First, why does this happen? Some dogs’ are water personality – they run from anything new. I had a dog who was fine about thunder until one summer in the mountains when a thunderclap occurred right overhead – too loud!! Some dogs are just nervous and jumpy about anything.

Regardless, here are a few thoughts as to what can help:

My favorite – feed a food with meat as the first several ingredients. No corn, no dyes. Why? It can really help with that jumpiness (helps with shedding too).

The old standby is to give your dog a veterinary prescribed sedative. Problem with that is you need to give it in advance. So, if you aren’t home, you are sedating your dog more often than needed in anticipation of a storm. And, anyone can stimulate themselves out of sedation, so it doesn’t always work so well.

Some dogs are comforted by small spaces. One of my beagles did great when I put him in his crate – it was his safety zone and he only needed it for storms. A foster dog did well with a Thundershirt. Two of my dogs stopped having thunderstorm fear when I treated them with homeopathic medicine (it was a different medicine for each one). I’ve had some patients who only need a dose of Rescue Remedy, or some lavender essential oil.

Remember to stay calm yourself, feed awesome food and see what works to decrease your precious pup’s thunderstorm anxiety.