Fear of Thunder When your dog becomes frightened, he tries to reduce his fear usually by destruction and escaping.  Both behaviors can be dangerous for him and trouble for you.  Fear of thunder is actually very common, and affects dogs of both sexes and all breeds.  There is some speculation that the dog is reacting partially to the atmospheric pressure changes during a storm, as well as to the noise itself.  Dogs that display no fear of storms as puppies may develop this fear later in life.  There are several ways to help your dog cope with this fear. If your dog is crate trained, or has a place that he considers his “safe place,” you may find that he will ride out the storm better if he is confined to his safe place.  Some dogs hide in the bathroom.  Dr. Dodman, the respected Tufts University vet, proposes that frightened dogs are being affected by a build-up of static charge and seek out conductive surfaces such as sinks and pipes in the bathroom.  A sink is typically supplied by metal pipes and therefore acts as an electrical grounding device.   Some dogs merely need to be reassured.  However, you must be careful about the way you do this, and make sure you are not inadvertently rewarding the dog for a fear reaction.  If you positively reinforce fear reactions with unintentional praise – such as softly crooning or stroking when the dog exhibits fear, it is likely that the reactions will continue.  By simply ignoring the storm and carrying on with a normal household routine, you send the dog the message that the storm is no big deal.  Another way to reassure the dog without inadvertently praising or reinforcing the fear reaction is to massage your dog or brush your dog in long even strokes.   One solution for mild fear of storms is to associate the storms with something wonderful.  If your dog has a favorite indoor game, or a special treat, provide that during the storm.  Many times they will get so absorbed with their game, or the possibility of a favored treat, that they will forget to worry about the storm, and will start to associate the storm with good things.  You can also play tapes of storms, starting at a low volume and working up to a very high volume.  As you stroke your dog and play with him you will be teaching him to ignore the sound. Any panic behavior, such as uncontrolled running, foaming at the mouth, howling consistently, aggression, or violent shaking should be considered severe and you should consult with your veterinarian.  Do not punish your dog for being afraid and do not force your dog to experience or be close to the sound that frightens him.  This will not decrease your dog’s fear.