How to calm your dog during a thunderstorm

First of all, dogs can pick up on their humans’ feelings, so it is important for you to stay calm if you are to calm your dog during a thunderstorm. If they sense your anxiety, that will only make them feel and act worse. Remember, it’s only a storm and it will pass.

Second, provide a safe, enclosed, den-like area where your dog can securely sit out the storm. A crate inside the house is the perfect place because they feel safer there with a blanket and chew toy to gnaw on. If your dog is an outside dog, cover his or her kennel with a blanket and make sure he is secured inside.

Third: If you do not use a crate to calm your dog during a thunderstorm, make sure the room where you keep him is safe and devoid of small or sharp objects that he could swallow or chew on, as they may do when they are stressed out. Keep the doors and windows closed and curtained to dull the noise and light of the storm. Sometimes turning on a TV or some music that the dog is used to hearing can dull the sound of the storm outside and help to calm your dog.

Fourth: Keep your dog away from exits and entrances to your home. Some dogs become so stressed out that they may attack people coming in or out. He or she may also make a run for it if the door is opened.

Note: If your dog has an accident during the storm, be patient and understanding. Don’t make a big deal about it, and be prepared to clean up without a lot of fanfare.

Fifth: One great way to calm your dog’s thunderstorm fear and anxiety is to condition her to accept that storms are nothing to worry about. Using environmental recordings of storms, starting out softly and then making them gradually louder, while having everyone else in the house go calmly about their business has reprogrammed many dogs to stay calm during a storm.