Expert: Jill Connor, Ph.D. - 4/16/2008

Question
Hi, Our poodle was fine until about a year ago; we had a particularly bad thunderstorm come through the area and she started shaking/getting upset. We lost power with that one. Ever since that time, when it thunders she gets nervous -- races around/up/down the couch/bed. We've dealt with that but now it's worse. She not only goes nuts at the sound of thunder, but rain, now, too, and even worse, at night she wakes up two to three times and shakes/jumps off the bed, runs to my son's bedrooms and back to our room, etc., even if there is NO rain or storm. It seems like the storm a while back set her off somehow. What can we do, if anything, to stop this? I have not slept through the night since it started.

Answer
Restraint (by leash) often drastically reduces fear response.  During a thunderstorm (or rain storm), you might try putting a house tab (light nylon leash) on the dog.  Sometimes the leash alone does the trick; if it doesn't, your holding the other end might do it.  Whatever you do, do NOT in any way acknowledge this fear.  Speaking to the dog, making eye contact, petting the dog -- all in an effort to calm her -- is actually construed as primary reward and will accelerate the response.  Additionally, your own feelings regarding thunderstorms may be worsening her fear (or may have heavily contributed to creating it during that really bad storm).  Regardless of how you feel about storms and how upset you are at her obvious anxiety, do NOT visibly react.  In fact, keep a tin of Tic Tacs nearby (to mask the adrenaline on your breath) and behave NORMALLY.  Regarding her night terrors, something must be setting this off, it can't be random because it doesn't fit into the pattern (unless she has somehow generalized darkness to the storms.)  First, prevent her from leaving the room and running back and forth; second, have her house tab ready and put it on her collar when she begins to react in this manner.  Again, do not speak to her or touch her except for putting the house tab on.  If this does not contain her anxiety, you might try habituating her to a Vari Kennel crate which is a fully enclosed airline crate with a wire door.  Sometimes confinement in enclosed, safe den-like spaces helps a dog to "hide" from the noise and might calm her.  If these don't work over time (weeks at least), consult your veterinarian regarding medication.  This is a LAST resort.

To desensitize dogs to the sound of thunder/rain, one can purchase a CD with those sounds and slowly (very, very slowly) associate positive things (like food reward) to the sounds.  However, this really requires an in person evaluation of your dog's temperament and an extensive interview with you by a credentialed behavior expert (NOT a dog trainer!)  It can be done successfully but it has to be done very carefully.