Dear Shannon

I was wondering if you had any advice for me. We have 3 dogs a 10 year old Newfoundland Dog and 2 of his children, and a 7 year old Pyrenean X Newfoundland.

One of the bitches is afraid of thunder, a fear that was passed down from or learned from her mother a Pyrenean Mountain Dog who used to climb through cottage pain windows when the thunder was loud enough. We have allowed the dogs into the garage when there is thunder as that seems to calm them a bit, otherwise they try to dig out of our 2 ½ acre plot to run away. For the mother, we tried “Ecovet” “Eco Fear” calming drops and were told by our vet we could give her a sedative when a storm was approaching. This however creates a problem when we are not at home.

Only the one daughter seems to have developed this fear of thunder which has grown worse in the last few years. When she gets scared of the thunder her sister and father attack her for showing weakness and this sometimes leads to a fight.

We have now run out of ideas and were wondering if you had any suggestions as to how we could reduce her fear or failing that, at least manage it in such a way that summer in Gauteng is not a terrifying ordeal for this dog.

Regards
Thunderstruck

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Hi Thunderstruck

This is a common problem and one that often results in lost and injured dogs. One can only imagine the absolute fear and terror that must be experienced by brontophobic dogs.

When a dog has what appears to be an irrational fear of anything, a process of either desensitisation or habituation is required to address the problem. However when dealing with brontophobia it is incredibly difficult to apply this principle. This is due to the unpredictability of storms and the impossibility of recreating the exact scenario.

So one has to do the best one can. Providing a safe haven is the first step. Garages are not ideal, as they tend to amplify the sounds of a storm. A carpeted room with drawn curtains is more suitable. A safe den (just big enough for one dog) is also beneficial. This can be as elaborate as a travel crate, or a sturdy cardboard box with a heavy blanket draped over it. Leaving a radio playing will also provide some background noise and minimise the shock of a clap of thunder slightly.

Many brontophobic dogs start showing fearful behaviour long before the storm breaks. It is assumed that they feel the changes in barometric pressure and while this in itself can’t do any harm, it becomes a secondary reinforcer. It may be an idea to install a barometer and therefore have a better indication of when a storm is on the way. However it is likely that your dog may be better than the barometer at indicating changes in barometric pressure!

It is also thought that an added complication may be the static charges in the air that we experience with our intense Highveld storms. Some people have reported success by spraying their dog’s coats with a diluted mixture of fabric softener to reduce the static build-up. I would assume that your dogs have heavy coats, so this may help them to an extent.

Some also advise letting the dog trail a lead (just long enough to make contact with the ground and with the loop removed) to “earth” the dog and thereby reduce the static charge. However I would be very hesitant to use this on a dog prone to running during storms for fear of the line getting caught up.

There has been some success reported with the use of DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromones) in dealing with brontophobic dogs. The pheromone is a synthetic version of the pheromone that a mother releases when nursing her young. It is thus thought that the DAP creates a feeling of well-being. It is certainly worth a try. DAP diffusers can be purchased from most vets.

How you react and interact with your dog during storms is very important. You should have provided the safe haven as described and simply go about your business as usual. Trying to comfort and soothe the dog will only reinforce its fear. Imagine a non-brontophobic bitch with her puppies during a storm. She will not lavish extra attention of the puppies, she stays neutral, nonplussed and the pups learn that there is nothing to be afraid of.

It appears that the problem definitely has a genetic component and it has a long history. Each time there is a storm and the dog reacts fearfully it creates the same behavioural expectation for the next occasion. In essence this is not a problem that will go away overnight, if at all. Your best bet is to manage it as best you can. Good luck.

Good luck

Shannon