Why Are Dogs Afraid of Thunder? For many dogs, thunderstorms mean fear and trembling -- for the unluckiest dogs, they mean outright panic. Well, due to dog’s keen senses they may experience a variety of things during a thunderstorm that go virtually undetected by us humans. 4 Reasons Dogs are Scared of Fireworks 1. It is usually marked by hiding, whining, barking, pawing or even urination. Fear of thunder is a common phobia in dogs.. Changes in barometric pressure and humidity can affect your dog's senses and possibly even cause discomfort in … Use the Thundershirt to lessen your dog’s fear of thunder. And most dogs are afraid of thunder. 2. There are a variety of reasons why your dog might bark, or respond aggressively, toward thunder. The truth behind thunder phobias is: no one knows why dogs are afraid of thunderstorms. However, the cause of fear may not be limited to noise. A far better approach to help dogs afraid of thunder is to support them in overcoming the fear. It is doubtful if there is a better way than with homeopathic treatment. Perhaps you adopted your dog from a rescue shelter, and you don't know much about his past, but he flips out anytime he hears loud noises, like books falling off shelves or doors slamming. Homeopathy, the 200-year-old system of medicine that uses extremely dilute remedies, is popular with pet owners because it often works well and has no adverse side effects. German Shepherds may be fierce and strong, but underneath their stalwart exterior, they are still dogs. It causes them to shrink, run, and try to hide behind whatever will dampen the noise. No one is exactly sure what makes dogs afraid of thunder. Dogs may pant, whine, bark, hide, tremble, pace, spin, scratch and/or paw at windows and doors, and may become extremely destructive and panicked to the point of hurting themselves. There are many reasons dogs may have astraphobia, or “thunder phobia,” though. it is possible that your dog is scared and trying to frighten the thunder away with noise. German Shepherds are very intelligent, sensitive, and empathic dogs. 2. You can also keep your dog distracted with treats and favorite toys. Dogs are often afraid of thunder simply because they don’t know what it is. Why Are Dogs Afraid of Thunderstorms? Unfortunately for dogs, it also means thunderstorms, which can upset many dogs to the point of panic. But why are they afraid? Many dogs are distressed by unexpected loud noises—a condition known as noise aversion, or noise phobia in more severe cases—and sudden thunderclaps fall into that category. Dogs that are afraid of firecrackers may become afraid of the children who have the firecrackers or may become afraid to go in the backyard, if that is where they usually hear the noise. Your dog might be able to feel static electricity from a thunderstorm buildup in its coat even before the first clap of thunder, causing them to react in an anxious or fearful manner. If your dog feels like playing, do so. Summertime means sunshine, road trips, picnics, and boat rides. But, the question remains, why are dogs afraid of thunder in the first place? Below are some reasons dogs are scared of fireworks, followed by ways you can help ease your dog’s fears and keep him calm. As a result of this, they can be highly aware of how their owners are feeling. But why? Why are Dogs Afraid of Thunder? Final Thoughts: Why Are Dogs Afraid of Thunderstorms? "[Calming treats] help to reduce tension if you find your dog is shaking when afraid. It does seem to be more common in some breeds than others. To be fair, storms are big, intense, and complicated weather occurrences. Science says that a whopping 93% of dogs with some type of noise phobia are afraid of thunder, or something similarly loud like fireworks. Not all dogs are afraid of thunder. Is your dog scared of thunder? According to one study, about one-third of dogs have anxiety, and thunderstorms are at the top of the list of anxiety-inducing situations. Well, here are a few possible reasons for why your dog fears thunder. All dogs are different, and depending on the degree to which your dog is afraid, you can expect it to take a while for your canine buddy to conquer its fear. Noise phobias can include fear of thunderstorms, fireworks, gunshots, and even the sound of birds. Genetics - these set the threshold for “what is stressful” and the default response of “fight or flight.” A dog with nervous parents is probably going to be on the nervous end of the spectrum - breed and breeding matter! The reason your Golden Retriever gets afraid when there is thunder and lightning could be because you get anxious yourself. You may even need to go back a few steps if your dog unexpectedly reverts to fearful behaviors, which is okay, too. No one is exactly sure what makes dogs afraid of thunder.. A dog who suffers from a fear of thunderstorms may begin to display anxious behavior long before the thunder begins. … Prepare for the next storm. Discomfort may arise due to the barometric pressure changes, static electricity, high winds, and low-frequency rumbles. They’re Loud. Loud noises can spook animals. Fear of thunder is a common phobia in dogs. Golden Retrievers were bred to work alongside their owners as working dogs and they would spend many hours per day with their owners. Most dogs are scared of the sudden loud noises of a storm, but others are scared of the lightening, rain, and wind, so close the blinds to try and eliminate as many elements of the storm as possible 4 The sounds of thunder, gunshots and fireworks all commonly spark fear even in the most aggressive dogs. It is usually marked by hiding, whining, barking, pawing or even urination. Most cats don’t care for big storms either. These sounds are often a source of great distress, fear and anxiety for our pets, and for a good reason. It shouldn’t be a surprise that there is no simple answer to that question. There are a number of dogs who get the shivers when the thunder starts to rumble in the sky. Like fireworks, thunder is loud, unpredictable and often brings unexpected flashes of light. For example, dogs that are afraid of thunder may later become afraid of the wind, dark clouds and flashes of light that often precede the sound of thunder. Thank you, Daniel Dudgeon, for your A2A: Why do dogs freak out during storms? Astraphobia can affect both humans and animals. To understand just why are dogs afraid of fireworks, remember that dogs have very sensitive hearing. Whether it be thunder, fireworks, gunshots, or shaking a can of pennies. Not to state this too strongly, but the Thundershirt is a miracle. As you might suspect, noise is a reason, but it’s only part of the equation. Dogs can be afraid of a wide variety of things, including thunder. The most obvious explanation as to why your dog is scared of thunder is simple noise aversion, which makes them scared of the loud crashes during storms. Cats are afraid of thunder because they don’t know that the loud noise isn’t a threat. The best answer may be &ldq Storms, especially loud and noisy ones, can trigger fear in dogs and cats. Dropping barometric pressure—which dogs can sense—coupled with darkening skies, wind, and the sheer noise of thunder can cause fearful reactions in dogs. Homeopathic treatment doesn’t try to sedate a terrified dog. Maybe you should try desensitization. Noise anxiety in dogs is a phobia or strong feeling of fear around loud noises, like sounds from fireworks or thunderstorms. Dogs are often afraid of loud noises like thunder or fireworks. This week, thunderstorm phobia – why it’s so common, and which treatments may help. Noise trauma during storms may be stressful for both owners and dogs. So, why are dogs afraid of thunderstorms? When they hear thunder sounds and can’t identify if it’s a predator chasing them, they get scared. Many dogs suffer from noise phobia, and the thunder is just one of several frightening noises (others include fireworks, gunshots, etc). Treatment Options for Dogs Afraid of Thunder Homeopathy. Cats are aware that they’re predators and also prey. Why thunderstorm phobia? A GSD that is a true K-9 working dog has gone through a systematic process of noise desensitization. Homeopathy works by understanding the full nature of the dog, including their sensitivities and fears. In fact, your dog can hear sounds up to four times farther away than a human’s hearing. Your dog may also be simply expressing its own anxiety and fear by barking. In fact, 2016 research in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior said noise phobias or noise sensitivities are one of the top 3 common anxieties in dogs … Dogs have a more acute sense of hearing than humans, so those loud booms, crackles and whistles are alarming. It could also be a combination of dropping barometric pressure, the darkening skies, and whistling of the wind. If your dog is afraid of thunder, play calming music to drown out the thunder claps. Some dogs are afraid of thunder not only because of its loud sound, but because thunderstorms are accompanied by changes in temperature, drops in atmospheric pressure, and increased static electricity. It is unknown why some pets become afraid of noises such as thunder and fireworks; it is a common problem in dogs, but less so in cats. A dog afraid of thunder can have a variety of reactions, from mild to extreme. Dogs are acutely sensitive to these changes, and they often … German Shepherd Afraid of Thunder. My dog stands at the window and watches the lightening whenever there's a storm, it doesn't phase her one bit. Many veterinarians have conjectured about specific parts of the storm, causing a fear response, yet no one is sure which one has the most significant impact. Most fireworks make some kind of loud sound. For example, if your dog develops a fear of thunder, she may also become afraid of dark thunderclouds, and windy conditions which usually precede thunder and lightning. 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