How to Calm a Dog During a Thunderstorm | Tips for Anxious Dogs During Thunder and Lightning

Thunderstorms can be a traumatic experience for many dogs. The sound of thunder, the flashes of lightning, and the change in air pressure can make your dog feel extremely anxious. Some dogs hide, shake, pant heavily, or even try to escape. As an owner, you naturally want only one thing: to reassure and protect your dog.

In this blog post, we explain why dogs are afraid of thunderstorms, which symptoms you can recognize, and how you can effectively calm your dog during a thunderstorm. You'll get practical tips and we recommend some resources that you can easily order through our Pupcakes webshop.

Why are dogs afraid of thunder?

A dog's fear of thunderstorms can be explained by a combination of factors:

  • Sound sensitivity: Thunder is often much louder for dogs than for humans. The low, rumbling sound can be overwhelming.

  • Lightning and pressure changes: Dogs often sense storms in advance, which builds their stress before the storm has even begun.

  • Negative association: Some dogs have had a traumatic experience during a thunderstorm and associate the sound with danger.

  • Learning from other dogs: If one dog in a household shows fear, another dog may adopt this behavior.

How do you recognize fear in your dog?

Fear of thunderstorms can manifest itself in different ways. Look for the following signs:

  • To shake or tremble

  • Panting without physical exertion

  • Hiding under furniture or in corners

  • Excessive barking or whining

  • Walking in circles or scratching at doors

  • Uncleanliness (urination out of fear)

  • Not wanting to eat or drink

7 Effective Tips to Calm Your Dog During a Thunderstorm

1. Create a safe hiding place

Make sure your dog has a safe place to retreat to. This could be a crate with a blanket over it, a closet, or even a special dog den.


🐾 Tip from Pupcakes: Our Cozy Thunder Bed Cave is specially designed to give dogs a safe, sound-absorbing place to be during thunderstorms.


2. Use a calming vest (Thundershirt effect)

A calming vest applies gentle pressure to your dog's body, similar to a firm hug. This has a calming effect on the nervous system.


🐶 Recommended product: Pupcakes CalmVest™ – easy to put on and perfect for dogs with anxiety disorders.

3. Distract your dog with licking or chewing toys

Giving your dog something to focus on – like a lick mat or chew – provides him with a positive distraction.


🦴 Pupcake Tip: Try our Pupcake Licking Ball™ with a delicious banana and yogurt filling. Calming and delicious!

4. Use soothing music or white noise

There are special playlists for dogs with calming music. These suppress the thunder and have a relaxing effect.

5. Stay calm yourself and do not ignore the behavior

Punishment doesn't help with anxiety. Don't reward anxious behavior either; just be present, speak calmly, and offer gentle touches if your dog allows it.

6. Try natural sedatives

There are supplements and sprays based on valerian and chamomile that help your dog relax without having a sedative effect.

7. Desensitize your dog beforehand

Using recordings of thunderstorms, you can gradually accustom your dog to the sound. Start at low volumes and increase over several sessions.

Extra: What you absolutely should not do

  • ❌ Punishing your dog for fearful behavior

  • ❌ Leaving your dog outside alone during a thunderstorm

  • ❌ Excessive cuddling when he is scared (this can confirm fear)

  • ❌ Suddenly trying new things during a storm (like putting on a cardigan for the first time)

Summary

Thunderstorms can be incredibly stressful for dogs, but with the right approach and resources, you can help your dog feel safe and calm. It's important to be prepared, recognize signs of anxiety, and provide your dog with a safe and calm environment.


Want to get started right away? Discover our calming products in the Pupcakes webshop :

Pupcakes Lickball™

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