causing them so that you can help your pup feel safe again!
• Stay calm and positive: When I see my dog getting anxious, I try to stay calm so she knows its okay. I also remind myself that it’s just a storm—it will pass soon enough! My goal is always to keep my thoughts positive when we’re in a stressful situation like this one so that my dog doesn’t pick up on any negative emotions coming from me either.
• Create a storm-safe room ahead of time: If possible, create an area where your furry friend can go if there are storms predicted or if they happen suddenly (like those summer storms!). It should be cozy enough for him/her with plenty of things for entertainment like toys or puzzles with treats hidden inside; pheromones; CBD oil supplements; calming music; etcetera . . . anything else? Let us know what works best for yours so we can share with everyone else!

Conclusion

We hope this blog has helped you understand the best ways to help your dog get through storms and stressful nights. Remember, it’s important to stay calm and positive, so that your pet can feel more comfortable in their environment. We also hope that these tips will be useful for other stressful situations, like fireworks or thunderstorms!