How to Help Your Dog Overcome His Fear of Thunderstorms

Is your dog frightened of thunderstorms? This is a very common problem among canines and can cause quite a bit of inconvenience for humans who happen to be away when a thunderstorm strikes. A frightened dog is often destructive and cause quite a bit of household damage if left unattended during a thunderstorm. Here are some steps you can take to help your dog overcome his fear of thunderstorms:

1. Buy a recording of a thunderstorm. You usually purchase these locally at stores that sell books and CDs. If not, they're available online. They're often sold as tapes to help persons with sleep problems relax.
2. Establish a place where your dog can feel protected such as a blanket, rug, or pad.
3. Encourage your dog to lie quietly in his designated safe spot. Reward him with a dog cookie when he complies.
4. Turn on the thunderstorm recording. Keep it at very low volume while your dog relaxes on his pad. Give him a treat every few minutes as a reward for staying on his pad during the recording.
5. If your dog attempts to leave his safe place due to fear, turn the recording off and coax him gently back to his pad. Reward him with a cookie.
6. Continue playing the recording until your dog is comfortable remaining on his pad during the entire length of the recording. Continue to give him frequent rewards for calm behavior.
7. Only reward your dog when he is calm. Never acknowledge him when he's showing signs of anxiety or fear. This will only reinforce his fearful behavior.
8. Repeat this process every few days. Further challenge your dog by turning up the volume gradually. Continue to reward him for remaining calm during the recording.
9. Once your dog has acclimated to the recording, try playing it when he's carrying out his routine activities such as eating dinner.
10. Finally, try playing the recording while you step out of the house for a few minutes. When you return, give your dog a reward if he remained calm and showed no signs of thunderstorm fear.

This method works by allowing your dog to slowly become less sensitized to the sounds of a thunderstorm. It's a good idea to repeat this sequence every few weeks to further reinforce his good behavior. Be sure to only reward him when he remains calm. Pretty soon, you'll be able to leave your home without worrying about your dog during a thunderstorm.

If this system doesn't work for your dog, you may want to take your dog to his veterinarian to see if he may benefit from an anti-anxiety medication for his thunderstorm phobia.