Ways to Relieve A Thunder-Phobic Dog

Thunder, thunder, clatter, boom, boom, boom, there goes the dog to the other room. 

Is this a familiar scenario? Tampa Bay has been called the lightning capital of the world, and statistics from the National Weather Service confirm that Florida has historically led the United States in lightning strikes and deaths.

If you have a dog that fears thunder, you are very well aware of each storm. 

People have different ideas as to what causes the dogs to be fearful, however, none of them is scientifically proven. Most people with thunder-phobic dogs care less about the reason and more about how to ease their dog’s anxiety.

To get some ideas, I spoke with Janet Skinner, a certified professional dog trainer who teaches at Dunedin Community Center. 

Skinner said that one of the first things one must do is to have a place that your dog feels safe. Some dogs will actually run and get in the bathtub. Skinner said the research is still inconclusive, but it is thought that dogs do this to feel grounded. She says that the prevailing thought in scientific circles is that dogs may be bothered by the increase in static electricity that comes with the storms.

Other dogs run to their crate, under the bed or to some tile surface. If you find your dog is doing this, please allow them to — they are upset and need that safe place. 

Skinner said some pet owners actually wipe their dogs down with dryer sheets to minimize some of the static electricity that makes the dog so anxious. She also said she heard of a person who recommended misting the dogs with a spray water bottle and wiping their paws with an anti-static spray. I would just be wary of any sprays that might be toxic to dogs (in case they lick it off). Your best bet is to check with your vet beforehand.

Another type of comfort that she recommended is body wrapping your dog. When human babies are born, nurses swaddle them. Skinner said that something similar could be done for dogs. She said some dogs are calmed with the pressure of a body wrap. An inexpensive and simple way to swaddle your dog is putting a T-shirt on your dog and gathering and tying up the excess with a rubber band. There are doggie anxiety wraps on the market that give dogs a constant, all-over pressure. 

If you have tried all of this and your dog’s anxiety is at an unmanageable level, medication is a last resort. One of the keys in using medication is to give it early and sometimes consistently throughout the storm, but consult your veterinarian. Never give your dog any drugs without consulting your vet.

Here are some more resources with tips on handing your dog's anxiety during a storm:

• The Thunder Phobic Greyhound 
• Dog Trainer's Quick and Dirty Tips 
• Pinellas County posted tips from the Dumb Friends Animal League on "Helping Your Dog Overcome The Fear of Thunder and Other Startling Noises" to its website. I've also included a .pdf file of the tips along with the photos that go with this column.