- Storms have natural signals which alert to the imminent danger. Wild animals receive these signals and seek shelter before the storm actually begins. Our family dogs also receive these signals and, depending on their prior experiences (and probably your reactions), act accordingly.
- Thunderstorms are tricky in terms of desensitizing. You must first determine which part of the storm is causing your dog stress. Stress can come from the noise of the thunder, the flashes of lightning, or simply the barometric pressure changes in the atmosphere. Each must be desensitized differently.
- If your dog can be diverted with simple obedience exercises, you will begin a light-hearted workout, using food and praise and perhaps even nice music. This will keep their minds off the storm, but also create the illusion of something positive in light of the storm.
- Your ability to use obedience to distract your dog will depend upon how much it is used in daily life. If it’s a way of life and a “known” reliable piece of her life with you, it will be most effective.
Thunder
- First desensitize your dog to general noise as described above. You can use pots, books dropping, doorbells, etc. You can then begin to add higher-level noises like trucks and traffic. In noise desensitization, work your way up to a CD that contains thunderstorm noises. Start with it being played quietly, then ramp up the noise.
Don’t Overdo Noises!
Desensitization means that you’re getting them used to varying levels of noise, but if you apply too much noise too constantly, you will end up stressing your dog. Likewise, if your environment is too continually quiet, you will need to get your dog into different environments to experience noise.
- Active practice is positive, but what happens when the storm hits? Now is the time to jump into leadership mode. That means that you pick up your dog’s leash and use the SIT and DOWN cues for relaxation to put your dog’s “thought path” onto a positive thought. (See “thought path” discussion in Behavior Problem Solving.)
- Remember to do SIT and DOWN position holding exercises for other things as well. You don’t want your dog sensitizing to the actual exercise! This means that if you only use the exercise for noise, your dog will begin to generalize and expect noises every time you use the skill set.
Lightning
- Flashes of light can be disconcerting for your dog. The only time they seem to really bother dogs is when the flashes are preceded or followed by loud thunder. The association between lightning and thunder is then negative for your dog, and both seem to hold the same association. Use of a calming workout can be effective here as well, just as in the thunder desensitization exercise.
- Draw your blinds, close curtains, and cover the crate with a blanket to keep the flashes to a minimum. This will allow your dog less stressors at once. It kind of “manages” the storm for you so you have less to work the dog through.
Barometric Pressure
- Most dogs can sense the change in the atmosphere upon an approaching storm. This sense is what enables animals in the wild to “head for high ground.” They sense storms and try to find safety.
- Some dogs like to go to closets, bath-rooms, or crates for safety and security during a storm. This is fine, and you can permit this as long as it isn’t due to your dog being a fearful dog in general. You will then want to handle this as a self-confidence issue in a training program.
- If you have trained your dog well, built confidence, and have not pampered your dog, you should be able to redirect your dog during storms, even if they can sense the barometric pressure changes. Dogs that run on fight, flight, or freeze responses need more direction and obedience in their lives so they do not have to default to their instincts for survival.