To calm a dog during a thunderstorm, give them a quiet safe space, muffle the sound and flashes, stay calm yourself, and offer something to focus on. Pressure wraps, background noise, and natural calming support like full spectrum hemp extract can all help. For dogs with severe storm phobia, talk with your veterinarian. Most dogs do best with a few methods used together, started before the storm arrives.
Why Are Dogs Scared of Thunderstorms?
Storm fear is one of the most common forms of canine stress, and it is rarely about the thunder alone. A storm hits several of a dog's senses at once.
Dogs hear far more than we do, so thunder lands louder and arrives sooner for them. On top of the noise, a storm brings dropping barometric pressure, darkening skies, wind, and flashes of lightning. Many dogs can also feel the buildup of static electricity in their coat, which can cause an uncomfortable tingling sensation. Put together, these signals tell a dog that something big and unpredictable is happening, and the instinct to find shelter takes over.
Some dogs are more sensitive than others. Herding breeds, rescues, and dogs who had little exposure to storms when young often react more strongly. Storm fear can also build over time, which is why a dog who tolerated storms as a puppy may grow more reactive with age.
Signs of Thunderstorm Stress in Dogs
Knowing what storm stress looks like helps you step in early, before the fear escalates. Common signs include:
Pacing, panting, and trembling. Whining, barking, or howling. Drooling or yawning when it is not warm or sleepy. Hiding in closets, bathrooms, or behind furniture. Clinginess and shadowing you from room to room. Destructive behavior or attempts to escape the house or yard. House-training accidents from a normally house-trained dog.
The earlier you recognize these patterns, the sooner you can guide your dog toward calm. Watch your dog's body language throughout the storm so you can tell whether your approach is working or needs adjusting.
How to Calm a Dog During a Thunderstorm: Behavior & Environment
If you've ever been around a thunderstorm, then you know how scary and intense they can be. Thunderstorms are loud, lightning is bright with its flashing lights, and the rain falling amplifies the sounds throughout the house. If wind accompanies the thunderstorm, that can make things that much worse.
For some dogs, it's a bit more than just the weather that makes them upset: they're scared of thunderstorms because they're loud and unexpected. Dogs have been known to get stressed in these situations, with some being more severely affected than others. Here are some tips on how to help canine thunderstorm phobia along with how to calm a dog during a thunderstorm:
Desensitization and Sound Training
Behavior modification techniques for dogs are techniques that can be used to change a dog's behavior. Behavior modification techniques may be necessary to ease your dog’s fear of thunderstorms. Desensitization and positive reinforcement are both useful in reducing fearful behavior without causing too much stress on your dog.
Desensitization is a behavior modification process that involves exposing your dog to the sounds of a thunderstorm in a controlled environment. This can help your dog become more accustomed to the sounds and promote calmness during storm season. There are several ways to desensitize your dog, including using a recording of storm sounds or playing storm sounds on your phone or computer. Start with a low volume and gradually increase the volume over time.
This is the same process by which hunting dogs become accustomed to hearing loud gunshots due to repeated exposure to the stimulus. Over time, they will hear the loud noises, but the dog will have become so accustomed to hearing the loud noises that they will no longer experience noise phobias.
Use Positive Reinforcement
When your dog is stressed, you may not be able to calm them down. But you can give them an opportunity to learn how to cope with their fear on their own by giving them with something else to focus on. This helps dogs learn that they can feel safe in the presence of storms.
Use treats and praise for positive reinforcement for dog thunderstorm fears, especially when they do something good like remaining calm during a storm or when they stop barking at noises outside. Reinforce behaviors that you would like to see more often, such as sitting quietly, chewing on a toy instead of barking at noises outside, or curling up on their bed rather than pacing around the house during storms.
If your dog has been afraid of storms since they were young, try using toys and treats while they're still inside so they don’t associate them with bad weather. Play games with your dog before the storm starts so that she's distracted from whatever's going on outside.
This is also a good time to practice your dog’s obedience skills. If your dog is focused on their obedience commands with positive reinforcement, they may be distracted enough not to consciously notice the thunderstorm outside and instead be focused on their reward for knowing the commands sit, stay, or come.
Provide a Safe Space
For a lot of dogs, their safe space whenever they’re feeling anxious is their crate. Their crate is their den of safety. Allow your dog to remain in their crate if that's what makes them most comfortable during storm season. Offer a blanket or toy with your scent on it to help them remain calm while the storm passes.
You can also try placing a heavy blanket around their crate during the storm. This will reduce the flashing lights and muffle the sound of the thunderstorm. If your dog doesn't have a crate, offering them a dark closet or a space in a familiar room can be helpful. A room without windows is preferred.
Provide Background Noise
If your dog is scared of thunderstorms, you can help ease the stress by providing background noise. The best way to provide background noise during a storm is with a radio or TV turned on low. However, if you are worried about your dog becoming distracted by the sound and getting into trouble, try using white noise instead.
White noise is similar to nature sounds, but it's more consistent and easier to use in the house. White noise machines come in many different sizes and shapes, including desktop models and small ones that attach to your phone or tablet.
If you have an old boom box lying around the house that still works, it will work just as well as a more expensive machine. Simply turn on the radio and set it to static, or scan through all stations until you find one playing static.
Try Classical Music or Calming Sound
Playing classical music is another option you can consider, especially if white noise isn’t particularly effective. Classical music can help keep your pet calm and relaxed by supporting normal emotional balance. You may elect to play this music on your phone or there are a number of CDs available that have been designed specifically for anxious dogs if you do some digging.
Control Your Own Emotions
Dogs are highly sensitive to their owners' emotions. If you become stressed or agitated during a thunderstorm, your dog may become even more stressed. It is important to stay calm and act normally during a thunderstorm. Offer your dog comforting words and gentle touches to let them know that everything is okay.
Your dog will look at you. If you are calm and collected, even though they are afraid, they will feel more secure knowing you aren’t worried. For some dogs, this alone could be enough to calm them.
Natural Remedies to Calm a Dog During a Storm
In addition to the recommendations outlined above, there are some natural remedies to help a dog scared of thunder, including:
ThunderShirt and Pressure Wraps
A ThunderShirt is a vest-like garment that applies gentle pressure to your dog's torso. You may also hear these referred to as a wrap. The pressure can promote calm behavior during a thunderstorm. The ThunderShirt is easy to use and can be worn during normal times as well as during a thunderstorm.
Thundershirts can be particularly effective for dogs with noise phobias or during time of separation. Thundershirts are also a drug-free option to traditional veterinary therapies, which makes them a popular choice among dog owners who prefer natural remedies. They're available in nearly every size and are relatively simple to put on and take off your dog. However, it's important to note that they may not be effective for every dog.
No ThunderShirt? Try a Snug Shirt
If you don't have a Thundershirt and you’re wondering how to calm a dog during a thunderstorm without one, you can use a form-fitting t-shirt on your dog's body. Place the shirt over the dog's head with the front of the t-shirt on their back. Put their front legs through the armholes and tighten the shirt with a hair-tie.
You can substitute this for a sweatshirt if you think your dog would feel better with heavier material. However, in either case, be sure your dog isn't completely restricted and still has the ability to freely move their legs.
Diffuse Lavender Essential Oil
You can diffuse lavender essential oil right into your pet's environment to help promote calm behavior during a storm. To do this, add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a diffuser filled with water and turn it on. The amount of time you leave the diffuser running will depend on how much time your dog spends in the space where it is located.
If the power has gone out and you are unable to diffuse the essential oil, grab a spray bottle and fill most of it with water. Then, add a few drops of lavender essential oil and spray the oil through the area you are staying with your pup. This may not be as effective as diffusing the essential oil, but you could still see some benefit.
Full Spectrum CBD for Storm Stress
Full spectrum CBD can be offered in all situations to promote normal emotional behavior, including thunderstorms. Full spectrum hemp extract has a calming effect on nerves and is particularly useful for dogs exhibiting nervousness, hyperactivity, discontentment or responding to environmentally-induced stress, like thunderstorms.
According to Earth Buddy’s Dog Calming Study conducted in July 2022, approximately 92% of pet parents reported that Earth Buddy’s full-spectrum CBD products reduced daily stress levels in their pets, and 72% of pet owners agreed that they were effective at reducing their pet’s stress severity. In regard to thunderstorms, these results show full-spectrum hemp extract can help your dog cope with external stresses.
Full spectrum hemp extract can also help in the following ways:
- Helping curb destructive behavior during times of stress
- Helping keep your dog calm and relaxed
- Helping maintain normal emotional balance
Quick Calm is a water-soluble CBD made for fast, situational support when the thunder starts
Natural Calming Support for Storm Season
Oil tinctures need time to digest. Quick Calm is emulsified to be water-soluble, so it is absorbed faster, which matters when a storm rolls in without much warning. Use 1 to 2 pumps per 20 lbs, ideally 10 to 20 minutes before the storm. Find Quick Calm for Dogs at your local independent pet store or on our site.
How to Prepare Your Dog Before a Storm
Dogs can often sense when a thunderstorm is approaching due to barometric pressure changes. The change in barometric pressure is thought to affect a dog’s ears, resulting in your dog knowing when a storm is coming before you do. Dogs can also sense static electricity before a thunderstorm. Static electricity forms when lightning is about to strike.
If your dog begins to pace or whine, take a look at the radar to see if there is a storm getting closer to your location. Before the storm hits, take the necessary measures to help your dog remain calm and desensitize their fear response. Watch your dog’s body language to determine if your dog’s fear is subsiding.
When to Talk to Your Veterinarian
If your dog is severely affected by the frightening stimuli of a thunderstorm, it may be time to take a look at veterinary medicine. A veterinarian may have additional ideas on how to help a dog scared of thunder. Dogs with severe phobias of loud sounds may need additional help, especially if the recommendations above haven’t been effective in reducing their fear reactions.
Building Your Dog's Storm-Calming Plan
You don’t have to choose just one method to relieve your dog’s fear of thunderstorms. Pet parents can employ all the methods discussed or try each one individually to see what works and what doesn’t. For example, if you give your dog full spectrum hemp extract, they can still be wrapped in a thundershirt and wait out the storm in their kennel. Watch your dog’s body language to determine what works best and you will know how to handle upcoming storms later on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my dog suddenly scared of thunderstorms?
Storm fear can develop at any age. A single startling storm, a change in hearing as a dog gets older, or a buildup of stress over several storm seasons can all make a dog more reactive than they used to be. Dogs also sense barometric pressure changes and static electricity, so they often react before the first thunderclap. If the change is sudden and severe, mention it to your veterinarian to rule out other causes.
Can dogs sense a thunderstorm before it arrives?
Yes. Dogs can often sense a storm coming before you do. The drop in barometric pressure is thought to affect their ears, and many dogs feel static electricity gathering in their coat. That is why a lot of dogs start pacing or whining while the sky still looks calm. If you notice early restlessness, check the radar and begin your calming routine before the storm hits.
What can I give my dog to calm them during a thunderstorm?
Several drug-free options can support calm behavior: a pressure wrap like a ThunderShirt, background noise or calming music, a covered safe space, and natural calming support such as full spectrum hemp extract. Quick Calm is a water-soluble CBD made for situational stress like storms and fireworks, since it is absorbed faster than oil-based tinctures. For severe storm phobia, ask your veterinarian about additional options.
Do ThunderShirts actually work for dogs?
For many dogs, yes. A ThunderShirt applies gentle, steady pressure around the torso, similar to swaddling. That pressure can promote calm behavior during a storm. It is drug-free, reusable, and easy to put on, though it does not work for every dog. It tends to work best when paired with a safe space and other calming methods rather than used alone.
Does CBD or hemp extract help dogs with storm stress?
Full spectrum hemp extract can support normal emotional balance and calm behavior during environmentally induced stress like storms. In Earth Buddy's 2022 Calming Pathfinder Study, conducted during July fireworks season with around 70 pet owners, participants reported measurable improvements in stress-related behaviors across treats, oils, and the Quick Calm spray, and 95% used the lower dosage recommendations. Start low and go slow, and give it time to work before the storm when you can.
How can I prepare my dog before a storm?
Watch the forecast and start early. Set up the safe space, turn on background noise, and offer calming support 15 to 30 minutes before the storm is expected. Give your dog a chew or toy to focus on, and keep your own energy relaxed. Preparing before the first thunderclap is far more effective than trying to calm a dog who is already panicking.
When should I see a vet about my dog's storm stress?
If your dog's fear is severe, getting worse, or leading to injury, escape attempts, or destruction despite the methods above, it is time to talk with your veterinarian. Dogs with intense noise phobias sometimes need a tailored plan, and a vet can rule out other health concerns contributing to the behavior.
For Further Reading:
- Research on the prevalence of fear responses to noises in dogs
- Review of thunderstorm and noise phobia in dogs
- Research on behavioral signs of canine fear
- Study on owner reports of dog noise sensitivity
- Study on environmental influences on canine stress behavior
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior on thunderstorm desensitization
- Study on approaches to canine noise aversion
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Peer-reviewed research on calming approaches in dogs
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