This page was last revised on 19th April 2009
Recently, we had a thunderstorm where we live. Well, more precisely, we had a thunderstorm near where we live. Ian and Julie didn't hear it, but Gemma and I did. There are a number of theories posted on the Interweb by people who are, well not dogs! Obviously, one is that dogs have much better hearing than humans. Another is that dogs can detect the slightest change in air pressure.
There are also a number of suggestions as to how to "cure" the problem. These include playing a favourite game, in my case tug, by way of distraction, turning up the volume of the television or radio (but this rather depends on what's on at the time - I think I'd find daytime television even more unnerving than the thunder!) or using herbal remedies. The DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) collar also seems to work in some cases - it looks like a flea collar, and the dogs body heat generates a release of the pheromone emitted by the mother dog while she is rearing her puppies. Other dogs in close proximity can also benefit from this dog appeasing pheromone.
Although we dogs generally are in charge, it does help those of us with thunder phobia if nearby humans carry on as if the thunder wasn't there! If they panic, then we panic because they are panicking...! Another tip, get a member of your staff to draw the curtains to keep us from seeing lightning flashes, as lightning can sometimes trigger fear as well. Putting the lights on can also lessen the effect of lightning flashes. However, these tricks are less effective if the storm happens during the day, and don't work if the storm knocks out the power supply! If our humans are not at home when the thunder starts, Gemma and I get very worried indeed, because they need us...! I'm told that being rubbed down with dryer softener sheets can do some good if feeling static is the problem - I haven't heard this before (and I'm not sure that a true Westie really wants to smell like fresh linen)...and Ian or Julie would have to catch us first, but worth a try! Everyone seems to agree that, if dogs want to hide under furniture or in a dark room, they should be allowed to do so. Humans shouldn't cuddle dogs during thunderstorms, as this can be seen as a reward for dogs being frightened, which is a bad thing.
One thing's for certain, Gemma and I do not like Thunder! Gemma barks loudly in an effort to "outnoisify" the noise, while I hide somewhere I'm pretty certain the thunder can't get me!
Advice from the Humane Society of the United States
Posted on the website of the Partnership for Animal Welfare in Maryland, USA
Help for Thunder-phobic dogs
Article and short video
Dogs and Thunder
Advice from Hill's Pet Nutrition, United Kingdom