Fear of Thunderstorms
Fear of storms is very common with dogs. Below are some recommendations to assist your dog in managing their fear of thunder through a process involving desensitization and counterconditioning. This program aims to alter your dog's emotional response during thunderstorms and can be quite effective. However, it's important to note that some dogs may also react to lightning and pressure changes associated with storms, not just the thunder, which can be more challenging to control and may slow down your desensitization efforts.
Desensitization involves gradually exposing your pet to the fearful stimulus, increasing its intensity over time until your dog no longer responds fearfully. In this case, the stimulus is the thunder. Desensitization is often combined with counterconditioning.
Counterconditioning is a process in which you work to change your pet's emotional response to the fearful stimulus, shifting it from fear to acceptance by pairing it with special treats or enjoyable activities.
Desensitization / Counterconditioning Procedure:
Find a thunderstorm desensitization sound/video online. Start by playing the video or sound at a barely audible volume in another room away from your dog (remember that dogs have much keener hearing than we do).
While the thunderstorm sound is playing, offer your dog the most wonderful special treats or engage in their favorite game (provided they remain calm – if they react to the sound, it's probably too loud). Continue offering treats or playing throughout the sound’s duration. By associating the sound of the thunderstorm with special treats or playtime, you will change your dog's emotional response to the noise, making them link thunder with positive experiences.
Gradually increase the volume of the sound over time. It's crucial to progress slowly with this procedure. Never raise the intensity of the stimulus until your dog is completely comfortable at the current level. When your dog remains relaxed and looks to you for a treat upon hearing the thunder, it's a sign that you can increase the volume during the next session. Continue this process until you can play the thunderstorm sound at a very high volume and your dog remains calm. This process may vary from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the effort and the intensity of your dog's phobia.
While working through this procedure, a real thunderstorm will likely occur. Even if your dog is progressing well with the program, they may still react to a real storm in their usual fearful manner. You must comfort your dog in any way possible during such storms. If you notice your dog stopping behaviors like pacing, panting, or shivering at any point, reward their calm behavior with a special food treat.
Your dog might require medical intervention to address their thunderstorm phobia. Your veterinarian can prescribe a sedative to be administered on the day of the storm.
