Introduction

If you’ve got a Shih Tzu who’s afraid of thunderstorms, it can be downright heartbreaking. But don’t worry! There are many things that you can do to help your pup feel better during storms. We’ll go over everything from using calming music and getting a ThunderShirt to just taking some time together during the storm itself. Here are our top tips for helping your dog get through these scary moments with as little stress as possible:

Get a ThunderShirt.

When your dog is scared of thunderstorms, it’s hard for you to be there every time a storm rolls in. That’s why some pet parents choose to use a ThunderShirt when storms come along.

This vest provides pressure therapy that can help reduce anxiety and fear in dogs who are bothered by loud noises, like thunderstorms and fireworks. Using this product may not completely eliminate your Shih Tzu’s fear of storms, but it could help your pup feel less anxious during these times.

The best part about using this product is that it can be used for dogs of all sizes—and even dogs who have medical issues! It’s also lightweight enough so they won’t mind wearing it around the house or outside while you’re walking them on leash during a storm (if necessary).

Talk to your vet.

If your dog is anxious or scared during thunderstorms, talk to your vet about what’s best for them. Your vet will be able to give you advice on how to help your dog and may be able to recommend medication if needed. They may also recommend a behaviorist if they feel that behavior modification would be beneficial for you and your dog.

Exercise your dog.

Exercise is a great way to help with stress and anxiety. If your dog is scared of thunderstorms, taking him for a walk or jog can help make him feel calmer and reduce his fear.

If you have the time, it may be helpful to take your Shih Tzu out for an extended walk or jog as part of his daily routine for several days leading up to the storm. This will help condition him to associate thunderstorms with exercise rather than anxiety.

Play calming music.

If your dog is scared of thunderstorms, you might want to try playing soothing music. The idea behind this is similar to the above suggestion of using a thunder shirt—it’s possible that the music will help your dog relax and stay calm.

There are some important things to keep in mind when choosing music for this purpose:

• Try to find music that is not too loud or too fast. Loud fast-paced noise can be very scary for dogs, so it’s best if you stick with something soft and soothing.
• Pick songs that have a calming effect on you as well as your dog. This way, both of you will enjoy listening together!

Don’t reinforce the behavior.

Don’t reinforce the behavior

Don’t give your dog attention when they are scared. This includes talking to them, petting them and making a big deal out of it. If you do this, it will reinforce the fear and make thunderstorms even harder for your Shih Tzu to handle!

Also, don’t play with or reward your dog when he/she is afraid of storms. This can cause more problems later on because then your pup will associate playing with thunderstorms which is not good at all!

Make a safe space.

To help your dog feel safe during the storm, you can create a safe space for them. If your shih tzu is afraid of thunderstorms, you may have to prepare more than one safe place for them to go.

• Make a Safe Space in Your Home or Yard

You could create a crate in your home or yard for your dog to sleep in. This way there isn’t any chance that they will get frightened by loud noises outside and try to run away from the house/yard which could result in injury or worse yet death if they were outside when lightning struck nearby (which it often does). If there are no trees close enough that could potentially fall on them during heavy rains/thunderstorms then there’s no need to worry about having an open space where they’ll be able to escape if necessary but I would still recommend keeping them contained somehow just so other pets don’t bother with theirs too much either during storms which might upset them even more than usual.”

There are many options to help a dog who is scared of thunderstorms that can work together or alone, helping both you and your pet feel more at ease when a storm strikes.

There are many options to help a dog who is scared of thunderstorms that can work together or alone, helping both you and your pet feel more at ease when a storm strikes. The ThunderShirt is the first thing to try for most dogs. It has been shown to reduce anxiety in dogs by up to 80%. Talk with your veterinarian about other treatments including medication and supplements. Exercise your dog before bedtime and make sure they have an area where they can go that feels safe from noises like storms or fireworks. If possible, play calming music before bedtime and when storms get close as well so that your pet associates those sounds with comfort rather than fear. Also try not reinforcing the behavior by giving them attention or treats for being nervous during storms!

Conclusion

There are many things you can do to help your Shih Tzu feel more comfortable when a storm is coming. Remember that just because your dog may be afraid of thunderstorms doesn’t mean they’re afraid of everything else in life! That being said, if you’re worried about their safety then it’s important not to reinforce this behavior by giving them treats or affection when they’re scared—that way you’ll both feel better during these difficult times and have an easier time recovering from them too.