GEORGE NEWS - Your dog freaks out during a thunderstorm. Why does this happen, and what can you do about it? Local K9 behaviourist and trainer George van Huyssteen explains:
"Astraphobia (fear of thunderstorms) is a common and very real problem for many dogs. During thunderstorms, dogs that suffer from astraphobia might become extremely frantic and overwhelmed with fear. Owners usually don't know what to do and feel quite helpless and frustrated during these storms," says Van Huyssteen.
Why it happens
The honest answer is that we are not sure, but we know enough about dog behaviour to speculate. There might be a couple of reasons why this happens, but we must never forget that every dog is an individual, and different dogs will react differently should a storm strike.
The most apparent reason for them becoming extremely fearful is the loud noise created by the lightning. Noise phobia is very common in dogs, and because their hearing is much better developed than ours, it can be a very frightening experience if they are not used to hearing very loud noises.
This, however, might not be the only reason they get scared.
When thunderstorms happen, a change in barometric pressure and humidity occurs, and it is possible that it can affect a dog's senses or even cause discomfort in their ears.
Another reason might be that a dog had a horrible experience during a thunderstorm and is now associating the sound with something really terrifying. Another possibility is that a dog's genetic makeup might contribute to his fear. All of the above is possible, but as said before, how the dog would react to a thunderstorm will depend on the individual dog.
What you can do
Most importantly, do not to let the dog face its fears on its own. The technical term for doing this is "flooding". Please don't leave your dog outside to fend for itself. Its fear will be very real, and escaping behaviours are common. They will do whatever they have to do to escape from their situation, even if it means they might get hurt in the process.
Bring your dog inside and provide it with a hiding place, even if it is under your bed. You can put on some music to drown out some of the noise and give the dog its favourite treats or a bone to chew.
If the dog is not interested in chewing, it simply means that it is too scared, so don't force it. Some dogs might benefit from a device like a thunder shirt or wrap. You don't have to buy an expensive thunder shirt as it is pretty easy to make using a towel or old blanket.
For more information on how to do it yourself, click here. Dogs should be introduced to thunder shirts or wraps before the storm hits.
Some dogs find it comforting, and it might reduce their anxiety and stress. Other dogs might find it comforting to lie next to you or even on your lap. Cuddling your dog during this will not reinforce its fears, as many believe. Fear is an emotion, and you cannot reinforce an emotion.
Medication
The problem with medication is that different dogs might react differently to specific medicines. Some people firmly believe that homeopathic or herbal calming remedies work well for their dog, but in other cases, owners did not notice a difference after administering the medication.
Pheromones also work for some dogs while not for others.
Different veterinarians will prescribe different medicines. Your veterinarian will know which one will suit your dog. If you know your dog gets really scared during a thunderstorm, and if you think medication might help, please visit your veterinarian before the storm arrives.
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